Kiss founding guitarist Ace Frehley has died today (10/16/25) at the age of 74 following a brain bleed following a recent fall at his home. He was 74.
According to a statement from Frehley’s family, the musician passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!” the family said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Frehley helped define the sound and image of KISS during their 1970s prime and embodied the spirit of the “Spaceman”. His smoking guitars, light-up costumes, and that wry, laid-back sense of humor contradicted the business-minded attitudes of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Ace’s playing was highly influential, and his solos on tracks like “Shock Me,” “Cold Gin,” “Deuce,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Strutter”
Frehley’s 1978 solo album (one of four simultaneous KISS solo records) is widely considered the best of the bunch. Featuring the hit “New York Groove,” it showcased his knack for catchy, hard-edged rock with a bit of glam swagger. It proved he could carry a record on his own, something that became more important as tensions rose in KISS through the late ’70s.
After leaving KISS in 1982, Ace formed Frehley’s Comet, a band that kept his guitar hero status alive during the glam-metal decade, and released several solid records blending classic rock grit with ’80s sheen. He’s maintained a steady solo career since, with albums like Anomaly (2009) and Spaceman (2018) and was touring up till most recently, with his last performance being September 5th in Providence, RI.
