Ace Frehley, who played lead guitar as a founding member of the face-painted, blood-spewing, fire-breathing hard-rock band Kiss, died Thursday in Morristown, N.J. He was 74.

His death was announced by his family, which said he’d recently suffered a fall. “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,” the family said in a statement.

In his alter ego as the Spaceman, Frehley played with the original incarnation of Kiss for less than a decade, from 1973 – when he formed the group in New York with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss – until 1982, when he quit not long after Criss left. Yet he was instrumental to the creation of the band’s stomping and glittery sound as heard in songs like “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “strutter” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” In the late ’70s, those hits – along with Kiss’ over-the-top live show – made the group an inescapable pop-cultural presence seen in comic books and on lunch boxes; today the group is widely viewed as a pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll merchandising.

[Video of Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin’ You]

A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Frehley rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion, then left again in 2002 to return to the solo career he’d started in the early ’80s. In 2023,kiss completed what Simmons and Stanley called their final tour.

KISS

KISS is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Known for their distinctive face paint, flamboyant stage costumes, and energetic performances, they quickly became a global phenomenon.

The original lineup consisted of Gene Simmons (bass, vocals), Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals).Each member adopted a unique “persona” complete with elaborate makeup and stage attire. Simmons became “The Demon,” Stanley “The Starchild,” Frehley “The Spaceman,” and Criss “The Cat.”

KISS achieved meaningful commercial success in the mid-to-late 1970s with albums like Destroyer (1976), Rock and Roll Over (1976), and Love Gun (1977). These albums spawned hit singles such as “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City.” Their live shows were legendary for their pyrotechnics, including fire-breathing, levitating platforms, and elaborate stage sets.

The band’s popularity waned in the early 1980s following the departure of Frehley and Criss. They briefly performed without makeup in 1983, a move that proved unpopular with fans. The original lineup reunited in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.

Throughout their career, KISS has released 20 studio albums, numerous live albums, and compilation albums. They’ve sold over 100 million records worldwide, establishing themselves as one of the best-selling music acts of all time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

KISS continues to tour, though the band announced their “End of the Road” tour in 2018, intending it to be their final tour. However, they continue to add dates. The band’s enduring appeal lies in its theatricality, catchy songs, and unwavering commitment to entertaining audiences.

Key Albums:

• Destroyer (1976)
• Rock and Roll Over (1976)
• Love Gun (1977)
• Alive! (1975)

Website: https://www.kissonline.com/