Ace Frehley, a founding member and lead guitarist for the iconic rock band Kiss, has passed away. According to Vintage Guitar magazine, his death occurred on October 16. He was 74 years old at the time.
Paul Daniel Frehley, as he was born, entered the world on April 27, 1951. As Vintage Guitar reports, his parents fostered a musical inclination in him by playing piano. He received his first electric guitar as a Christmas present in 1964. Frehley’s guitar skills developed without formal instruction, and he drew inspiration from artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Albert Lee.
Frehley’s career took off when he answered an advertisement in the Village Voice, leading to his involvement with Kiss. He had a deep affection for Les Paul guitars, and Vintage Guitar notes his style of playing significantly shaped many subsequent rock guitarists.
His last conversation was featured in the April 2024 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine. A tribute to his life and career is slated for inclusion in the January 2026 issue. The cause of death was determined to be a brain bleed resulting from a fall.
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