Ace Frehley, guitarist for KISS, dies at age 74
Ace Frehley or Paul Daniels, the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band KISS, passed away at the age of 74 in New Jersey.
Ace Frehley cause of death: Paul Daniel or Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of rock band Kiss, passed away at the age of 74. The co-founder’s death marks the end of an era, and as the family statement read, they were “completely devastated and heartbroken.” “The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions and beyond comprehension,” it added.
As per Frehley’s family, the ‘Spaceman’ guitarist and occasional vocalist faced a complicated head injury. Last month, in September, he fell in his home studio and sustained a brain injury. Under constant medical care for several weeks, he even had to cancel his 2025 World Tour mid-way. After being on prolonged life support, due to other health issues, too, the rock legend passed away in New Jersey.
Born in 1951, Frehley grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at the age of 13. Inspired by guitar icons like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Officially named Paul Daniels, his name, ‘Ace’, came from his teenage reputation for arranging successful dates for his friends.
Frehley, the icon of 1970 rock, adopted the persona of ‘The Space Ace’, and completed his look with silver makeup and star motifs. His dazzling guitar solos were exceptionally famous for the use of special effects, like smoke-emitting Les Paul guitars, and stage flair. He responded to an audition ad in 1973 by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and eventually met his founding members of KISS. He was also part of hits like ‘Cold Gin’, ‘Shock Me’, and ‘Rocket Ride’.
After quitting the band in 1982, Frehley’s singles were huge hits too. He debuted his solo album in 1978 – ‘New York Groove’. His last solo album, 10,000 Volts, came out in 2024, showing his continued passion for music.
Several reports estimate Ace Frehley’s net worth to be nearly $1 million, while others claim it to be $15 million. However, given his uneven track record at the box office and well-documented financial hiccups, complete with mortgages and tax troubles, the more modest estimates likely paint a truer picture of his actual net worth.
The rock legend is survived by his daughter Monique and wife Jeanette. However, he has also acknowledged struggling with substance abuse, legal issues, and financial instability throughout his life.
Musicians shared their memories of Frehley, who died on Oct. 16, celebrating his remarkable talent, unforgettable laugh, and impact across generations
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of Kiss and one of rock’s most recognisable figures, has died at the age of 74. His family confirmed the news on Thursday, saying he passed away following a recent fall at his home.
In a statement, they said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken,” adding that he was surrounded by love and prayers in his final moments.
Frehley’s passing marks the end of an era for fans of Kiss, a band whose theatrical performances, bold makeup and explosive stage effects defined 1970s rock. Known to millions as “The Spaceman”, Frehley helped shape the band’s distinctive sound and image, combining hard rock riffs with a futuristic flair that made Kiss a global sensation.
Kiss emerged in the 1970s with a style widely recognised as both hard rock and glam rock. Their black-and-white face paint, elaborate leather costumes, and spectacular pyrotechnic shows set them apart. The band is often seen as a precursor to heavy metal.
Their 1975 hits, including the anthemic “Rock and Roll All Nite” and the live album “Alive!,” remain rock classics. Kiss achieved impressive commercial success with all 26 of their albums earning gold status in the US, and 14 going platinum. These sales figures cement Kiss as one of the most successful American bands.
Frehley’s influence went far beyond his guitar work. With his silver-and-black costume and star-painted face, he personified Kiss’s space-age image. After leaving the band in the early 1980s, he found solo success with the 1978 hit New York Groove, and later rejoined Kiss for their 1990s reunion tour.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx in 1951, he discovered music after seeing The Who and Cream perform live. His path to Kiss began when he answered an advert for a guitarist with “flash and ability” — a description he more than lived up to. That meeting with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss led to one of rock’s most recognisable line-ups.
Frehley’s sharp solos and unshakeable stage presence made him a model for generations of rock guitarists. As tributes pour in, fans and musicians alike are remembering not just a rock star, but a player whose sound and style helped define an era.
Rock legend Ace Frehley, KISS's original lead guitarist, has passed away at 74. Known for his 'Spaceman' persona and electrifying solos, Frehley leaves a significant musical legacy. While his estimated net worth is around $1 million, details of his financial estate and heirs remain unconfirmed, with immediate family likely beneficiaries.
Rock music has lost one of its most electrifying icons: Ace Frehley.The founding lead guitarist of KISS passed away on October 16, at age 74. True to his name, Ace has been known for his “Spaceman” persona, pyrotechnic guitar effects, and influence on generations of guitarists. Confirming his passing, his family issued a heartfelt statement, saying they had “surrounded him with loving, caring, peaceful words … as he left this earth.”Frehley’s passing not only marks the end of an era in rock history, as he was the last surviving original member of the classic KISS lineup. It goes without saying that Frehley leaves behind a legacy that towers in rock history.
But – beyond his musical legacy – what about his financial legacy? In terms of wealth, what does he leave behind, and who is set to inherit that fortune?
Although Frehley certainly is an iconic name in the history of rock music, his wealth accumulation, compared to his musical legacy, has been modest. As per public records, Frehley’s net worth at his death was ‘surprising’, especially considering his long career with KISS. According to multiple credible sources’ estimates, his net worth stands at around $1 million only.However, these estimates may not capture the full complexity of his finances.
Over the decades, Frehley earned from collaborations, album royalties, live performances, merchandising, and licensing. But notably, he also suffered financial setbacks. In 2013, his home was foreclosed due to an unpaid mortgage of $735,000, and he reportedly had unpaid taxes and interest.In fact, in multiple interviews, Frehley commented about the financial volatility of a rock career, acknowledging that success didn’t always guarantee stability.
