Ace Frehley, the guitarist who co-founded the band KISS, died on Thursday at the age of 74. Now, his KISS bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have broken their silence to honor him.
Frehley Passes Away
Lori Lousararian, Frehley’s rep, told Rolling Stone that the rocker died after a “recent fall at his home” in Morristown, New Jersey.
“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,” they continued. “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!”
Last month, Frehley canceled a concert at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California after suffering another fall at his home.
“He is fine,” a note to fans stated at the time. “But against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time.”
TMZ previously reported that Frehley had been on life support due to a brain bleed caused by a fall several weeks ago. Indeed, last Saturday, Frehley canceled all of his remaining 2025 touring dates due to unspecified “ongoing medical issues.”
Simmons And Stanley Honor Frehley
Hours after Frehley’s death, Simmons, 76, and Stanley, 73, issued a joint statement in which they paid tribute to him.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons and Stanley told People Magazine. “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,” they continued. The pair went on to send their condolences to Frehley’s wife Jeanette Trerotola, his daughter Monique Frehley and “all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
Frehley’s History
Born and raised in the Bronx in New York City, Frehley was torn between athletics and rock music as a child. After taking a few brutal hits on the football field, however, Frehley made up his mind as to where he wanted to go with his life.
“This is bull-[expletive],” Frehley later recalled thinking. “My hands are too important. The guitar comes first.”
Frehley went on to be part of various unsuccessful bands throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. That all changed when he co-founded KISS in 1973. The band immediately began gaining attention in New York with their distinctive stage makeup and unique performance style.
“We put on makeup, but it wasn’t KISS makeup. It was feminine makeup, like the New York Dolls,” Frehley later recalled. “Back then, the Dolls were the hottest thing and we always wished we could be the Dolls ‘cause we were nobody at the time. But we weren’t physically like the Dolls, who were small, skinny guys, so we decided to come on real strong in black and silver.”
Frehley ultimately left KISS and returned on multiple occasions over the years. Over the past two decades, he mostly toured as a solo artist, though he still performed classic KISS songs.
In a 2013 interview, Frehley opened up about how much he loved the loyal KISS fanbase.
“I have a lot of diehard fans,” he said at the time. “Ace Frehley fans and Kiss fans are the greatest fans in the world. They’ve always been there for me through ups and downs. My life has been a roller coaster ride, but somehow I’ve always been able to land on my feet and still play the guitar.”
Rest in peace, Ace Frehley.