Ace Frehley, the legendary KISS guitarist known as the “Spaceman,” has died at 74 after a devastating fall in his New Jersey home, ending a groundbreaking career that revolutionized rock music and leaving fans around the world heartbroken as they mourn the loss of a true icon whose fire burned bright until the very end.

Ace Frehley, the electrifying lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band KISS, has died at the age of 74, leaving behind a universe of fans mourning the loss of one of rock’s most iconic and eccentric figures.

Frehley, known worldwide as the “Spaceman,” passed away on October 16, 2025, in Morristown, New Jersey, after complications stemming from a fall in his home studio several weeks earlier.

The accident, which caused a serious brain injury, led to a rapid decline in his condition.

Surrounded by his loved ones, the musician who brought cosmic fire and thunder to KISS’s sound took his final bow.

Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, Ace’s journey to stardom was as turbulent as it was triumphant.

Growing up in a tough neighborhood, he found solace in music, teaching himself guitar at age 13 after receiving it as a Christmas gift.

Friends recalled how he spent hours alone, mimicking the riffs of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton until his fingers bled.

“Music was his escape,” one former classmate remembered.

“You could tell he was destined for something bigger than the Bronx.”

That destiny arrived in 1973, when a young Frehley answered a classified ad placed by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons looking for a lead guitarist for a new rock band.

He showed up late to the audition, wearing mismatched sneakers, but the moment he plugged in his guitar, he stunned the room.

“We knew instantly he was the guy,” Stanley once said.

“He had this tone, this attitude—it was otherworldly.

” That audition gave birth to KISS, a band that would go on to redefine rock theatrics and stage performance for generations.

As the “Spaceman,” Ace became the embodiment of rock fantasy.

With his silver makeup, futuristic costumes, and guitar that literally shot flames and smoke, he transformed every KISS concert into an intergalactic spectacle.

Behind the scenes, however, Frehley was a quiet and often shy man who struggled with the fame that came so suddenly.

“I never saw myself as a rock god,” he once admitted in a 2014 interview.

“I just loved playing guitar.

The rest of it—fame, excess, drama—it came with the job.”

During KISS’s meteoric rise in the 1970s, Frehley’s distinctive guitar work became central to the band’s sound.

His riffs powered hits like “Detroit Rock City,” “Shock Me,” and “Cold Gin.

” Fans adored his fiery solos and unpredictable energy on stage, but his growing discomfort with fame and creative differences with Simmons and Stanley led to mounting tension within the band.

By 1982, after years of internal conflict and personal struggles with addiction, Frehley decided to leave KISS.

“I needed to save myself,” he later confessed in his autobiography No Regrets.

His departure didn’t mean the end of his musical legacy.

In 1978, Frehley released his solo album Ace Frehley, which outperformed the solo projects of his KISS bandmates and included the hit single “New York Groove.

” The song became his anthem—an ode to his roots, resilience, and unmistakable swagger.

Later, he formed the band Frehley’s Comet, continuing to release music and tour, earning a devoted following among fans who admired his authenticity and raw talent.

Frehley reunited with KISS in 1996 for their long-awaited reunion tour, donning his Spaceman makeup once again.

The world erupted in nostalgia as the original lineup—Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, and Peter Criss—shared the stage after years of estrangement.

The reunion was both a triumphant return and a bittersweet reminder of the volatile chemistry that had once fueled their rise.

“We made magic together,” Gene Simmons once said, “but magic sometimes burns too bright to last.”

Despite personal ups and downs, Frehley remained a beloved figure in the rock community.

Younger artists such as Dave Grohl and Slash often cited him as a formative influence.

His fiery style, use of distortion, and flair for showmanship inspired generations of guitarists who followed.

Frehley’s influence extended far beyond the KISS Army; he helped define an entire era when rock was larger than life, unapologetically bold, and electrifyingly theatrical.

In the days following his death, tributes poured in from across the music world.

Paul Stanley wrote, “We started as kids chasing a dream, and what we found was something bigger than any of us imagined.

Rest in peace, Ace.

” Gene Simmons shared a photo of the original four members, captioned simply, “Forever our Spaceman.

” Fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden, lighting candles and playing “New York Groove” in his honor.

Frehley’s passing leaves a void not only in KISS’s storied history but in the heart of rock itself.

He was more than just a guitarist; he was a symbol of an era when music was dangerous, defiant, and limitless.

Behind the face paint and explosive solos was a man who loved his craft and lived for the moment when the crowd roared his name.

As his iconic silver guitar rests silent, Ace Frehley’s influence continues to reverberate across generations.

His riffs, his spirit, and his interstellar persona will forever echo through the halls of rock history—proof that legends, even when gone, never truly fade away.