Ace Frehley, Founding KISS Guitarist, Dies at 74

The legendary rocker recently canceled a string of tour dates after suffering a fall in his studio

Guitar legend Ace Frehley, who was a founding member of the iconic rock band KISS, has died. Ace had been hospitalized after a recent fall in his studio in Morristown, New Jersey. On Thursday, October 16, sources reported that Ace had been on life support due to a brain bleed that was a result of the fall he sustained. Ace’s family took him off of life support later that evening. He was 74-years old.

At the time of his passing, Ace was reportedly working on a new album titled Origins Vol. 3

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family 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 forever!”

KISS said, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Founding KISS drummer Peter Criss shared a heartfelt statement, saying, “With a broken heart and deep, deep sadness, my brother Ace Frehley has passed away. He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him to the end as well. I love you my brother. My love and prayers go out to Jeanette, Monique, Charlie and Nancy and all of Ace’s extended family, bandmates, fans, and friends. May the Lord comfort you at this difficult time. As a founding member of the rock group KISS and in Ace’s solo career, 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. At this time I ask all of you to please be respectful to Ace’s family and allow them to grieve privately. To the KISS Army and Ace’s Rock Soldiers, my heart is with you all… Broken… God Bless.”

Ace’s record label, MNRK Heavy, also issued a statement.

“With profound sorrow, MNRK Music Group mourns the loss of the iconic and beloved rock guitarist and MNRK recording artist Ace Frehley, who passed away today at age 74. As a founding member of KISS, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and a dynamic solo artist, The Spaceman forever changed the sound and spirit of rock music. His fiery playing, unmistakable style, and larger-than-life presence inspired generations to pick up the guitar and chase their own musical dreams.”
 
MNRK President and CEO Sean Stevenson adds, “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the devoted community of fans who have stood faithfully by his side through every era of his career. We at MNRK Music Group are deeply honored to have worked alongside Ace and to have been his label home since 2014. His creativity, humor, and passion for music will remain an enduring part of MNRK’s story.”

On October 6, Frehley canceled the remaining dates of his 2025 tour. It was later reported that Ace suffered a fall in his studio. In addition to the rest of his 2025 slate, he had one show on the books for 2026 at the Yaamava Resort & Casino in Highland, California on February 26.

“Due to some ongoing medical issues, Ace has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of his 2025 dates,” his management said in a statement.

Produced and co-written by Ace and Trixter guitarist Steve Brown, Ace Frehley’s latest LP 10,000 Volts came out last year through MNRK Heavy, the rock and metal imprint of MNRK Music Group. It is the follow-up to 2018’s Spaceman. Out of the gate, 10,000 Volts was the top selling album on iTunes. It debuted at No. 72 on the Billboard 200, selling just over 13,000 copies in its first week. The album also topped Billboard’s Rock and Hard Rock Albums charts, while peaking at No. 4 on Vinyl Sales.

It is available digitally, on CD, and on several vinyl variants, which are all available now HERE. Some variants were produced in very limited quantities.

In an interview with VRP Rocks, Ace said, “I’m very happy with the way the record turned out. Now, a lot of times I’ve recorded records where sometimes you look at three or four songs on the album and you consider them not as good as some of the other ones and you kind of consider them as filler. But I don’t think there’s any filler on this album. I think every song has merit to it.”

He continues,  ”I think it’s one of the best albums I ever did. I mean, I think it’s probably as good as my solo album in 1978, which everybody seems to think is my best album to date. But I think this new album is equally as good as my 1978 solo album, and I think there’s more than one hit single on the album. So, if I was a KISS fan or an Ace Frehley fan, I’d go out and buy it immediately when it’s released on February 23, because you’re in for a treat.”

During an October 2023 interview, Ace told told Jeff Napier of Nuvo, “It’s probably the best record I’ve ever done. I’m very excited about it. It’s the fIrst time I ended up writing most of these songs with a good friend of mine, Steve Brown. He used to play in Trixter and has a group called Rubix Kube. Anyway, we live 40 minutes from each other, and my fiancée Lara hooked us up. I’d met him several times over the years, but just briefly, but she knew him when she was in her twenties, and she said, ‘You’ve gotta get together with Steve.’ He’s a great songwriter and guitar player. He sent me a song, and there was one line that just jumped out from his chorus, and it was ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’. So I said, ‘Listen, let’s get together and rewrite this song, and the hook will be ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’,’ because it wasn’t the end of the chorus he had prepared. So, we rewrote the song, and it came out great. We were actually gonna call the album ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’ until we recorded a song called ‘10,000 Volts’, which came out amazing. I got Anton Fig, my old drummer, who played on my original ’78 solo album and most of my solo stuff, to play drums on that. So, working with Steve has made a huge difference in my playing and writing because when he and I put our heads together, it just clicks. If I’m at a loss for a chord or a verse or a line, he comes up with it and vice versa, and within three or four hours, we write a song.”

