Founding and former KISS guitarist ACE FREHLEY has died of a brain bleed after a serious fall last month.
ACE FREHLEY was 74.
FROM VARIETY:
FROM ROLLING STONE:
More on his life and legacy:
FROM KISS:
We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. 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.
FROM PAUL STANLEY (KISS):
I
remember 1974 being in my room at the Hyatt on Sunset in LA and I heard
someone playing deep and fiery guitar in the room next door. I thought
“Boy, I wish THAT guy was in the band!” I looked over the balcony… He was. It was Ace. This is my favorite photo of us…
FROM BRUCE KULICK (KISS):
The
news of Ace’s passing is devastating to the world of rock. It has
deeply affected me as well. He was one of a kind, and truly an iconic
guitar player. His undeniable
role in the creation and success of KISS cannot be forgotten. Not only
was he loved by all, he influenced millions of guitarists around the
world. RIP
FROM ACE FREHLEY ESTATE:
ATTENTION:
"Ace Frehley, GRAMMY® Award nominated and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted rock guitarist; and iconic founding member of KISS, died today at age 74. Frehley passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall at his home.
Frehley is survived by his wife Jeanette, daughter Monique, brother Charles, sister Nancy Salvner, nieces Suncere Frehley and Julie Salvner, nephews Sky Frehley and Andrew Salvner, sister-in-law Michelanne and brother-in-law Ron Salvner."
Rest in peace, Spaceman
FROM JEFF MANTAS DUNN (VENOM):
Devastated
Always my favorite member, huge inspiration and etched on my skin forever.
FROM JOHNNY KELLY (TYPE O NEGATIVE):
Heartbroken…
This image, in all its spectacular glory, impacted my life more than any other artist or song or insight or revelation.
Sure I was hooked the first time I heard Kiss Alive! And my favorite parts of every Kiss song were always Ace’s leads - which you could always sing in your head because his melody’s and phrasing were always so catchy and iconic and unforgettable, but it wasn’t until I saw this image that I knew beyond a doubt what I wanted to do with my life. Yes-the spaceman gave me purpose. And I wouldn’t have had my own career without him, and yes I know there are COUNTLESS other musician’s of my time professing the same impact. But this is my experience, my Ace inspiration. Besides if you had to conjure up a single image that would symbolize the glitz and excess of rock and roll and the 70’s as a decade it wouldn’t be Gene breathing fire or Paul Stanley’s mirrored guitar, it would be this image of course: the space ace and his smoking Les Paul larger than life on the Madison Square Garden marquee.
If there is a heaven or a hell then surely this is the sign alerting rock guitar players they’re on the right path-or the wrong path for that matter. I know it sent me on my path.
FROM TOM MORELLO: (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE):
My
first guitar hero, Ace Frehley, has passed away. The legendary Space
Ace Frehley inspired generations to love rock n roll and love rock n
roll guitar playing. His timeless
riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the
rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and
his unforgettable crazy laugh will be missed but will never be
forgotten. Thank you, Ace for a lifetime of great music and memories.
FROM RICK ROZZ (DEATH/MASSACRE):
SLEEP WELL SPACEMANFROM AUTOPSY:
There is no way to convey how much this (space) man impacted our lives. RIP IT OUT for ACE, goddamn it!
FROM DETERIOROT:
Farewell Spaceman. Thank You for all the memories
FROM SNY:
Ace Frehley, founding member of the band KISS and native New Yorker, has passed away at age 74.
Frehley's cover of "New York Groove" plays at Citi Field after every Mets win and at MetLife Stadium after every Giants touchdown.
RIP 
FROM NEW YORK GIANTS:
We’ll play “New York Groove” even louder next home game for you Ace
FROM OPETH:
”It is with great sadness and shock that we say goodbye and ”thank you” to Paul ”Ace” Frehley. A rocking beacon of light for guitarplayers worldwide. A massive influence for many, let alone for myself and Fredrik. As far as I'm concerned Ace was the coolest dude out of the original four. He had some type of swagger that almost defined the term itself. A hard rocking Keith Richards of sorts, albeit in silver makeup and platform heels. Kiss was very much an introduction to my ”school of rock”. All my childhood friends were fans of Kiss, and many of them regarded Ace as the ultimate rock-star. I had an early introduction to Kiss breakthrough live record, ”Alive”. Some kids that lived in my neighborhood of Sörskogen/Huddinge sold tickets to a ”show" where ”Kiss" would perform the entire ”Alive” record. This would have been in the early 1980’s. Held in the garages by the street of Taggsvampsvägen, at the very ”summit" of the Sörskogen hills, 4 kids dressed/made up as Gene, Peter, Paul and Ace mimed along to the entire double album, back to back. I seem to recall a previous Opeth band member, Kim Pettersson, held the role of Ace Frehley, but I could be wrong. They sold popcorn and lemonade to the audience, and off they went! It was magnificent! The 4 kids posing as Kiss members were almost ”as good” as the real thing, and the volume was deafening. In a way they helped cementing the legendary status of the actual band, right then and there.
