Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of Kiss and the man behind the iconic “Spaceman” persona, has died at 74. The rock legend reportedly suffered a brain bleed after a recent fall at his studio, leaving fans and the music world in shock.
The news first broke Thursday, October 16, in a report from TMZ, which reported Frehley was on life support. Later that day, his family confirmed his death, sharing a heartfelt statement.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” the statement read. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough 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 magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever.”
Earlier this month, Frehley had canceled his remaining tour dates, though details about his condition were scarce. Now, we know that his health condition was extremely serious.
The Legacy of Ace Frehley and His Time With Kiss
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, the musician started out playing in local bands before teaming up with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss to form Kiss in 1972. From the very beginning, he was unforgettable. He had that flashy makeup that all of Kiss’ band member did and that signature guitar sound. Fans quickly dubbed him “Space Ace,” and later “The Spaceman,” a persona as larger-than-life as his solos.
Frehley rocked classic albums such as “Dressed to Kill,” “Destroyer,” “Rock and Roll Over,” and the legendary live album “Alive!” Even after leaving the band in 1982, he remained credited on “Creatures of the Night” and launched a solo career that highlighted his technical skill and wild creativity. At the time of his passing, Frehley was working on “Origins Vol. 3,” a set of cover songs honoring the artists who inspired him.
Earlier this year, he told The Aquarian, “I think it’s going to live on for hundreds of years. I do what I do very well, and I have the respect of my peers.” That respect was everywhere — in the screaming fans, in every blistering guitar riff, and in the generations of musicians he influenced.
He also talked with The Aquarian about his writing style. “I can’t explain to you how easy it is for me to write a song,” he said. “I will wake up one day and I’ll have a song in my head. I just built a recording studio in the basement of my mansion.”
He added, “I go down there at four o’clock in the morning if I get a brainstorm, and I just record it because I know how to engineer, and I know how to run Pro Tools. I can’t write a song in an hour, then something’s wrong. I’m 18 years sober, so that’s helped me tremendously, because I don’t have drugs and alcohol blocking my creativity.”
Frehley returned to Kiss for the 1996 reunion tour and played on tracks from 1998’s “Psycho Circus.” He performed with the band at the 2002 Winter Olympics and made appearances on the Kiss Kruise in 2018, proving that his connection to fans and music was as strong as ever.
Frehley will be deeply missed. The staff of Audio Ink Radio sends our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Frehley’s family.
- Foo Fighters Unleash ‘Asking for a Friend,’ Announce 2026 Tour Dates - October 23, 2025
- Kiss Members, Rock Peers Honor Ace Frehley - October 17, 2025
- Ace Frehley, Kiss Guitar Legend, Dies at 74 - October 16, 2025