Kiss Original Guitarist Was 74

Ace Frehley, Kiss’s original lead guitarist and one of the most iconic guitarists in rock and roll, has died, Frehley’s family announced Thursday. He was 74. 

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” the family said. “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!”

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 Frehley’s Facebook page said the guitarist “had a minor fall” but that “he is fine,” but adding that he’d have to cancel a performance at the Antelope Valley Fair. On October 6, a second announcement was posted confirming that Frehley had to cancel the remainder of his 2025 shows due to “ongoing medical issues.”

Frehley was born in 1951 and grew up in The Bronx in New York, taking to 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, was influential on the future of hard rock and heavy metal. 

Frehley appeared on Kiss’s first nine albums, and after leaving the group in 1982, he returned for the band’s 1998 reunion album Psycho Circus. He left the band once again in 2002, and Frehley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Kiss in 2014. Outside of Kiss, Frehley also released nine solo studio albums, with his eponymous first solo album going platinum in 1978. Frehley’s most-recent album 10,000 Volts came out last year. 

A rep for Frehley said the guitarist is survived by his wife Jeanette, daughter Monique, brother Charles, sister Nancy Salvner, nieces Suncere Frehley and Julie Salvner, nephews Sky Frehley and Andrew Salvner, sister-in-law Michelanne and brother-in-law Ron Salvner.

More to come.