Ace Frehley — the original lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the theatrical rock band Kiss — passed away on October 16, 2025, at the age of 74. He died in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by family, following complications from a fall at his home.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx on April 27, 1951, he adopted the stage persona of “Spaceman” (also called “Space Ace”) — complete with star-painted eyes and cosmic flair. His presence defined much of Kiss’s early visual and musical identity, including his pyrotechnic guitars that emitted smoke, light, and special effects.
Frehley co-founded Kiss in 1973 alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. Over the years the band became known for its bombastic performances: platform boots, face paint, fire-breathing, fake blood, and rock riffs. Hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite,” Alive!, and Destroyer helped cement their legend.
He left Kiss in 1982 to pursue a solo career — releasing a self-titled solo album in 1978 that included the hit “New York Groove” — but rejoined in the mid-1990s during a reunion phase that produced the album Psycho Circus. His final solo record, 10,000 Volts, had come out in 2024, and he had been working on future projects before his death.
In September 2025, Frehley reportedly suffered a fall in his home studio and had to cancel several upcoming tour dates. Reports later indicated that the fall caused a brain bleed, and that he had been on life support in his final days.
Frehley is the first of the four original Kiss members to pass away. In a joint tribute, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons called him an “irreplaceable rock soldier,” remembering his foundational contributions to the band’s history.
