‘Godspeed, Ace’: Ace Frehley Mourned by KISS Bandmate Gene Simmons, Bret Michaels, Tom Morello, Pearl Jam & More

Founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley died Thursday (Oct. 16) at age 74 after sustaining injuries suffered during a fall last month.

Frehley’s family issued a statement announcing the guitarist’s death, saying in part: “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. 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. … Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”

Frehley’s fellow rockers were also heartbroken when the news broke, coming out in droves on social media to share their love and condolences for the late musician and his family.

The guitarist’s onetime KISS bandmate and fellow co-founder Gene Simmons posted on X, writing, “Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!”

KISS will be honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, taping Dec. 7 and airing Dec. 23 on CBS. Frehley will be just the third person to receive the honor posthumously.

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan posted a throwback photo of Frehley on Instagram, writing “Godspeed, Ace.”

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello also posted a lengthy tribute, writing on Instagram that Frehley was, “My first guitar hero.”

“The legendary Space Ace Frehley inspired generations to love rock n roll and love rock n roll guitar playing,” Morello wrote. “His timeless riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and his unforgettable crazy laugh will be missed but will never be forgotten. Thank you, Ace for a lifetime of great music and memories.

Grunge rockers Pearl Jam also shared a statement, noting that in their early days as a band they “spent untold hours talking about KISS and buying KISS stuff.”

“Ace was a hero of mine and also I would consider a friend,” guitarist Mike McCready added. “I studied his solos endlessly over the years.”

Poison’s Brett Michaels also shared a photo he took with the late musician, adding, “Ace, my brother, I surely cannot thank you enough for the years of great music, the many festivals we’ve done together and your lead guitar on Nothing But A Good Time. All my love and respect, from my family and myself – may you rest in peace!!!”

Frehley played on KISS’ first nine albums before he left the band in 1982. He later returned for the group’s 1998 reunion album, Psycho Circus, but left a few years later in 2002. The guitarist also released nine solo studio albums throughout his career.