KISS cofounder Ace Frehley passes away at 74 following a fall at his home.
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Frehley parted ways with KISS in 1982 and went on to build a thriving solo career, highlighted by hits such as “New York Groove.”
KISS Founding Guitarist Ace Frehley Dead at 74 Following Fall at Home
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and cofounder of KISS who later forged a celebrated solo career with hits like “New York Groove,” has passed away at the age of 74.
Frehley’s family confirmed his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, October 16, revealing that the rock icon died earlier that day in Morristown, New Jersey, after suffering a recent fall at his home.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” his family’s message read. “In his final moments, we surrounded him with love, peace, and prayers. We will forever treasure his laughter, his kindness, and the many memories he gave us. The impact of his loss is immeasurable, but his legacy will live on forever.”
Prior to his passing, TMZ had reported that Frehley was placed on life support due to a brain bleed sustained from a fall several weeks earlier.
Frehley had informed fans about the incident in a September 25 Instagram post, explaining that he was forced to cancel an upcoming concert in Lancaster, California, on doctors’ orders. Although he described the fall as “minor” and reassured fans he was “fine,” his team later canceled the rest of his 2025 tour on October 6, citing ongoing health issues.
Born Paul Frehley in the Bronx, New York, the musician became world-famous as KISS’s “Spaceman” when he co-founded the group in 1973. He departed the band in 1982 to pursue solo projects but returned briefly for their 1996 reunion tour and again performed with them on the KISS Kruise in 2018.
In a 2018 conversation at Musicians Institute, Frehley reflected on his unshakable belief in his destiny: “When I was 16, I knew I was going to be a rock star — nothing could convince me otherwise,” he said. “If KISS hadn’t made it, I would’ve been famous with another band. Nothing was going to stop me.”
Frehley’s relationship with former bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley was often strained. In a 2019 Guitar World interview, Simmons claimed Frehley and original drummer Peter Criss were let go multiple times for unreliability. Frehley fired back, denying he was ever dismissed and calling his former colleagues “control freaks” and “untrustworthy.”
Despite the turbulence, Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside KISS in 2014. During the ceremony, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello praised him as his “first guitar hero,” and even Simmons acknowledged Frehley’s influence, saying his “iconic guitar playing has been imitated, but never duplicated.”
After leaving KISS, Frehley launched Frehley’s Comet, releasing two albums before returning to solo work. His 1978 self-titled debut went platinum, featuring the enduring hit “New York Groove.” With 2014’s Space Invader, he became the only KISS member to crack the Billboard 200 Top 10 with a solo record.
Among his favorite personal achievements, Frehley once said his 1978 album remained the work he was most proud of. Over the years, he released multiple solo projects, including 10,000 Volts in 2024.
Away from music, Frehley was a devoted father to his daughter Monique, whom he shared with his wife Jeanette. He credited Monique for inspiring his sobriety in 2006. “My daughter called me and said, ‘Dad, I’m not hearing good things about you,’” he recalled. “That night, I looked in the mirror, called my sponsor, went to an AA meeting — and I’ve been sober ever since.”
Reflecting on his musical legacy in a 2024 interview with AntiHero Magazine, Frehley said: “Almost every guitarist I meet tells me they picked up the guitar because of me — that hearing Alive! made them want to play. That’s my legacy — being able to go from a supergroup like KISS to a successful solo career.”