Founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has died, aged 74: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley lead tributes

Iconic KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has died, aged 74.

According to a statement shared by his family, Ace – also known as Spaceman – died “peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall at his home”. An exact cause of death has yet to be shared.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family wrote in the statement. “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!”

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A post shared by Ace Frehley (@acefrehleyofficial)

Frehley’s former bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley shared the following statement to Page Six: “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of Kiss’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Born Paul Daniel Frehley in New York City in 1951, he co-founded KISS in 1973 with singer Paul Stanley, bassist and part-time singer Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. The members’ identities were famously kept secret until a decade after their debut, by which Frehley had left the band to pursue a solo career, coupled with his struggles with substance abuse and rising tension within the band about their direction.

In the years following his exit from KISS, Frehley formed a new band, Frehley’s Comet. The band released two albums, both of which failed to achieve commercial success. He reverted to using his own name for this 1989 album ‘Trouble Walkin”, which saw former bandmate Peter Criss provide backing vocals.

Frehley would rejoin KISS for their reunion in 1996 and stayed with them until 2002. He did not join them for their farewell world tour in 2022. Frehley and Simmons had a notably rocky relationship, with Simmons in 2019 claiming that Frehley was fired from the band for his substance abuse, while Ace argued that he was 12 years sober by then and quit “of my own free will, because you and Paul [Stanley] are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with”.

Among the songs Ace helped write for KISS were classics like ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’, ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’, ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘Love Gun’ and more.

Earlier this month, Frehley cancelled his remaining solo dates for 2025 due to “some ongoing medical issues,” which has since been confirmed as the fall he suffered.

Other rock and music icons have paid tribute to the late Ace “Spaceman” Frehley since the tragic news of his death. Simmons wrote in a standalone post on X: “Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!”

Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) October 16, 2025

Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready paid tribute on behalf of the band, where he credited Frehley for inspiring him to pick up the guitar.

Ace Frehley, Eddie, Me in awe…
: Danny Clinch

I heard about Ace Frehley‘s passing from Rick Friel who I played with in a band called Shadow. Rick was also the first guy on the bus in 1977 with a KISS lunchbox to tell me about Ace…just changed my life. I got a guitar in 1978… pic.twitter.com/0oULzn0A5H

— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) October 16, 2025

Tool’s Maynard Keenan James shared a picture of himself as a child, sporting Ace’s iconic face paint. See more tributes below.

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A post shared by MJ Keenan (@iamthebriefcase)

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A post shared by Tom Morello (@tommorello)

Ace RIP was the 1st person I met when we were forming CHIC!@KISS were playing at a spot called Le Jardin. Without his makeup nobody recognized him as he sat at my table. Only a few minutes before the crowd were losing their shit over him. I learned a lot that night. Truly… pic.twitter.com/ibNCrbt9vP

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) October 16, 2025

Ace RIP was the 1st person I met when we were forming CHIC!@KISS were playing at a spot called Le Jardin. Without his makeup nobody recognized him as he sat at my table. Only a few minutes before the crowd were losing their shit over him. I learned a lot that night. Truly… pic.twitter.com/ibNCrbt9vP

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) October 16, 2025

Ace Frehley was the embodiment of rock ’n’ roll attitude — unapologetic, loud, and irresistibly catchy. His riffs had swagger, his tone had bite, and his presence lit up stages like a supernova. The Spaceman has left the stage, but his orbit will shine forever. pic.twitter.com/TDyDvEVA9i

— Steve Vai (@stevevai) October 17, 2025

I am so shocked & saddened that this happened to my hero & my friend. I’ve known Ace since 1988 & we’ve been very close ever since then. Ace Frehley changed the world. He influenced millions of people & changed my life. I will miss you my friend.#RIPAceFrehley #RIPSpaceace pic.twitter.com/AXCTxH41aJ

— John 5 (@john5guitarist) October 16, 2025

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