Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of the legendary rock band KISS, has died at 74. His family confirmed the news on Thursday following reports that he had been placed on life support after suffering a brain bleed.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” his loved ones said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone. “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.”
Frehley was hospitalized earlier this month after a fall at his studio in New York and later experienced a sudden decline in his health. According to TMZ, his prognosis had been “poor,” and his condition worsened over the past two weeks.
A Family That Stood By His Side
Frehley’s family includes his daughter, Monique Frehley, and his ex-wife, actress Jeanette Trerotola. The pair married on May 1, 1976, and welcomed Monique on July 6, 1980.
Jeanette, an Italian-American performer born in 1952, appeared in various projects during her career, while Monique followed her father’s artistic path, working as a musician. In 2023, father and daughter made headlines when they got matching “Ace” tattoos, symbolizing their lifelong bond.
“Ace and Monique shared such a beautiful connection,” a family friend told People. “They were more like best friends than father and daughter.”
A Life of Music, Passion & Legacy
Born in The Bronx in 1951, Frehley began playing guitar as a teenager and joined KISS in 1973 after a successful audition with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss.
The band’s elaborate makeup, theatrical performances, and chart-topping hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City” made them one of the most recognizable acts in rock history. Between 1974 and 1979, Frehley helped shape the group’s signature sound on seven studio albums and two live records.
He left the band in 1982 due to creative differences but returned in 1996 for their iconic reunion tour, much to fans’ delight. Over the decades, Frehley released multiple solo albums and toured globally, earning his place as one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
In his later years, Frehley faced health challenges but remained active in music. His fall earlier in October was initially described as “minor” on his official Facebook page, but his condition quickly deteriorated, leading to the brain bleed that claimed his life.
Frehley is survived by his wife, Jeanette; his daughter, Monique; his brother, Charles; and his sister, Nancy Salvner, along with several nieces, nephews, and extended family members who continue to honor his legacy and love for music. His daughter Monique and ex-wife, Jeanette, were by his side in his final moments.
Fans around the world continue to flood social media with tributes celebrating the man who brought electricity, swagger, and soul to KISS.
