Rock Legend Ace Frehley, the “Spaceman” of Kiss, Dies at 74

Ace Frehley, the electrifying guitarist who helped define the look, sound, and spectacle of the rock band Kiss, has died at age 74.

Known to millions as “The Spaceman,” Frehley revolutionized live performance with his smoke-filled guitars, space-inspired persona, and explosive stage energy that became the band’s signature.

His death in Morristown, New Jersey, followed a recent fall, according to his agent.

Family members expressed deep heartbreak but vowed to celebrate his humor and generosity.

As one of Kiss’s founding members, Frehley helped shape rock history through hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City,” fueling the band’s rise as a global phenomenon in the 1970s.

With their black-and-white face paint, armor, and theatrical pyrotechnics, Kiss became a cultural icon — and Frehley, inducted with his bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, remained its cosmic heart.

His passing marks the first loss among the original quartet that redefined rock spectacle forever.