Ace Frehley, Kiss Founding Guitarist, Dies at 74
"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," his family said.
Frehley died from a brain injury weeks after he took a fall in his studio toward the end of September. At the time, an announcement on his Facebook page said he “had a minor fall” but that he was “fine,” adding that he’d have to cancel a performance at the Antelope Valley Fair. On Oct. 6, a second announcement was posted noting that he had to cancel the remainder of his 2025 shows due to “ongoing medical issues.”
Frehley was born on April 27, 1951, and grew up in the Bronx, learning the guitar as a teenager. He joined Kiss in 1972, taking on his famed “Spaceman” persona to match the band’s iconic makeup. Known for his virtuosic playing and long associated with his unique three-pickup Gibson Les Paul, Frehley — who was influenced by classic bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones — had a huge impact on hard rock and heavy metal.