Ace Frehley dies aged 74: what was the cause of death of the Kiss guitarist?

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of Kiss, has died at 74. The musician, known to millions as “Space Ace,” passed away peacefully Thursday surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following complications from a recent fall, his agent confirmed.

In a statement, Frehley’s relatives said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken,” remembering him for his laughter and generosity.

Who was Ace Frehley?

Frehley helped define the band’s sound and spectacle through the 1970s, wielding his signature smoking guitar as part of Kiss’s explosive stage shows. With hits like“Rock and Roll All Nite”and“I Was Made for Lovin’ You,”the group became one of the biggest acts in rock history, selling tens of millions of albums and pioneering modern music merchandising.

Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, he joined Kiss in 1973 and inspired a generation of guitarists with his flashy solos and space-themed persona. After leaving the band in the early ’80s, he found solo success before reuniting with Kiss for their celebrated mid-1990s comeback tour.

How many of Kiss’ founders are still alive?

His death marks the first among Kiss’s four founding members, a lineup that included Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss.

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during the most formative years of Kiss. He will always be part of our legacy.”

Did Ace Frehley have a wife and children?

Frehley is survived by his wife, Jeanette; his daughter, Monique; his brother, Charles; his sister, Nancy; his nieces, Suncere and Julie; his nephews, Sky and Andrew; his sister-in-law, Michelanne; and his brother-in-law, Ron.

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