Ace Frehley, the trailblazing guitarist, founding member, and “Spaceman” of KISS, has died at the age of 74. His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully in New Jersey after complications from a recent fall that caused a brain injury.
In a heartfelt statement, Frehley’s loved ones shared:
“We surrounded Ace with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions. His passing is of epic proportions, beyond comprehension. We are devastated.”
The music world is reeling from the loss of one of rock’s true originals, a man whose fiery guitar solos, silver-painted face, and cosmic charisma helped shape one of the biggest rock bands in history.
From The Bronx To The Big Time
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, Ace was the self-taught guitarist who answered an ad placed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss in 1973. That audition — where Frehley famously turned up wearing mismatched shoes, would change rock history forever.
His explosive playing, effortless cool, and wild creativity made him the perfect final piece of the KISS puzzle. Together, they became one of the most influential and theatrical acts of the 1970s, blending glam, hard rock, and pure spectacle in a way the world had never seen.
Frehley’s alter ego, The Spaceman, captured his eccentric brilliance. On stage, he would shoot smoke from his Les Paul guitar and send rockets into the rafters. Offstage, he embodied the wild, unpredictable rock star mythos that KISS fans adored.
The Sound And Spirit Of KISS
Ace’s guitar work was essential to the KISS sound, melodic yet menacing, flamboyant yet precise. His solos on classics like “Shock Me,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Cold Gin” defined the band’s early records and influenced a generation of guitarists.
In 1978, when all four members released solo albums, Frehley shocked critics and fans alike when his self-titled record became the most successful of the bunch. His version of “New York Groove” became a Top 20 hit and remains one of his signature songs, a swaggering anthem for the city he loved.
After years of tension within the band, Frehley left KISS in 1982 to launch his solo career, forming Frehley’s Comet and releasing a series of cult favorite albums. He would later rejoin the band for their blockbuster 1996 reunion tour and the 1998 album Psycho Circus.
Despite long-running feuds and creative disagreements, Frehley’s importance to KISS was undeniable. As Paul Stanley once said:
“There’s only one Ace Frehley. You can’t duplicate that attitude, that swing, that sound.”
Tributes From The Rock World
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from across the music community.
Gene Simmons wrote on social media:
“Ace was one of a kind. A brother, a legend, a pioneer. His influence will echo forever through every kid who ever picked up a guitar and dreamed of being a rock star.”
Peter Criss called his former bandmate “a true original,” adding:
“He made it cool to be weird, loud, and unapologetically yourself. The world just got a little dimmer without his light.”
Younger musicians, from Metallica’s Kirk Hammett to Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, have also shared how Frehley’s blend of melody, showmanship, and attitude shaped their own paths.
Beyond The Makeup
Though his life often mirrored the chaos of the rock world, marked by struggles with addiction and time away from the spotlight, Frehley found redemption in music. His later albums, including Space Invader (2014) and 10,000 Volts (2024), showed a revitalized artist still exploring, experimenting, and connecting with fans.
“I’ve been to the bottom and I’ve been to the top,” Frehley said in a 2018 interview. “But as long as I’ve got a guitar in my hands, I’m right where I belong.”
An Eternal Spaceman
Ace Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside his KISS bandmates, a fitting recognition of his immense contributions to the genre.
With his death, the rock world loses more than a guitarist, it loses a pioneer who made music larger than life. His riffs, his humor, and his sense of wonder transformed stages into galaxies.
As fans around the world mourn, many are echoing one of his most famous lines from the stage:
“I’m outta this world, baby!”
And now, truly, Ace Frehley has taken his final flight among the stars — the Spaceman forever.
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