Ace Frehley was awesome. Plain and simple. I think of him now, not only as the great ”left-to-right” swaying guitarist with the smoking Gibson Les Paul, but also as that jovial dude that contradicted/challenged the generic (and sometimes silly) rock-star mannerism of ”bosses”, Gene and Paul. The ”spaceman" was human, after all. If you haven’t seen Ace Frehley go off on a joking/laughing rant during the Kiss interview with Tom Snyder in 1979, I strongly advise for you to do so. His laugh was equally contagious to that of Elvis Presley’s classic and heart-warming live rendition of ”Are you lonesome tonight” from 1969. Priceless!
It’s likely there will be a sit down with my Kiss collection tonight. With that said, I do that all the time anyways. Regardless of any tragic events like the one we find ourselves in at present.
Ace Frehley will be missed by millions. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and fans.
Lots of love, from Opeth.
Mikael Åkerfeldt, October 17, 2025"
FROM BRETT MICHAELS (POISON):
FROM ALICE COOPER:
“The
worst part of being in rock ‘n’ roll at this point is the fact that
some of our fraternity have just reached that age where they’ve… they
leave the planet. Some of
the guys that started 30, 40, 50 years ago are starting to go, and of
course Ace Frehley from KISS, one of the pioneers - one of the great
guitar players out there…Ace was an absolute Guitar hero to so many
people. I did more tours with him than anybody else, as far as opening
for us, for quite a long time so… we became quite good friends. And you
know he always brought it every night… He did it every night. And…
it’s just hard to see somebody like that go. We know that right now that
the KISS fans are certainly in mourning and certainly his family and
certainly everybody that knew him. Ace was an ACE”
FROM STEVE VAI:
Ace
Frehley was the embodiment of rock ’n’ roll attitude — unapologetic,
loud, and irresistibly catchy. His riffs had swagger, his tone had bite,
and his presence lit up
stages like a supernova. During my teenage years, his playing inspired
me not because it was polished, but because it was gloriously unfiltered
and full of life. Ace reminded us all that rock should never apologize
for being fun and that a little chaos can sound downright heavenly. My
heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and fans. The Spaceman has
left the stage, but his orbit will shine forever.
FROM KIRK WINDSTEIN (CROWBAR):
So apparently it’s official. Ace Frehley has passed away at age 74.
All I can say is “Thank you Ace, for making me pick up a guitar 48 years ago. Without you, I would not have pursued a career in music. You were, and always will be my favorite guitarist. God Bless your Family. There will never be another one like you
FROM STANDING BEAR NETWORK:
When I heard that Ace Frehley — the Spaceman of KISS — had walked on, it stirred something deep inside.
As a young person, I didn’t have the words for it, but I felt what he carried: rebellion and wonder, loneliness and light. Maybe that’s why his sound resonated. Beneath all the makeup and fame, he was just a man trying to find his fire in a noisy world.
And though the years took their toll — the struggles, the comebacks — he never stopped. He kept playing. He kept shining that same wild starlight.
In our way, we might say: the Spaceman has returned to the stars he came from. His songs will keep circling the earth, reminding us that sometimes it’s the ones who walk the hardest roads who leave behind the brightest trails.
êkosi, Ace. Travel well, brother.
You gave the world your sound — and we felt it.
—Kanipawit Maskwa
FROM JOHN 5:
I
am so shocked and saddened that this happened to my hero and my friend
I’ve known Ace since 1988 and we’ve been very close ever since then. Ace
changed the world. He influenced millions of people and changed my life. I will miss you my friend.
FROM RUSH:
Absolutely stunned and saddened by the news Ace Frehley has tragically passed away. Back in 1974, as the opening act for KISS, Alex, Neil and myself spent many a night hanging out together in his hotel room after shows, doing whatever nonsense we could think of, just to make him break out his inimitable and infectious laugh. He was an undeniable character and an authentic rock star. RIP Ace .. thanks for welcoming us newbies into the rock and roll world.
