Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of Kiss, has died at the age of 74 after complications from a fall in his home studio. Known to millions as “The Spaceman,” Frehley’s cosmic persona and explosive guitar playing helped define one of rock’s most iconic bands.
Born in the Bronx, Frehley grew up in a musical family and received his first electric guitar as a Christmas gift in 1964. Immersed in the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, he taught himself to play and quickly developed a style that blended raw energy with melodic precision. Friends dubbed him “Ace” for his knack for charming people — a nickname that stuck for life.
After years of performing in local bands, fate intervened in late 1972 when a friend spotted a Village Voice ad seeking a lead guitarist. Frehley auditioned, impressed the group immediately, and within weeks, Kiss was born. By early 1973, the band had its name — and its now-famous lightning bolt logo, designed by Frehley himself. When the band adopted their signature makeup and personas, Ace became “The Spaceman,” inspired by his lifelong fascination with science fiction and outer space.
Frehley’s guitar work became a cornerstone of Kiss’s sound. His solos were electric — sometimes literally, with smoke billowing from his custom Gibson Les Paul onstage. In 1978, Frehley released his self-titled solo album, which became the most successful of the four Kiss members’ individual projects, propelled by the hit single “New York Groove.”
After leaving Kiss in 1982, Frehley launched Frehley’s Comet and later returned for the band’s blockbuster reunion tour in 1996, performing with them until 2002. His solo career continued for decades, producing a string of albums, including Anomaly (2009) and Origins Vol. 2 (2020), with Origins Vol. 3 planned for release in 2025.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Frehley remained active and passionate about music, performing over 30 shows this year alone. His final concert took place on September 5 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Ace Frehley leaves behind a legacy written in smoke, riffs, and starlight — a true rock legend who took his fans to another galaxy and back again.