The cause of death for KISS founder Ace Frehley, 74, has been determined several weeks after his passing. Frehley’s family announced in a statement that the rock band’s lead guitarist passed away on October 16 in Morristown, New Jersey after being on life support a few weeks after falling in his home. They were “complete devastated and heartbroken,” the statement read. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to surround him with loving, caring peaceful words.”
What did KISS founder Ace Frehley die from?
Ace Frehley, born Paul Daniel Frehley, passed away due to blunt trauma injuries to his head due to a fall, according to a report filed by the Morris County Medical Examiner, per People. The fall was ruled as an accident.
It was previously reported by TMZ that the KISS guitarist was suffering from a brain bleed for several weeks while on life support.
On October 16, KISS released a statement on Frehley’s passing on X (formerly Twitter). “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” the band wrote. “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 out fans around the world.”
KISS co-founders Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons were in attendance at Frehley’s funeral.
On September 25, the musician canceled a performance scheduled for the following day in Lancaster, California, sharing in a statement on Instagram that the fall he suffered was “minor.” (The post has since been deleted.) A few weeks later on October 6, the guitarist canceled the rest of his 2025 tour “due to ongoing medical issues.”
The guitarist was a member of KISS from 1973 and 1982 where he was known for his “Spaceman” persona. After leaving the band, he formed Frehley’s Comet and reached the Top 10 in the Billboard 200 album chart with “Space Invader” in 2014. He has also joined Gene Simmons on his Australian Tour.
Frehley is survived by his wife Jeanette Trerotola and his daughter, Monique.
