THE BEAST

ACE FREHLEY, ORIGINAL KISS GUITARIST, DIES AT 74 — THE SPACEMAN TAKES HIS FINAL FLIGHT

October 16, 2025 – The rock world is in mourning. Ace Frehley, the legendary founding guitarist of KISS, has passed away at the age of 74 after being hospitalized for a brain bleed earlier this month.

According to TMZ, Frehley was placed on life support following a fall in his home studio that led to severe complications. His family ultimately made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support on Thursday, October 16, after his condition failed to improve.

Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, and People have since confirmed Frehley’s passing. Fans and fellow musicians around the world are flooding social media with tributes to the man forever known as The Spaceman.

A Tragic End to a Legendary Career

Just weeks before his passing, Ace had canceled all remaining 2025 tour dates, citing “medical issues.” Initially, the fall in his studio was described as minor, and he was advised by doctors to rest and avoid travel. Sadly, it now appears that accident was far more serious than first believed.

Frehley’s health declined rapidly in the days that followed, leading to his hospitalization and eventual placement on a ventilator.

From The Bronx to the Biggest Band in the World

Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in The Bronx, New York, Ace rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most iconic guitarists in rock history. As a founding member of KISS, Frehley helped craft the band’s hard-hitting sound and larger-than-life image, performing on timeless classics like “Shock Me,” “Cold Gin,” “Parasite,” and “Rocket Ride.”

His signature Les Paul tone, space-age persona, and wild stage antics made him a fan favorite — and a hero to countless guitar players around the world.

Ace first left KISS in 1982, rejoined for the band’s 1996 reunion tour, and departed again in 2002 after their first “farewell tour.” Since then, Tommy Thayer had stepped into the Spaceman role, but fans never stopped associating Ace with that original cosmic magic.

A Solo Legacy That Soared Beyond KISS

Outside KISS, Ace Frehley carved out a powerful solo career. His 1978 self-titled debut (part of the four original KISS solo albums) remains a hard-rock classic, featuring the hit “New York Groove.”

More recently, Ace released “10,000 Volts” in February 2024 via MNRK Music Group, continuing the streak of his Origins series — albums paying tribute to the rock songs that shaped his career.

Collaborating occasionally with Gene Simmons, Frehley proved he could balance nostalgia with raw new energy, maintaining his reputation as both a pioneer and a survivor of the golden age of rock.

The Last Word From the Spaceman

In one of his final interviews with Guitar World, Ace revealed he had turned down an invite to join his former bandmates for the KISS Kruise: Land-Locked in Vegas event, saying:

“They asked me and I declined. There’s no way I’m gonna be involved with that. Their biggest mistake is that they should have done that at Madison Square Garden, not in Las Vegas in a 5,000-seater.”

He added, “I’m having too much fun doing my own thing.”

That quote now hits with bittersweet weight — a reminder that even in his later years, Ace Frehley remained fiercely independent, unapologetically himself, and proud of the legacy he built.

Fans, Friends, and Fellow Rockers Pay Tribute

Social media has exploded with heartfelt messages using hashtags like #RIPAceFrehley, #SpacemanForever, and #KISSArmy. Fans are sharing memories of their first KISS concerts, first guitar solos, and the moment they fell in love with the magic of Ace’s style and swagger.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have both expressed condolences, calling Ace “a brother in arms and an irreplaceable part of KISS history.”

Farewell to the Spaceman

Ace Frehley’s influence can be heard in every power chord, every guitar-slinging rock anthem, and every kid who ever dreamed of strapping on a Les Paul and blasting off to the stars.

The Spaceman may be gone — but his riffs, his style, and his spirit will echo through rock and roll forever.

Rest easy, Ace. You’ve earned your spot among the stars. 🌌🎸