Founding guitarist of Kiss rock band Ace Frehley dies at 74

MORRISTOWN, New Jersey,— Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss, known for his elaborate space-themed makeup and pyrotechnic guitar performances, died Thursday at the age of 74, his agent confirmed.

Frehley passed away peacefully at his home in Morristown, surrounded by family, following a recent fall. In a statement, family members said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken” but vowed to remember his humor and the kindness he showed others.

Kiss rose to fame in the 1970s with theatrical stage shows that featured fire, fake blood, and elaborate costumes. Hits such as “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” helped the band achieve global popularity.

The original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, and drummer Peter Criss. Frehley is the first of the founding members to pass away.

Frehley, who was born Paul Daniel Frehley in New York, adopted the persona “The Spaceman” or “Space Ace,” contributing to the band’s comic book-inspired image.

Known for his innovations in stage pyrotechnics, he often made his guitars emit smoke, glow, and shoot rockets from the headstock.

In a joint statement, Stanley and Simmons said, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative chapters of the band. He is and will always be a part of Kiss’s legacy.”

Frehley grew up in a musical family and started playing guitar at age 13. Before joining Kiss, he played in local New York bands and worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix at 18.

The founding member of Kiss band, Ace Frehley, performing in 2008. Photo: Create Commons/Tilly Antoine/wikimedia

Kiss’s commercial peak came in the mid-1970s, selling millions of albums and turning their makeup and stage style into an iconic brand. Their ballad “Beth” reached number seven on the Billboard Top 100 in 1976.

In 2024, Kiss sold their catalog, brand, and intellectual property to the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal reportedly exceeding $300 million.

Throughout his career, Frehley had disagreements with Stanley and Simmons. He left the band in 1982 but returned for a reunion in the mid-1990s, restoring the original makeup and performance style. He departed again in 2002.

When the original four members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, a dispute prevented them from performing together. Simmons later told Rolling Stone magazine that Frehley and Criss “no longer deserve to wear the paint,” saying, “The makeup is earned. Just being there at the beginning is not enough.”

Frehley also performed solo and with his band, Frehley’s Comet, influencing glam and hard rock acts of the 1980s and 1990s. Artists ranging from Mötley Crüe and Poison to Metallica and Pantera cited Kiss as an inspiration.

Bret Michaels of Poison wrote on Instagram, “Ace, my brother, I cannot thank you enough for the years of great music and your lead guitar on Nothing But A Good Time.”

In later years, Frehley occasionally appeared with Kiss for special performances. Their 2023 show at Madison Square Garden was billed as the band’s final concert.

Stanley and Simmons have since stated they will not tour again but continue to promote Kiss’s music and memorabilia.

(With files from AP)