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Frehley, Ace

Ace Frehley, Original Lead Guitarist and Founding Member of KISS, Dies at 74

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Legendary musician Ace Frehley, known for his elaborate makeup and iconic guitar playing with the iconic rock band KISS, passed away on Thursday at the age of 74. Frehley died peacefully in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall, surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for his contributions to the band's theatrical stage shows and its catalog of hits, including "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "I Was Made for Lovin' You."

Key Takeaways:

  • Ace Frehley was the original lead guitarist and founding member of KISS, known for his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar.
  • He died peacefully on Thursday at the age of 74, surrounded by his family in Morristown, New Jersey.
  • Frehley was a key part of KISS's original lineup, which also included Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss.
  • As "Space Ace" and "The Spaceman," Frehley experimented with pyrotechnics, making his guitars glow, emit smoke, and shoot rockets from the headstock.
  • Frehley left the band in 1982, but rejoined in the mid-1990s for a triumphant reunion and restoration of their original style.
  • He was a Roadie for Jimi Hendrix at the age of 18, before joining KISS, and played in local bands around New York City.
  • Frehley frequently feuded with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons through the years, but was still a part of the band's legacy.
  • The band sold their catalog, brand name, and intellectual property to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million in 2024.
  • Frehley and KISS had a huge influence on the glammy style of 1980s hair metal bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison.

Statistics:

  • 74: The age at which Ace Frehley passed away on Thursday.
  • 13: The age at which Frehley began playing guitar.
  • 18: The age at which Frehley became a roadie for Jimi Hendrix.
  • Tens of millions: The number of albums sold by KISS in the mid-1970s.
  • No. 7: The peak position reached by KISS's biggest commercial hit "Beth" on the Billboard Top 100 in 1976.
  • $300 million: The estimated value of the deal by which KISS sold their catalog, brand name, and intellectual property to Pophouse Entertainment Group in 2024.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press, "Ace Frehley, original lead guitarist and founding member of KISS, dies at 74" (2025)
  • Rolling Stone, "Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley React to Ace Frehley's Death" (2014)
  • Variety, "KISS Sells Catalog, Brand Name and Intellectual Property to Swedish Company Pophouse Entertainment Group" (2024)
  • Poison's frontman Bret Michaels, Instagram post, 2025

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