MNRK Music Group has announced with profound sorrow the passing of legendary rock guitarist, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and founding member of KISS, Ace Frehley, who died on October 16, 2025, aged 74.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the devoted community of fans who have stood faithfully by his side through every era of his career,” said Sean Stevenson, President and CEO of MNRK Music Group. “We at MNRK are deeply honored to have worked alongside Ace and to have been his label home since 2014. His creativity, humor, and passion for music will remain an enduring part of MNRK’s story.”
Frehley’s death follows complications from a fall in his home studio that led to a brain bleed, bringing to a close one of rock music’s most electrifying and influential lives. Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx in 1951, he taught himself to play guitar as a teenager, blending blues grit with the melodic punch of British rock. When he answered a Village Voice ad placed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in 1972, the chemistry was instant. Alongside drummer Peter Criss, the four would form KISS, a rock phenomenon that fused blistering riffs, theatrical spectacle, and unbridled showmanship.
As “The Spaceman,” Frehley embodied rock’s cosmic imagination, his silver suits, platform boots, and smoking guitars became symbols of 1970s excess and creativity. But his impact went far deeper than the visual. His sharp, melodic solos and songwriting fueled many of KISS’s defining moments, from Cold Gin and Shock Me to Rocket Ride. His solo anthem New York Groove remains a swaggering touchstone of glam-rock energy. Generations of guitarists would cite him as their gateway to rock ‘n’ roll, drawn by his blend of flash and feel.
Frehley’s journey wasn’t without turbulence. After leaving KISS in 1982 amid creative conflicts and substance struggles, he pursued a solo career that revealed a more grounded, blues-driven player still obsessed with tone. His work with Frehley’s Comet and later solo albums built on his legend, while his return for the 1996 KISS reunion reconnected him with fans worldwide. After one final farewell run, he departed again in 2002 to continue forging his own path.
To Australian fans, Ace Frehley was more than a rock god, he was a cult hero. His tours down under were marked by packed venues and emotional singalongs, and his interviews with Australian Musician showed a candid, humorous artist who appreciated the enduring power of his music. Many local players credited him as their first guitar hero. “I always felt this family feeling when I played in Australia,” he once told Australian Musician. “People there really understood the fun and the heart behind what we did.”
Frehley’s later years were far from quiet. His 2024 album 10,000 Volts proved his fire still burned strong, pairing muscular riffs with his trademark melodic edge. Even as health issues arose, he remained committed to recording, constantly chasing that elusive perfect sound. Friends recall a humble Bronx kid beneath the makeup – one who never stopped exploring the limitless possibilities of six strings.
Frehley is survived by his daughter Monique and his ex-wife Jeanette. Tributes have poured in from across the world – from rock legends, fans, and generations of musicians who followed his cosmic trail. His own words perhaps define it best: “Almost every guitar player I meet, at least 75 percent if not more, says to me, ‘I picked up the guitar because of you.’ That’s going to be pretty much my legacy.”
For millions who once felt the thunder of his riffs under blinding lights, that legacy is eternal. The Spaceman’s riffs live on.