Fans are mourning the loss of Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of Kiss and a defining star in rock history, after news of his death at the age of 74.
His family revealed in a Thursday, October 16, statement that those closest to Frehley (real name Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley) were by his side to say their final goodbyes.
“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,” they shared in a statement with Us Weekly.
He died earlier today in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall at his home just a few weeks ago.
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“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others,” his family 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!”
In the days leading up to his death, Frehley announced via Instagram on October 6 that he made the “difficult decision” to cancel the remainder of his 2025 tour dates.
In September, it was revealed that Frehley was recovering from a “minor fall” that forced him to cancel a scheduled performance, his tour manager, John Ostrosky a.k.a. John Ostronomy, shared in a Facebook update. The manager noted that doctors advised the hitmaker not to travel for the time being although it was “against his wishes.”
“As a result, he is forced to cancel his performance at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California on Friday, September 26th,” his team explained.
While Frehley took time to recover, fans were asked to go support his friends in Quiet Riot and Vixen. It was clear that Frehley planned to get back to work as soon as possible.
His team shared how much Frehley — whose iconic solos and larger-than-life persona electrified stages for decades — was looking forward to continuing on his tour and completing his tracks for his next album, Origins Vol. 4.
Frehley cofounded Kiss in 1973 alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss, showing his musical prowess on a number of the chart-topping band’s classic albums, including Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over and Love Gun.
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Frehley exited the group in 1982 amid creative differences and went on to pursue a solo career after creating his own band, Frehley’s Comet. Fans were overjoyed when he signed on for a Kiss reunion tour in 1996.
Stanley, 73, and Simmons, 76, have since spoken out about his death, revealing their devastation and grief.
“He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history,” they noted in a joint statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. “He is and will always be a part of Kiss’ legacy.”
Frehley is survived by his estranged wife, Jeanette Trerotola; his daughter, Monique; his brother, Charles; and his sister, Nancy Salvner.
Stanley and Simmons concluded their statement, “Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
