MORRISTOWN, NJ – Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the iconic rock band Kiss, died Thursday surrounded by family at age 74, following a recent fall.
Frehley, known as “Space Ace” for his cosmic stage persona and experimental pyrotechnics, helped transform Kiss into one of the most successful rock acts in American history. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned more gold albums than any other American band.
Born in the Bronx in 1951, Frehley received his first electric guitar as a Christmas gift in 1964. Before co-founding Kiss in 1973 with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss, he worked as a roadie for guitar legend Jimi Hendrix at age 18 and performed with various local New York bands.
Frehley’s guitar work helped define Kiss’ sound on classic albums including “Destroyer,” “Rock and Roll Over” and “Love Gun.” His distinctive playing style and signature lead guitar riffs became integral to the band’s theatrical hard rock approach that captivated audiences throughout the 1970s.
He released his debut solo album in 1978, with the single “New York Groove” becoming a major hit. After feuding with bandmates, Frehley left Kiss in 1982 to form his own group, Frehley’s Comet, pursuing a solo career that showcased his songwriting abilities.
The guitarist rejoined Kiss for a highly successful reunion tour in 1996, thrilling longtime fans with the return of the original lineup. However, he departed again in the early 2000s amid renewed tensions with the band.
Family members issued a statement saying they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” by the loss but will cherish his memory forever. Bandmates Stanley and Simmons called Frehley “an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier” during Kiss’ formative years.
Frehley’s death marks the first loss among the four founding members of Kiss. His innovative guitar techniques and memorable stage presence left an indelible mark on rock music history.
The family said funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
