Frehley, a Bronx native, is considered one of the greatest metal guitarists of all time.
He joined Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss to form Kiss in New York City in 1973. The group, known for daring black-and-white makeup, costumes and electrifying guitar solos, took the world by storm, sparking a metal fever with hits like “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” “Black Diamond,” “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Lick It Up.”
What started as a rock band turned into a cultural phenomenon and a legacy, widely regarded as one of the most influential music groups of all time.
Kiss changed its lineup over the years, with Frehley leaving for the first time in 1982 to form his own band, Frehley’s Comet.
He pursued a solo career that included hits such as “New York Groove,” released in 1978, and “Rock Soldiers” in 1987.
The Spaceman later returned to Kiss’ orbit, rejoining the band in 1996 for a wildly acclaimed reunion tour, and left again in 2002, closing out his reunion run by performing at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
The four original Kiss members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Music never stopped for Frehley. Last year, he released his solo album “10,000 Volts,” which topped Billboard’s hard music and rock album charts.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley to a musical family, he was self-taught — and went on to inspire millions with his guitar prowess.
“I’ve never taken a lesson, and my sense of melody came from singing in the church choir. So, whatever I have, it can’t be taught. You’ve gotta have it in you. Either you’ve got it, or you’ve got nothing at all,” Frehley told Guitar World last year.
Frehley was married once, to Jeanette Trerotola in 1976, with whom he shares a daughter, Monique, according to People magazine.
He is survived by Jeannette, Monique, his brother Charles, sister Nancy Salvner, as well as his nieces and nephews, according to the statement shared on his Instagram on Thursday.
Kiss co-founders Stanley and Simmons said they were “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 said in a joint statement. “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.”
Criss, Kiss’ co-founder and its original drummer, shared an old photo of Frehley on X, adding: “I’m shocked!!! My friend … I love you!”
Frehley’s friends and fellow musicians remembered him and his influence.
Radio personality Eddie Trunk remembered Frehley as a friend of 40 years.
“This is beyond words for me on many levels. My condolences to Jeanette, Monique and all the fellow fans,” he wrote on X.
Megadeath bassist David Ellefson shared photos with Frehley on Facebook, saying, “What an icon … and what an influence to generations like me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his groundbreaking guitar work and larger-than-life presence throughout all his years in KISS.”
Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready wrote on X: “Ace was a hero of mine and also I would consider a friend. I studied his solos endlessly over the years … I would not have picked up a guitar without Ace and KISS’s influence. RIP it out Ace, you changed my life. Thank you.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame remembered Frehley as “one of the most recognizable and influential guitarists of all time.”
“Known for his distinctive licks, flashy pyrotechnics, and his alter ego — the ‘Spaceman’ — Frehley also contributed lead vocals on songs such as ‘Shock Me’ and ‘Rocket Ride,’ and he wrote or co-wrote such memorable, riff-driven songs as ‘Cold Gin’ and ‘Parasite.’ When the four members of KISS all put out solo albums in 1978, Frehley’s was the biggest seller, driven by the hit single ‘New York Groove,'” it said in a statement.
Bret Michaels, the lead singer of Poison, 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”
Flowers will be placed at Frehley’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday evening. He and his bandmates received their stars in August 1999.
