42°F
weather icon Clear
Las Vegas, NV
Nation and World

Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74

FILE - Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley, right, guitarist Ace Frehley, center, and bassist Gene Simm ...
FILE - Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley, right, guitarist Ace Frehley, center, and bassist Gene Simmons play during the band's farewell concert in the Detroit area, Thursday, May 25, 2000, at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich.. (AP Photo/Paul Warner, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2009 file photo, former KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley plays the nation ...
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2009 file photo, former KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley plays the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
FILE - Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for the hard-rock glam band KISS, performs with a Les Paul g ...
FILE - Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for the hard-rock glam band KISS, performs with a Les Paul guitar during a concert at the Civic Center in Harford, Conn., Feb. 16, 1977. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
FILE - Members of the rock group Kiss, from left, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and A ...
FILE - Members of the rock group Kiss, from left, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley, pose for pictures during a news conference Friday, Jan. 29, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin, File)
More Stories
Waymo driverless vehicle. (AMG-TheStreet)
Waymo issuing recall over safety concerns involving school buses
A man and his dog. (AMG-TheStreet)
Dog food recall: Check your freezer
A visitor walks past portraits of DC Comics superheroes as she enters the "Action and Magic Mad ...
Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. studio and streaming business for $72B
Prince William County Police block the street near the house where the FBI made an arrest, in W ...
Man accused of planting pipe bombs before Jan. 6 Capitol attack is charged with explosives offense
The Associated Press
October 16, 2025 - 3:39 pm
 
Updated October 16, 2025 - 5:14 pm

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss who captivated audiences with his elaborate makeup and smoke-filled guitar, died Thursday. He was 74.

Frehley died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown following a recent fall, according to his agent.

Family members said in a statement that they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” but will cherish his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed upon others.

Kiss, whose hits include “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City,” was known for its intense stage shows, which included fireworks, smoke and eruptions of fake blood performed by band members in black-and-white painted faces, platform boots and black wigs.

Frehley and his band mates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

MOST READ
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Waymo driverless vehicle. (AMG-TheStreet)
Waymo issuing recall over safety concerns involving school buses
Tony Owusu, AMG-TheStreet

Waymo has been under some scrutiny this week after a school district publicized videos of the company’s robotaxis driving past school buses with their stop signs and crossing bars deployed.

A man and his dog. (AMG-TheStreet)
Dog food recall: Check your freezer
Dana Sullivan Kilroy, AMG-TheStreet

Dog owners across 14 states are being urged to stop feeding a popular frozen food immediately after customers found plastic pieces mixed into the product.

MORE STORIES