New York, October 17 (Daily Kiran): Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley, the founding guitarist of the legendary American rock band KISS, has died at the age of 74, his family confirmed in a statement carried by U.S. media.
Frehley passed away surrounded by family, who said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken.”
“We were fortunate to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers, and intentions as he left this earth,” the family said.
Known to millions of fans as “The Spaceman,” Frehley was part of the original KISS lineup alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. The four musicians created one of rock’s most iconic images — donning black-and-white face paint and leather outfits to embody their onstage personas: The Demon, The Starchild, The Spaceman, and The Catman.
In a joint tribute, 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 KISS’s history. He will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”
Rock legend Alice Cooper also mourned his passing, calling Frehley “one of the pioneers — one of the great guitar players out there.”
“He always brought it every night. He did it every night. And it’s just hard to see somebody like that go. Ace was an ACE,” Cooper said.
A Rock Icon Who Redefined Stagecraft
Born in The Bronx, New York, Frehley received his first guitar as a Christmas gift at age 13 and dropped out of high school to pursue music. In his own words:
“I’m a high school dropout, but here I am — a millionaire who never even took a guitar lesson.”
KISS, formed in 1973, rose to fame with electrifying live shows, outlandish costumes, and hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “God of Thunder.” By 2024, the band had sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Frehley, known for his smoke-emitting guitars and flamboyant solos, left KISS in 1982, rejoined for the 1996 reunion tour, and remained with the band until 2002. The original members were later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2024, KISS sold its song catalogue and intellectual property to Sweden’s Pophouse Entertainment in a deal reportedly worth over $300 million, marking the band’s official retirement from touring.
Despite health setbacks in 2025, Frehley continued to record and perform, releasing eight solo albums over his career.
Ace Frehley is survived by his wife Jeanette and daughter Monique.
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