As of now, there is no confirmed public record of a will or detailed estate plan released to the media. Given his marriage to Jeanette Trerotola (in 1976) and their daughter, Monique Frehley, born in 1980, it is USA likely that immediate family members will have priority in inheritances depending on his final legal arrangements.Because of the legal complexity of music royalties, legacy rights, and intellectual property, some of his revenue streams may persist after his death — especially from recorded music, merchandise, and licensing of KISS-related branding. There’s a possibility that a portion of those ongoing rights might pass to heirs. However, in light of Frehley’s past encounters, any outstanding debts or liens may reduce the net USA distributable estate.Given his prior financial struggles (foreclosure, tax issues), there could also be creditors or claims that affect the estate. If he had insurance, trusts, or contractual arrangements, those could shape how his legacy is passed on — but none have been confirmed publicly.
Born as Paul Daniel Frehley in 1951, Ace Frehley soared to fame as the original lead guitarist and creative force in KISS. His iconic silver makeup, cosmic stage persona, and explosive guitar solos helped define KISS’s theatrical identity. He remained an enduring figure in rock, releasing solo work and occasionally rejoining the band for tours. In fact, his solo work, including the platinum success of his 1978 debut (producing the hit “New York Groove”), and his later USA albums under Frehley’s Comet and solo projects, have kept him in the rock conversation even decades later. Frehley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 along with his bandmates.On September 25, Frehley was reported to have suffered a fall in his studio, resulting in a brain hemorrhage. He was placed on life support in Morristown, New Jersey, and despite medical efforts, he passed away on October 16.While his estimated net worth might seem modest relative to rock legends, Frehley’s impact on music, culture, and fans far exceeds mere dollars. He not only lit up KISS’s early era but also helped craft their identity and inspired countless USA guitarists to pick up the instrument.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, USA caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. 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 USA beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
After news of Frehley’s death broke, Stanley and Simmons said in a joint statement that they were “devastated”.
“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 said, paying tribute to “all those who loved him, including our fans around the world”.
Criss wrote on X: “I’m shocked!!! My friend ... I love you!”
Frehley reportedly fell in his recording studio and hit his head in late September. He was hospitalised for several weeks and put on life support after suffering a brain bleed.
His injuries initially forced him to cancel a concert date in California. Days later, the rest of his 2025 tour was cancelled due to “some ongoing health issues”.
When Kiss released their self-titled debut album in 1974, critics were mostly cold, but the band quickly became famous and loved by their fans for their wild live shows, white and black makeup and leather costumes, inspired by the New York Dolls and Alice Cooper. Each member had a different persona, with Frehley being the Spaceman (or “Space Ace”), Simmons the Demon, Stanley the Starchild and Criss the Catman.
In keeping with the band’s theatrics, Frehley was known for playing a trademarked, modified Les Paul, which was designed to fill the stage with smoke during his guitar solos. He never took a guitar lesson, saying in a 2009 interview: “I’m an anomaly, I’m an un-schooled musician. I don’t know how to read music, but I’m one of the most famous guitar players in the world, so go figure.”
When all four members of Kiss released solo albums on the same day in 1978, it was Frehley’s that sold best, with his cover of Russ Ballard’s song New York Groove becoming a hit.
The band members’ faces were not revealed for more than a decade; by this time, Frehley had left Kiss, having moved on to a solo career in 1982 after feeling conflicted about the band’s direction and struggling with substance abuse. “I was mixed up,” he later said of this period. “I believed that if I stayed in that group, I would have [killed myself]. I’d be driving home from the studio, and I’d want to drive my car into a tree.” In 1984, Frehley formed a new band, Frehley’s Comet, which released two studio albums but failed to 
take off. Frehley reverted to using his own name for his 1989 album Trouble Walkin’, which featured backing vocals from Criss.Frehley rejoined Kiss when the original members of the band reunited in 1996 for a hugely successful reunion tour, and stayed until 2002. However, when Kiss went on their farewell world tour in 2022 and 2023, Frehley did not join them. In his later years, he had an adversarial relationship with Simmons, who made several comments in the press about Frehley’s past substance abuse.Kiss’ final tour review – a glorious, absurd triumph from kings of rock’n’roll theatre
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In 2019, when Simmons claimed Frehley was actually fired from Kiss due to his drug use, Frehley addressed Simmons in a public statement, saying he had been sober for 12 years and that he quit Kiss “of my own free will, because you and Paul [Stanley] are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with”.
Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready paid tribute, recalling how he first learned about Frehley at 11, when a friend got a Kiss lunchbox and it “changed my life”.“All my friends have spent untold hours talking about Kiss and buying Kiss stuff. Ace was a hero of mine and also I would consider a friend. I studied his solos endlessly over the years,” McCready wrote, adding that playing with Frehley at Madison Square Garden was “a dream come true for me”.“I would not have picked up a guitar without Ace and Kiss’s influence,” he wrote. “RIP it out Ace, you changed my life.”Poison frontman Bret Michaels wrote on X: “Ace, my brother, I surely cannot thank you enough for the years of great music, the many festivals we’ve done together and your lead guitar on Nothing But A Good Time. All my love and respect, from my family and myself - may you rest in peace!!!”Frehley is survived by his wife, Jeanette, and daughter Monique.
Posted on 2025/10/17 09:34 AM