Ace Frehley, the iconic guitarist and founding member of the band KISS, has passed away, his family announced.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted rock guitarist was 74. Frehley passed away at his home in Morristown, N.J., following a recent fall at his home, his family said.
“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 family said. “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!”
Paul Daniel Frehley was born in The Bronx, N.Y., and began playing guitar at age 13. Frehley’s musical influences ranged from Led Zeppelin to Cream to The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix (to whom he was a roadie for at age 18). With a musical legacy spanning 50-plus years, Frehley began performing with various bands in the early 1970s until he joined Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons to form the ionic rock band KISS. As lead guitarist for the band, his persona was known as “Space Ace,” and later, “The Spaceman.”
In 1972, Frehley delivered his debut solo album, “Ace Frehley,” which reached Platinum status. In 1987, he dropped “Frehley’s Comet,” followed by 2009’s “Anomaly.” In 2014, his “Space Invader” album hit the Top 10 of the charts.
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Slash, Lita Ford, and John 5 collaborated with Frehley in 2016 on “Origins Vol. 1.” Frehley followed up “Origins Vol. 1” with “Spaceman” in 2018 and “Origins Vol. 2” in 2020.
Frehley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014. In 1999, he was nominated for a GRAMMY with KISS for “Best Hard Rock Performance” for the album “Psycho Circus” and was inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk that same year. He also received a 1999 Gibson USA Legends award. He was to be a recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors with KISS this December 7.
Frehley’s current album, “10,000 Volts” was released on February 23, 2024 — he was on tour this year in support of the collection which features guest appearances by Paul Stanley, Robin Zander and Bruce Kulick.
Frehley 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.