Months prior to his passing at 74, Ace Frehley had been told he could live to be 100.
He mentioned, “I guess I have good genes. My dad reached 96, my mom was 86, and her sister made it to 99.” In an interview, the KISS guitarist said, “I just spoke with a psychic who told me, ‘Ace, you’re going to live to be 100.’ I thought, ‘Sounds good!’”
Frehley opened up about past injuries affecting his music career.
“About two and a half years ago, I fell down the stairs and hurt my arm,” he explained. “I landed on my right arm, which is tough because that’s my strumming arm. Being back on stage is a great feeling, especially since I wasn’t sure I’d get back to normal.”
His family shared their heartbreak following his death. “We are completely devastated. In his last moments, we surrounded him with love and peace,” they said in a statement.
They added, “We will cherish our memories with him, his laughter, and celebrate his strength. The impact of his loss is profound. Ace’s legacy will endure as we reflect on his incredible accomplishments.”
Former KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley also expressed their sorrow. “We are deeply saddened by Ace’s passing. He was an integral part of the band’s foundational years,” they remarked. “He will always be a part of the KISS legacy.”
The cause of Frehley’s death hasn’t been officially revealed yet, but reports indicate he was on life support after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a fall in the studio. He had recently announced on Instagram that he was canceling upcoming tour dates due to ongoing health issues.
Having co-founded KISS with Stanley, Simmons, and Peter Criss, Frehley left the band in 1982 after nearly a decade, but returned for a reunion tour in 1996 and stayed until 2002.
