Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have been left ‘devastated’ over the death of former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley as they led emotional tributes to the late rock legend.
Frehley passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday after suffering a brain bleed that left him on life support.
The late guitarist – who was one of the original members of the famed rock band -was taken off of life support by his family after he was hospitalized and put on a ventilator, per TMZ.
Simmons and Stanley issued a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter following the news of Frehley’s passing.
‘I am devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.’
They added, ‘He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. My thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.’
KISS was formed in 1973 in New York City with Simmons, Stanley, Frehley and Peter Criss as the original founding members.
Frehley had been the lead guitarist for the band and was also known for inventing the persona called The Spaceman.
He performed with the group until he left in 1982 and proceeded to form his own band Frehley’s Comet.
Frehley later joined KISS once again in 1996 for a reunion tour but would depart from the rock band in 2002.
KISS was known for a number of hits such as Rock And Roll All Nite, I Was Made For Lovin’ You and Detroit Rock City.
Amid his own solo career, Frehley released eight studio albums including Trouble Walkin’ (1989), Space Invader (2014) and Origins Vol. 2 (2020).
Other celebrities paid tribute to the late music artist on Thursday such as Bret Michaels – who is the lead singer of rock band Poison.
He uploaded a photo of himself posing with Frehley while also penning, ‘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.’
Michaels continued, ‘All my love and respect, from my family and myself – may you rest in peace!!!’
Tom Morello – who is known for being a part of the band Rage Against The Machine – also shared a message on Instagram alongside a photo of the late guitarist.
‘My first guitar hero, Ace Frehley, has passed away. The legendary Space Ace Frehley inspired generations to love rock n roll and love rock n roll guitar playing.’
He added, ‘His timeless rifts and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the wobble and his unforgettable laugh will be missed but will never be forgotten. Thank you, Ace for a lifetime of great music and memories.’
MJ Keenan – the frontman for 90s band Tool – also took to Instagram on Thursday to share, ‘Godspeed, Ace.’
The Hollywood Walk of Fame uploaded a photo of the band when they received their star back in 1999.
A statement also read: ‘In tribute to Walk of Famer Ace Frehley, flowers will be placed on his star today, October 16, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
‘Frehley’s star and that of his bandmates Kiss was dedicated on August 11, 1999, and is located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard, near La Brea Avenue.’
The Kennedy Center wrote that it is ‘saddened to hear of the passing of one of this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees Ace Frehley of the band KISS.
‘We send our deepest condolensces to his friends, his family, and millions of fans worldwide. We will be paying tribute to Ace, his work, and his legacy at our ceremony in December.’
Rock guitarist Richie Kotzen shared a photo of himself with Frehley and penned, ‘Saddened to hear about the passing of Ace Frehley, a true legend. RIP Hero.’
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam said, ‘I heard about Ace Frehley’s passing from Rick Friel who I played with in a show called Shadow.
‘Rick was also the first guy on the busy in 1977 with a KISS lunchbox to tell me about Ace…just changed my life. I got a guitar in 1978 to join Rick’s band Warrior which turned into Shadow. We covered “C’mon and Love Me.”‘
He continued, ‘All my friend 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….
‘Just listen to “Alive,” I used his solo from “She’ as a template. Ace jammed on “Black Diamond” with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden… a dream come true for me.’
McCready added, ‘I would not have picked up a guitar without Ace and KISS’s influence. RIP it out Ace, you changed my life. Thank you. – Mike.’
Frehley reportedly collapsed in his home studio a few weeks ago, hitting his head in a frightening fall that triggered the medical crisis, per TMZ.
Frehley’s rep Lori Lousararian told Rolling Stone that the musician’s health deteriorated following a ‘recent fall at his home,’ though details beyond that were not immediately clear.
Since then, the rock icon canceled all remaining tour dates. Sources close to Frehley told TMZ that he had been on a ventilator for days, with doctors seeing little improvement before the heartbreaking decision was made.
Frehley’s family issued a statement obtained by Rolling Stone saying they ‘are completely devastated and heartbroken’ by his passing, but relieved they were able to provide him with comfortable conditions at the end.
‘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,’ Frehley’s family said.
Frehley’s family honored the musicians legacy as well as ‘his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.’
They continued: ‘The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension.
‘Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!’
Frehley – the Bronx-born guitarist who helped form KISS in 1973 alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss – played a pivotal role in shaping the band’s wild, face-painted legacy.
Frehley brought an essential elements of showmanship to KISS’s act with elaborate costumes, wigs, platform boots and over-the-top pyrotechnics.
Frehley was one of the first performers to introduce to the stage guitars that glowed, emit smoke and shot rockets, with many in the industry following his lead in enhancing their instruments to give fans another element of the show to look forward to.
Frehley told the website Antihero in April of 2024 that he was proud of carving his own niche as a singles artist as well as a part of the band.
‘Out of the four founding members of Kiss, I definitely have been the most successful solo artist,’ he said, a claim backed up by his 1978 hit New York Groove.
Frehley said that he was also very proud to be influential in his industry, acclaimed clearly backed up by the influx of memorials crediting him for his ingenuity.
‘I have to say, almost every guitar player I meet, at least 75 percent, if not more, say to me, “I picked up the guitar because of you. When I heard Alive!, that was it, I decided to pick up a guitar and start learning your songs,”‘ he said.
Said Frehley: ‘That’s going to be pretty much my legacy that I was able to make the transition from a supergroup like Kiss to being a successful solo artist.’
Rumors rippled through the rock world that Frehley had passed after veteran music journalist Mitch Lafon tweeted, ‘Ace, Thank you for the music & memories God bless.’