Ace added, “So that’s how the record’s been going. Then, once you record the basic track, you gotta do the overdubs and double and triple the vocals, harmonies, and stuff. He’s an excellent engineer. So I didn’t have to pay an engineer to engineer this record. So I saved money on that, working with Steve as well, which is nice.”

The all-new 10,000 Volts upholds an incredible legacy for Frehley, spanning 50-plus years in the limelight. Back in 1978, he delivered his solo debut, Ace Frehley. It reached platinum status and exploded as the highest-selling of the four KISS solo albums in the Soundscan era. In 1987, he dropped Frehley’s Comet. Following Anomaly in 2009, he went on to make history once again. His 2014 Space Invader LP captured #9 on the Billboard 200 and emerged as the only solo album by a past or current KISS member to reach the Top 10 on the chart.” 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. He notably maintained his momentum with Spaceman in 2018.

Ace Frehley, born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in The Bronx, New York City, is best known as the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of the iconic rock band KISS. With his signature “Spaceman” persona, Frehley helped define the band’s theatrical image and pioneering sound during the 1970s. A self-taught guitarist influenced by blues, British rock, and early heavy metal, Frehley’s explosive yet melodic playing style became a key element of KISS’s identity. He joined the group in late 1972 after responding to an ad placed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. His first major contribution came on the band’s 1974 debut KISS, where his sharp riffs and solos on tracks like “Deuce” and “Cold Gin” helped shape the band’s raw, hard-driving aesthetic. As KISS evolved into one of the most theatrical and commercially successful rock acts of the decade, Frehley’s guitar work became central to their success—especially on classics such as “Shock Me,” “Parasite,” “Love Gun,” and “Rocket Ride,” songs that blended heavy riffs with his distinctive tone and effects-laden solos.

Throughout KISS’s rise, Frehley’s image and musicianship made him a fan favorite. His lightning-bolt guitar design, smoking Les Pauls, and laid-back humor contrasted with the more controlling personalities of Stanley and Simmons. In 1978, when each member of KISS released a self-titled solo album simultaneously, Frehley’s effort proved the most successful both critically and commercially, spawning the hit single “New York Groove,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, increasing creative tension and Frehley’s growing dissatisfaction with the band’s musical direction—especially during the disco-tinged Dynasty (1979) and pop-leaning Unmasked (1980)—led to his departure in 1982. Despite his exit, his songwriting and guitar work on albums such as Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and Love Gunhelped cement KISS’s golden-era sound, which influenced generations of hard-rock and metal guitarists.

After leaving KISS, Frehley launched a solo career under the banner of Frehley’s Comet. The band’s 1987 debut album reached the Top 50 on the Billboard 200 and produced the MTV favorite “Into the Night.” Subsequent releases like Second Sighting (1988) and Trouble Walkin’ (1989) showcased Frehley’s continued knack for melodic yet hard-hitting rock. Though his career was periodically slowed by personal struggles and substance abuse, he remained a respected figure in rock circles. His 2009 comeback album Anomaly was praised for recapturing his classic sound, while Space Invader (2014) and Spaceman (2018) reaffirmed his enduring appeal among fans of classic hard rock. Over the decades, Frehley has collaborated with numerous artists, appeared at KISS conventions and solo tours, and even rejoined KISS for their highly publicized 1996 reunion tour—an event that restored the original lineup and full makeup for the first time in nearly two decades.

Ace Frehley’s influence as a guitarist is profound. His use of effects, unique phrasing, and balance of melody and aggression inspired countless players from Slash to Dimebag Darrell. Although his technical style was less flashy than some of his contemporaries, his playing emphasized memorable hooks and emotive energy that defined the sound of arena rock. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside the original members of KISS, honoring their collective impact on music history. KISS’s larger-than-life approach—complete with makeup, pyrotechnics, and a relentless touring ethic—redefined the possibilities of live performance, paving the way for modern stage production across genres. As one of its most charismatic members, Ace Frehley stands as both a symbol of rock’s rebellious spirit and a testament to how individuality can shape a global phenomenon. His legacy endures not only through his timeless solos and songs but also through the millions of guitarists who picked up their first instrument because of “Shock Me.”