![\"Roisin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/nowHearThis1_2.png\")
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Ace Frehley, guitarist and founding member<\/a> of the rock group Kiss<\/a>, has died. He was 74.<\/p>\n The musician suffered a fall at home in September, and TMZ reported earlier today that he had sustained a brain bleed which left him on life support.<\/p>\n His death was announced by his family. In a statement to Rolling Stone<\/a>, they said: \u201cWe 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe 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\u2019s memory will continue to live on forever!\u201d<\/p>\n Frehley\u2019s tour manager John Ostrosky shared September 25 via Facebook that the musician had suffered a \u201cminor fall\u201d and would have to cancel an upcoming tour date. <\/p>\n A subsequent update from Frehley\u2019s official page on October 6 announced: \u201cDue to some ongoing medical issues, Ace has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of his 2025 dates.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Ace Frehley in Los Angeles in 2014 (Frazer Harrison\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley in The Bronx, New York City, on April 27, 1951. He received his first guitar as a Christmas present in 1964, at the age of 13. <\/p>\n He played in numerous bands in New York before answering an advertisement in 1972 placed by rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons<\/a> and drummer Peter Criss, who were seeking a lead guitarist. He got the job, and by January 1973 the four-piece had named themselves Kiss<\/a>.<\/p>\n Between 1974 and 1975, Kiss released three albums (Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill) which built a cult following of fans who called themselves the \u201cKiss Army.\u201d<\/p>\n Their mainstream commercial breakthrough came with 1975 live album Alive!, which went platinum four times over and gave the band their first top 40 hit with the live version of previous single \u201cRock and Roll All Nite.\u201d Frehley\u2019s frenetic playing on Alive! would become a significant influence on a generation of young guitarists. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Ace Frehley and singer Paul Stanley of Kiss performing in New Jersey in June 2000 (George De Sota\/Liaison) open image in gallery<\/p>\n Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley founded the flamboyant rock band with drummer Peter Criss in 1973 (George De Sota\/Liaison)<\/p>\n In 1978, all four band members released eponymous solo records, and Frehley\u2019s became the biggest seller. He wrote three songs for the band\u2019s 1979 album Dynasty and another three for 1980’s Unmasked.<\/p>\n In the early 1980s Frehley found himself sidelined, as Criss left the band and Stanley and Simmons formed a tighter unit. On the band\u2019s 1982 \u201cCreatures of the Night\u201d tour he was replaced by guitarist Vinnie Vincent.<\/p>\n Frehley formed his own band, Frehley’s Comet, in 1984. They released a self-titled album in 1987 and a follow-up, Second Sighting, in 1988.<\/p>\n In 1996, Frehley and Criss rejoined Kiss for a successful reunion tour. The original line-up released a new album, Psycho Circus, in 1998. Frehley\u2019s last performance with the band was at the closing ceremony for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.<\/p>\n![\"Ace](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-486322765-(1).jpg\")
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