KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley’s Cause Of Death Confirmed

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The cause of death of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has been confirmed, according to the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Frehley died in Morristown on Oct. 16 at the age of 74. Family, friends, old band mates, and KISS fans from across the world mourned the “legendary” rock and roller.

On Monday, the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Frehley’s cause of death was complications following a fall in September.

In September, Frehley suffered a fall in his New Jersey home, which resulted in blunt force trauma to his head.

The report says that the head injury caused hemorrhaging, a hematoma, and a fractured skull that ultimately led to the rock star’s death. The report also noted several bruises and injuries on his body and face.

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

The manner of death was deemed an accident, according to the medical report.

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Frehley’s family announced his death on Oct. 16, releasing the following statement:

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. 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.”

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 1970s, 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.”