Ace Frehley, original KISS lead guitarist, dead at 74

Ace Frehley, original member and lead guitarist of KISS, died on Thursday following a fall at his studio earlier this month, suffering from brain bleed. TMZ reports that he was hospitalized and placed on life support and his family decided to turn off his ventilator. He was 74.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said in a statement. “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. 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!”

Born in NYC in 1951, Frehley joined KISS in 1973 as lead guitarist, adopting the persona of The Spaceman a.k.a. Space Ace. He played on most of the make-up’d hard rock band’s biggest albums, including 1976’s Destroyer and 1977’s Love Gun. He had a hit with his cover of Russ Ballard’s “New York Groove” from his 1978 solo album, which went Top 20 in the US. Frehley left KISS in 1982, right before they stopped wearing their signature face makeup, and formed Frehley’s Comet, but rejoined the band in 1996 and stayed with them through 2002.

Rest easy, Space Ace.