Ace Frehley, the legendary founding guitarist of KISS, has died on the age of 74 after reportedly struggling a mind bleed following a current fall at his studio.
“We’re fully devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s household mentioned in a press release. “In his final moments, we have been lucky sufficient to have been in a position to encompass him with loving, caring, peaceable phrases, ideas, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his most interesting reminiscences, his laughter, and have a good time his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and past comprehension. Reflecting on all of his unimaginable life achievements, Ace’s reminiscence will proceed to dwell on without end!”
KISS co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons added, “We’re devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was a necessary and irreplaceable rock soldier throughout a number of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its historical past. He’s and can at all times be part of KISS’s legacy. Our ideas are with [his wife] Jeanette, [his daughter] Monique and all those that cherished him, together with our followers world wide.”
The rock icon had canceled all his remaining tour dates earlier this month, though the severity of his well being situation wasn’t disclosed on the time. Because it seems, the autumn turned out to be deadly, as he succumbed to his accidents on October sixteenth.
Associated Video
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April twenty seventh, 1951 within the Bronx, he performed in a handful of native bands earlier than auditioning for Simmons, Stanley, and Peter Criss in late 1972 as lead guitarist for the band that will turn into KISS.
Frehley adopted the persona of “House Ace” (later “The Spaceman”) as a member of KISS, who launched their self-titled debut album in 1974 (that includes the Frehley-penned “Chilly Gin”). He remained with the band till 1982, showing on such traditional albums as Dressed to Kill, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and others, in addition to their legendary dwell album Alive!
The guitarist arguably had the most effective of the 4 KISS “solo” albums that have been launched on the identical day in 1978, together with his LP containing his traditional cowl of Hey’s “New York Groove.”
Frehley was changed by Vinnie Vincent in KISS for 1982’s Creatures of the Night time, though he was initially credited on the album. He launched into a solo profession beneath his personal title and as Frehley’s Comet, releasing various albums by 2024’s 10,000 Volts, and had been engaged on a brand new assortment of canopy songs, Origins Vol. 3.
In 1996, Frehley rejoined KISS for a reunion tour, and contributed to some tracks on the 1998 album Psycho Circus. After the band’s then-farewell tour wrapped up in late 2001 and following a efficiency on the 2002 Winter Olympics, Frehley left KISS once more, this time for good, solely reuniting with the band one time for just a few songs on the KISS Kruise in October 2018.
Regardless of expressing curiosity in rejoining KISS on their most up-to-date farewell tour, which wrapped up in December 2023, he by no means shared the stage with the band at any of the reveals, together with the ultimate live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard.
In an interview with The Aquarian earlier this 12 months, Frehley mentioned of his legacy, “I believe it’s going to dwell on for lots of of years. I do what I do very nicely, and I’ve the respect of my friends.”
Sean Stevenson, President and CEO of Frehley’s file label, MNRK Music Group, issued the next assertion: “Our ideas are together with his household, mates, and the devoted group of followers who’ve stood faithfully by his aspect by each period of his profession. We at MNRK Music Group are deeply honored to have labored alongside Ace and to have been his label house since 2014. His creativity, humor, and fervour for music will stay an everlasting
a part of MNRK’s story.”
Frehley’s affect on rock music is immeasurable, with many notable musicians crediting him as the explanation they picked up a guitar within the first place. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame with KISS in 2014.
