Ace Frehley’s fellow founding Kiss bandmates, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, have damaged their silence following the guitarist’s demise at age 74.
Simmons, 76, and Stanley, 73, paid tribute to their late bandmate, who died on Thursday, October 16, in a joint assertion shared with The Hollywood Reporter later that day.
“I’m devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was a necessary and irreplaceable rock soldier throughout among the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its historical past,” Simmons and Stanley wrote in a joint assertion. “He’s and can at all times be part of KISS’s legacy. My ideas are with Jeanette, Monique and all those that cherished him, together with our followers world wide.”
Simmons additionally took to social media to mourn the late musician, writing by way of X, “Our hearts are damaged. Ace has handed on. Nobody can contact Ace’s legacy. I do know he cherished the followers. He instructed me many occasions. Sadder nonetheless, Ace didn’t reside lengthy sufficient to be honored on the Kennedy Ctr Honors occasion in Dec. Ace was the everlasting rock soldier. Lengthy could his legacy reside on!”
Bruce Kulick, who performed with Kiss from 1984 to 1996, additionally honored Frehley by way of an Instagram publish.
“The information of Ace’s passing is devastating to the world of rock. It has deeply effected [sic] me as effectively. He was one among a sort a really an iconic guitar participant,” Kulick wrote on Thursday. “His plain position within the creation and success of KISS can’t be forgotten. Not solely was he cherished by all, he influenced hundreds of thousands of guitarists world wide. RIP.”
KISS in January 1975 (Picture by Getty)
Earlier on Thursday, Us Weekly confirmed Frehley’s demise following a current fall at his residence.
“We’re utterly devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we had been lucky sufficient to have been in a position to encompass him with loving, caring, peaceable phrases, ideas, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” Frehley’s household stated in a press release to Us. “We cherish all of his most interesting recollections, his laughter and rejoice his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and past comprehension. Reflecting on all of his unbelievable life achievements, Ace’s reminiscence will proceed to reside on without end!”
Frehley’s supervisor, John Ostrosky, instructed Us on Thursday, “Since 1976, Area Ace has been my Superman. His kindness, caring, and inclination to mentor was on the forefront till the very finish. His affect will reside with me without end.”
Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist and cofounder of the rock band Kiss, has died at age 74, Us Weekly has confirmed. “We’re utterly devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we had been lucky sufficient to have been in a position to encompass him with loving, caring, peaceable phrases, ideas, prayers and intentions as he left this […]
Based on his household, Frehley handed away peacefully surrounded by household in Morristown, New Jersey.
The information of Frehley’s demise comes 10 days after the musician introduced he was canceling the rest of his 2025 solo tour dates, citing medical points.
Frehley cofounded Kiss in 1973 alongside Stanley, Simmons and Peter Criss, and was featured on a variety of the band’s basic albums, together with Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over and Love Gun.
The guitarist exited the group in 1982 amid artistic variations and went on to pursue a solo profession after creating his personal band, Frehley’s Comet. He later signed on for a Kiss reunion tour in 1996.
In his private life, Frehley married Jeanette Trerotola in 1976, and the 2 shared daughter Monique, 45. They had been nonetheless legally married as of 2018, although Frehley had been engaged to Rachael Gordon since 2010.
He and Gordon break up in 2019 after 11 years collectively. Round that very same time, Freehley met Lara Cove at a Kiss conference in New Jersey. The 2 later turned engaged however referred to as it quits in 2024.
