&34;He is and will always be a part of Kiss's legacy,&34; Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement about the band's founding lead guitarist. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley honor late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley: 'Irreplaceable rock soldier' &34;He is and will always be a part of Kiss's legacy,&34; Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement about the band's founding lead guitarist. By Lauren Huff :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/IMG20200213174800940c7d2deff3faa4d40923693560d77fe00.

"He is and will always be a part of Kiss's legacy," Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement about the band's founding lead guitarist.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley honor late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley: 'Irreplaceable rock soldier'

"He is and will always be a part of Kiss's legacy," Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement about the band's founding lead guitarist.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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October 16, 2025 8:28 p.m. ET

Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Gene Simmons of Kiss in London, 1976. Credit:

Chris Walter/WireImage

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are paying tribute to their late Kiss bandmate Ace Frehley, who died Thursday at 74.

"We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley," the rockers said in a joint statement shared with **. "He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of Kiss's legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world."

The iconic rocker and founding Kiss guitarist died at 74 in Morristown, N.J., on Thursday after suffering a fall at his home. A cause of death was not immediately provided.

Ace Frehley, original Kiss guitarist, dies at 74

Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley halts 2025 tour over 'ongoing medical issues'

In September, Frehley canceled then upcoming shows in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio after he was hospitalized for a prior fall at his home.**

Frehley's family announced the guitarist's death in a press release Thursday. "We are completely devastated and heartbroken," the family wrote. "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's statement continued, "We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace's memory will continue to live on forever!"

In 1972, Frehley followed an advertisement in *The Village Voice* to audition for a band, which ultimately included bassist Simmons, rhythm guitarist Stanley, and drummer Peter Criss. Less than a month later, Frehley officially joined the crew, and they chose their iconic name Kiss in early 1973.

Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons of the band Kiss in January 1975.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

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Frehley created the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played with the group until his first departure in 1982. Frehley also had a successful solo career, which he would put on hold in 1996 to embark on Kiss' highly successful reunion tour. He would ultimately stay with the band a second time until 2002. Frehley also created the band Frehley's Comet, which released two albums of its own.

More recently, the musician released *Anomaly* in 2009, and continued recording and releasing solo albums throughout the 2010s and 2020s. In October 2018, Frehley briefly reunited with Kiss on the Kiss Kruise, where he performed four songs with his former bandmates.

The group, including Frehley, were previously announced as honorees for the 2025 Kennedy Center distinction. Of the honor, Frehley told TMZ at the time that he was grateful to be honored alongside the likes of fellow honorees Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford, calling it "a dream come true that I never thought would materialize." That ceremony is set to take place on Dec. 7.**

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Source: Music

Published: November 01, 2025 at 02:27PM on Source: COSMOPOLITE

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