FROM STEVIE VAN ZANT:
"RIP
Ace Frehley. Just as KISS has been underrated as a band all these
years, so was Ace underrated as a guitar player. The original band had
that magical undefinable chemistry
that all great bands have, and his writing also contributed to their
success. Our love and condolences go out to his family." - SVZ
FROM VINNIE PAUL ESTATE:
The
world has lost another legend. Vinnie & Dime were both heavily
influenced by Ace & Kiss. Ace will be missed! RIP
@acefrehleyofficial
FROM TUPELO MUSIC HALL:
Please feel free to share your memories and photos/videos in the comments.
FROM SEASON OF MIST:
Rest In Power to legendary KISS guitarist and rock'n'roll wild man Ace Frehley.
Thanks for paving the way Ace
FROM JEFF WATERS (ANNIHILATOR):
Man, so many my age dreamt of being in a band because of him. 
Tough one. Love Gun and Kiss Alive 2 were my Bibles for years, and many others, and I loved his original
singing and obviously his total feel bluesy Jimmy Pageish shredding. I
was lucky enough to play with him at the NYC Revolver Epiphone Golden
Gods show, years ago. He never said "Hi" to me; he just started asking
questions about my tiny Hughes & Kettner amp and how he doubted it
would sound good. When I played it, he looked shocked. I wanted to say
"Ace, did that SHOCK YOU?" hehe. RiP Ace
Tough one. Love Gun and Kiss Alive 2 were my Bibles for years, and many others, and I loved his original
singing and obviously his total feel bluesy Jimmy Pageish shredding. I
was lucky enough to play with him at the NYC Revolver Epiphone Golden
Gods show, years ago. He never said "Hi" to me; he just started asking
questions about my tiny Hughes & Kettner amp and how he doubted it
would sound good. When I played it, he looked shocked. I wanted to say
"Ace, did that SHOCK YOU?" hehe. RiP Ace FROM ALEX SKOLICK (TESTAMENT):
This @guitarplayer cover brought a lot of pushback in the form of angry mail (long before online comment sections). A subsection of readers just had to make it known that they felt #AceFrehley was undeserving of this magazine’s cover, which they expressed in the form of “letters to the editor” (some of which you can read in subsequent GP issues). What those disgruntled guitar snobs of the late ‘70s failed to grasp was an important point: A virtual army (a KISS Army, if you will) of too many kids to name - including many of us who’d go on to find our own voices with our six-strings - were picking up guitars around this time. THE reason we got interested in electric guitar was this man: #AceFrehley.
Other cover artists that year included Larry Carlton, Howard Roberts and Lee Ritenour, great virtuosos highly deserving of the attention, no doubt. But if you were 10 years old at the time, chances are their music was over your head (unless you were far hipper than I was) and the one who made you want to play was Ace. And many of us who’d later appreciate guitarists like those above, were able to do so thanks to Ace opening our guitar doors. If anyone deserved the Guitsr Player cover in 1979, it was Ace Frehley.
Just as Ringo was unappreciated by some who compared the technical drumming skills of select peers (ie Keith Moon, Ginger Baker), the same was true of Ace when compared to certain others (ie Richie Blackmore and especially Ed Van Halen, quickly gaining attention at this time and who’d grace the cover approx one year later).
But Ace had a voice like no other. There is plenty of debate about “playing for the song” vs “having chops.”Ace made a great case tor the former. His solos are 100% for the song and mini-compositions within themselves. Even as the EVH revolution led to Rhoads, Vai, Yngwie, Satriani and our current crop of “super shredders,” Ace’s playing held its own.
To this day, it’s difficult to hear “Deuce” (especially the version from Kiss “Alive”) and not play air guitar. Ace will continue to inspire future air guitarists - many of whom will convert their “air guitars” into real ones - for many years to come.
Rest n Peace, Spaceman with the Les Paul #ripacefrehley
FROM CHARLIE BENANTE (ANTHRAX):
Thank you @acefrehleyofficial for inspiring a fellow #bronxite . We grew up in the same surroundings and both made something of ourselves. I am forever grateful to you Gene,
Paul and Peter for helping to shape the musician and person I am today.
I am forever grateful for the gift you gave us All. There will NEVER be
anything like KISS again, NEVER! I don’t care what kind of music you
play, if you grew up after @kissonline - they have had some influence
on you! God speed on that Rocket ride 
#thespaceman - I love you #heroes #genepaulacepeter - I am very sad
#thespaceman - I love you #heroes #genepaulacepeter - I am very sadFROM INTO THE NECROSPHERE:
Rest in peace, Ace Frehley.
MORE ACE FREHLEY TRIBUTES LATER.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-R.I.P ACE
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