Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist, dies at 74

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss, died Thursday, his family and agent said. He was 74.

Fraley died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, after a recent fall, his agent told The Associated Press.

Family members said in a statement to the AP that they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” but will appreciate his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed on others.

Frehley's former Kiss bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons said in a statement that they were “devastated” by Frehley's passing.

“He was a vital and indispensable rock soldier during some of the most important periods of the band's existence and history,” they said. “He is and will always be part of the KISS legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and everyone who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Frehley was recovering from a “little fall” that forced him to cancel a scheduled performance in late September, said his tour manager John Ostrosky, also known as John Ostronomy. Facebook post addressed fans last month. Doctors advised Fraley not to travel after the fall, Ostrosky said.

Frehley was born in 1951 in the Bronx, grew up surrounded by music, and received his first electric guitar as a Christmas gift in 1964.

Fraley became a co-founder Kiss in 1973 along with Stanley, Simmons and Peter Criss. He played on many classic Kiss albums, including “Destroyer,” “Rock and Roll Over” and “Love Gun.” Today, Kiss has more gold albums than any other American band. sold over 100 million records all over the world.

Kiss, whose hits include “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City,” were known for their intense stage shows that included fireworks, smoke and spurts of fake blood performed by black-and-white-faced band members wearing platform boots and black wigs.

The band members took on comic book-style characters – Frehley was known as “Space Ace” and “Cosmonaut”. The New York-born artist often experimented with pyrotechnics, making his guitars glow, emit smoke, and shoot rockets from the neck.

The group was extremely popular, especially in the mid-1970s, selling tens of millions of albums and licensing their iconic image to sell a variety of products. “Beth” became his biggest commercial hit in the US, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1976.

Frehley later released his first solo album, Ace Frehley, in 1978, and his song “New York Groove” quickly became a hit. After leaving Kiss in 1982, he formed Frehley's Comet and later continued recording under his own name.

In 1996, Frehley reunited with Kiss for their 1996 reunion tour, but left again in the early 2000s. The band continued with new members wearing the makeup and costumes of Frehley and Criss. Kiss performed farewell tour in 2023.

Frehley and his bandmates were accepted as members Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Fraley is the first death among the four founding members.

As the new chairman of the Kennedy Center, President Trump named Kiss one of this year's honorees.