Rockstar Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of KISS, has died at 74.
The rock musician died on Thursday in Morristown, New Jersey, according to his family.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” they said in a 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!”
TMZ reported on Thursday afternoon that the Grammy-nominated musician was on life support following a brain bleed, with his family considering taking him off life support as soon as Thursday evening.
Following the news of his passing, KISS bassist Gene Simmons paid tribute to Frehley, telling fans “Our hearts are broken.”
“Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!” he wrote on X.
In a statement from Simmons and Paul Stanley to Entertainment Weekly, the pair called Frehley “an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.”
Later, Stanley shared his favorite photo of he and Frehley together on X, praising his guitar skills.
Drummer Peter Criss mourned Frehley with “with a broken heart and deep, deep sadness.”
“He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him to the end as well,” he said in a statement.
“Ace influenced and touched the hearts of millions of people. His legacy will live on in the music industry and in the hearts of the KISS Army,” he wrote. “To the KISS Army and Ace’s Rock Soldiers, my heart is with you all.”
Last month, Frehley suffered “a minor fall in the studio, resulting in a trip to the hospital.”
“He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time,” his team said at the time, announcing that he would not be performing at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California.
Weeks later, Frehley canceled the remainder of his tour “due to some ongoing medical issues.” He had several shows lined up for October and November, including ones in Saint Charles, Missouri, and in Westland, Michigan.
Known for his stage persona, “The Spaceman,” Frehley joined rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, and drummer Peter Criss to form KISS in 1973. He left about a decade later due to creative differences.
“They didn’t want me to leave,” Frehley told Guitar Player in March. “The first time I quit, Paul showed up on my doorstep, took me out to lunch, and was trying to change my mind, but I had already made up my mind.”
He reunited with the band from 1996 to 2002 for a reunion tour, but has since focused on his solo career.
Frehley’s eponymous debut album went platinum and became “the highest-selling of the four Kiss solo albums in the Soundscan era,” according to his website.
KISS’s founding members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump named KISS as one of his 2025 Kennedy Center honorees.
The founding members all expressed their appreciation for the recognition, though Stanley and Simmons have criticized Trump in the past. Frehley, meanwhile, has publicly expressed support for Trump.
“I don’t think politics and rock ‘n’ roll mix — in my opinion,” he told The Cassius Morris Show in 2020. “And I try to stay away from that as much as I can. I mean, once in a while, I’ll make a crack. I will say I’m a Trump supporter.”
During a show in July 2024, he started a chant in support of Trump.
