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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Music Box • Musician

Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley (born Paul Daniel Frehley; April 27, 1951 – October 16, 2025) was an American rock musician best known as the original lead guitarist and a founding member of Kiss.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Ace Frehley was the original lead guitarist and a founding member of Kiss, known for his Spaceman persona. He later led Frehley's Comet and had a solo career.

Early life and Kiss years

Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, New York, in 1951, he co-founded Kiss in 1973 as the band's lead guitarist. He created the Spaceman stage persona and played with Kiss until 1982, then rejoined for a reunion tour from 1996 to 2002.

Solo work and Frehley's Comet

After leaving Kiss in 1982, Frehley formed Frehley's Comet and released solo albums. His later career included occasional reunions with Kiss and continued solo releases, cementing his influence on hard rock.

Persona, legacy, and death

Frehley's Spaceman character became one of Kiss's most iconic visuals. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Kiss in 2014. He died on October 16, 2025, at age 74, following complications from a fall.

In short

  • Founding member and original lead guitarist of Kiss.
  • Created the Spaceman stage persona.
  • Left Kiss in 1982, rejoined in 1996, left again in 2002.
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Kiss in 2014.
Canadian angle

Ace Frehley was a major influence on hard rock and heavy metal audiences in Canada through Kiss’s long-standing popularity and touring presence, and he remains part of the broader North American rock canon.

Quick questions

Who was Ace Frehley?
He was an American rock musician best known as the original lead guitarist and a founding member of Kiss.
What is he known for in Kiss?
He was the band's original lead guitarist and created the Spaceman persona.
When did Ace Frehley die?
He died on October 16, 2025, at age 74.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley
    Supports: Birth name, birth and death dates, Kiss membership, Spaceman persona, career timeline
  2. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley
    Supports: Kiss co-founder, Frehley’s Comet, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, death date
  3. Ace Frehley official site — https://www.acefrehley.com/bio
    Supports: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and career overview
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293719/bio/
    Supports: Birth place and death details
  5. TMZ — https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/16/kiss-guitarist-ace-frehley/
    Supports: Death date, age, and reported cause of death
  6. Last.fm — https://www.last.fm/music/Ace+Frehley/+wiki
    Supports: Kiss tenure, solo career, influence, later albums