Ace Frehley, the iconic lead guitarist and founding member of the legendary rock band Kiss, passed away today, October 16, 2025, at the age of 74. Revered by millions as “The Spaceman,” Frehley was a pivotal force in one of the most theatrical and successful bands in rock history. From the band’s inception, Ace played a crucial role in crafting Kiss’s distinct look, sound, and image, propelling them to fame during the 1970s. His tenure with the band spanned from its formation in 1973 until his departure in 1982, a period during which Kiss achieved global superstardom.

In 1978, Kiss embarked on a unique endeavor by releasing solo albums from each member simultaneously. Among these, Frehley’s self-titled album emerged as a surprising standout. “Ace Frehley” outperformed the other solo records and featured the hit single “New York Groove,” which continues to resonate as a staple anthem in New York sports arenas nearly five decades later.

However, Frehley’s journey wasn’t solely about the glitz and glamour of rock stardom. For every sold-out show and platinum album, there was an equally challenging and tumultuous lifestyle marked by excess. The indulgence in sex, drugs, and rock and roll took its toll, particularly on Frehley. By the early 1980s, the excitement had waned, giving way to chaos. Behind the iconic makeup and electrifying solos was a man grappling with personal demons. The party lifestyle had shifted from an indulgence to a burden, and internal tensions within Kiss were escalating. Frehley later confessed that his time in the band had become so unbearable that he believed remaining with them could have dire consequences.

As 1982 loomed, Kiss remained a dominant force on the global music scene. Co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were poised to capitalize on another cycle of tours and albums, expecting Frehley to continue alongside them. Unbeknownst to them, Frehley had already reached a crucial decision point, where no amount of money could persuade him to stay.

(Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Turning Down a Fortune

Reflecting on that tumultuous era, Frehley described it as a time of utter disarray, marred by exhaustion, paranoia, and addiction. The allure of fame, wealth, and excess had lost its shine. Kiss had transformed from a group of ambitious outsiders into a lucrative empire driven by managers, merchandising, and relentless touring. To the outside world, they remained rock deities, but internally, Ace felt ensnared in a web of his own making. He would later recount:

“I was mixed up. I believed that if I stayed in that group I would have committed suicide. I’d be driving home from the studio, and I’d want to drive my car into a tree.”

Put yourself in Ace’s shoes at that time. You’re in one of the biggest bands on earth. You’re flying on private jets, staying in five-star hotels, and surrounded by fans and groupies everywhere you go. Life is an endless buffet of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and general debauchery.

Would you have signed up for another round?

Ace walked away. And as he revealed in an interview decades later, he left a ton of money on the table:

“I mean, I walked out on a $15 million contract. That would be like $100 million today. And my attorney was looking at me like, ‘What are you, crazy?’”

FYI, $15 million in 1982 is actually more like $50 million today. Still, it was a staggering sum of money and a stunning decision. And that likely doesn’t include his share of future royalties, tour profits, and merchandise revenue. Over the decades that ultimately passed, Ace would have earned hundreds of millions of dollars had he stayed in Kiss. But not if it killed him first!

Frehley left not just the fame and fortune, but the toxic environment that had nearly consumed him. In interviews later in life, he said he felt an overwhelming sense of relief once he finally stepped away. The pressure was gone. The chaos was gone. He could finally breathe again.

Life After Kiss

After leaving Kiss in 1982, Ace Frehley took a step back from the chaos of fame and began rebuilding both his life and career. A few years later, he returned to music with a new project called Frehley’s Comet, signing with Megaforce Records and releasing a self-titled album in 1987. The record sold nearly half a million copies and produced the rock radio hit “Rock Soldiers.” Two more albums followed — “Second Sighting” and “Trouble Walkin’” — cementing his reputation as a respected solo artist with a loyal fan base.

The 1990s brought both redemption and reconciliation. In 1996, Kiss staged one of the most successful reunion tours in rock history, with all four original members — Frehley, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss — back in full makeup for the first time in nearly two decades. The tour grossed over $140 million and led to the 1998 album “Psycho Circus.” Though tensions resurfaced and Frehley left again in 2002, his place in rock history was secure.

Over the following two decades, Frehley maintained a steady solo career. Albums like “Anomaly” (2009), “Space Invader” (2014), and “Spaceman” (2018) earned solid reviews and reconnected him with a new generation of fans. He toured relentlessly, performing a mix of solo material and Kiss classics well into his seventies.

But the road wasn’t always smooth. Frehley’s battles with addiction continued intermittently, as did his financial troubles. He lost his home to foreclosure in 2013 and was often candid about the money he’d blown through during his wilder years. He also remained embroiled in an on-again, off-again feud with Simmons and Stanley, trading barbs in interviews about his place in the Kiss legacy. Still, there was mutual respect beneath the rivalry — a shared recognition that Kiss never would have become Kiss without Ace Frehley.

Even after decades apart, fans continued to hope for one last reunion. Frehley often hinted that he was open to it, but the stars never aligned. Instead, he carried on doing what he loved — playing loud, fast, and free.

The Final Encore

Had he taken another path, Ace Frehley might have instead died on October 16, 1982. He would have been a 31-year-old rock god with a huge unspent fortune collecting dust in the bank. Instead, he lived another 40+ years. He may have walked away from a huge fortune, but you can’t take your money with you to the afterlife!

Ace Frehley will forever be remembered as the heart and soul of Kiss’s classic sound — the swaggering guitarist who made space cool and turned arena rock into a spectacle. His fiery solos, signature “Spaceman” persona, and raw charisma inspired generations of musicians to pick up a guitar. Whether blazing through “Shock Me” or lighting up the stage with his smoke-belching Les Paul, Frehley embodied the reckless, joyful spirit of rock and roll. Decades after his debut, his influence still echoes every time a kid cranks up an amp and dreams of the stars.