Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley, the co-founder and lead guitarist of the legendary rock band KISS, has died at the age of 74 following injuries from a fall last month, his family confirmed in a statement.

Frehley passed away surrounded by loved ones who said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken.” In their statement, the family shared that his final moments were filled with “loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions.” They added, “The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever.”

KISS bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons paid tribute, calling him “an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative chapters of the band’s history.” They added that Frehley “will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”

Frehley was the original “Spaceman,” one of the four personas that defined KISS alongside Stanley’s Starchild, Simmons’ Demon, and Peter Criss’ Catman. With their face paint, platform boots, and explosive stage shows, the band revolutionised rock performance in the 1970s — merging heavy riffs, pyrotechnics, and theatrics into a spectacle that captivated teenage fans and horrified their parents.

Born in the Bronx, New York, Frehley received his first guitar as a Christmas gift at 13. He taught himself to play, citing Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin as early influences. After answering an ad in the Village Voice in 1972, he joined Stanley, Simmons, and Criss in forming KISS. Famously, he showed up to the audition wearing mismatched sneakers — one red, one orange — but impressed the band with his blistering guitar work.

By 1975, KISS broke through with their live album ‘Alive!’, driven by Frehley’s song “Cold Gin” and the hit ‘Rock and Roll All Nite‘. Their follow-up, ‘Destroyer‘ (1976), featuring ‘Detroit Rock City‘ and ‘Beth‘, cemented them as one of the biggest rock acts in the world. With smoke-spewing guitars, fire-breathing stunts, and a mountain of merchandise, KISS became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Frehley’s first solo spotlight came with the 1978 single ‘Shock Me‘, inspired by an onstage electrocution incident. That same year, when all four KISS members released solo albums, his self-titled record stood out — particularly for its hit cover ‘New York Groove‘. It showcased his knack for melodic hooks and swaggering riffs, solidifying his reputation as one of rock’s great guitar heroes.

Despite fame, tensions grew within the band over musical direction and personal struggles. Frehley left KISS in 1982 amid battles with addiction but found new footing with his solo project ‘Frehley’s Comet‘ in the late ’80s, delivering the cult favourite ‘Rock Soldiers‘.

In 1996, he reunited with the original KISS lineup for a world tour and contributed to the 1998 album ‘Psycho Circus‘. The reunion reignited old magic — and old conflicts — and Frehley eventually departed again in 2002 to pursue his solo career.

Across his life, Frehley released eight solo albums, including his final one, ‘10,000 Volts‘, in 2024. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014 and published his memoir ‘No Regrets‘ in 2011, where he reflected, “I never set my sights low. Most people are ruined by the limitations they put on themselves.”

In recent years, Frehley had faced health challenges. Earlier this year, he cancelled a California show after a studio accident and later postponed his remaining tour dates due to “ongoing medical issues.”

Known for his wild stage persona and self-taught mastery, Ace Frehley embodied rock’s rebellious spirit. He was the Spaceman who made guitars smoke, riffs soar, and fans believe in rock’s cosmic power — a legacy that will continue to echo far beyond the stars.

Frehley is survived by his wife Jeanette, daughter Monique, and extended family.