Grammy-Nominated Rock Star Dies In New Jersey

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The lead guitarist for the Grammy-nominated rock band KISS has died.

Ace Frehley, also known as Spaceman, died in Morristown on Thursday at the age of 74.

According to his family, Frehley passed away peacefully shortly after he’d taken a fall inside his home.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” a family statement read. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers, and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever.”

According to Rolling Stone, Frehley had canceled some upcoming concerts following his fall in September due to “ongoing medical issues.”

His official cause of death was not immediately made available.

Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1951, Frehley first picked up a guitar at the age of 13. He’d go on to be influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Rolling Stones, as well as Jimi Hendrix, whom he worked for as a roadie at the age of 18.

Frehley played in a number of bands before he founded the rock band KISS in 1973 alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. He played lead guitar throughout the band’s heyday in the 70s, before parting ways with them in 1982.

While Simmons and Stanley were the main songwriters of the band, Frehley always lent his guitar to KISS’s most popular tunes. He’d even penned a couple of songs himself for the band, including “Cold Gin,” “Parasite,” “Shock Me,” and “Talk to Me,” to name a few.

Frehley eventually rejoined the band during their 1990s reunion, and the band was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for their track “Psycho Circus” in 1999.

The band was eventually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Frehley continued to play solo concerts, with sets containing several KISS classics, until his death.

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” KISS posted on X. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS's legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”