KISS Band Members Pay Tribute To Ace Frehley, Who Died At The Age Of 74

The music world is still coming to terms with the loss of Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley, a founding member of the heavy metal band KISS.

The lead guitarist was 74 when he died on Thursday from injuries sustained from a recent fall. His family said in a statement at the time, “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.”

It went on, “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!”

Now Frehley’s bandmates are weighing in with their tributes.

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley told Variety in a joint statement. “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,” they went on before offering condolences to Frehley’s estranged wife and his daughter. “Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Stanley also paid tribute to Frehley in a post on X, sharing a throwback photo and a memory.

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… pic.twitter.com/3ojMXqVkQr

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 17, 2025

“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,” he wrote. “I thought ‘Boy, I wish THAT guy was in the band!’ I looked over the balcony… He was. It was Ace,” added Stanley, 73. “This is my favorite photo of us…”

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Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, and Peter Criss founded the band in New York City in 1973. Known for their elaborate face paint and over-the-top performances including pyrotechnics, the band became massively popular in the mid-1970s and beyond.

Frehley was with KISS until launching a solo career in 1982, but came back for a reunion tour beginning in 1996 and stayed until 2002.

He went back to solo performing and was actively touring when he died. A post on the official Ace Frehley Facebook page earlier this month confirmed that the rest of his tour was being canceled due to “ongoing medical issues.”