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The rock world is mourning the loss of Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, who died on October 16 after a fall in his home.
The band’s original “Spaceman.” was last on stage on September 5, 2025 at the Uptown Theater in Providence, Rhode Island.
“We are devastated by the death of Ace Frehley,” Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley said in a joint statement. “He was an indispensable and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most defining chapters in the band’s history. He remains a part of the KISS legacy.”
From founding member to solo artist
Frehley was part of the band from Kiss’ first performances in 1973 until 1982. He left due to drug problems, musical differences and ongoing conflicts with Simmons and Stanley. He returned for the triumphant reunion tour in 1996, but left the group again in 2002 after completing the first farewell tour.
The four original members last appeared on stage together when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, but did not perform that night. In 2018, Frehley played four songs with the new Kiss line-up at a Kiss Kruise on Halloween – his last appearance with the band. In early 2025, Simmons and Frehley toured Australia together, ending each night with some Kiss classics.
Solo career and last appearance
Over the past two decades, Frehley has toured the United States with his solo band and performed in theaters, casinos, clubs and trade fairs. His set primarily included songs from the Kiss repertoire, complemented by solo tracks such as “Cherry Medicine,” “Rock Soldiers,” “Rip It Out” and his well-known cover of Russ Ballard’s “New York Groove.”
His final performance was on September 5, 2025 at the Uptown Theater in Providence. Fan footage shows the opening with “Deuce” and “New York Groove”. Like countless Kiss concerts before, this evening ended with “Rock and Roll All Nite”. Frehley said to the audience:
“If you haven’t heard the next song yet, you’re probably an alien because everyone has heard this song before, even if you’re not Kiss or Ace fans. Take a listen.”
Health problems and last months
Later that month, Frehley canceled an appearance at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California, after he fell at home and had to be taken to the hospital. About a month later, he canceled all remaining appointments due to “ongoing health issues.”
Memory and legacy
Kiss will perform their first live performance since the end of their 2023 farewell tour at the Kiss Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas event on the weekend of November 14th at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The band hasn’t announced what they’ll be playing at the show, but promises acoustic and electric songs – without makeup.
Many fans had hoped that Frehley and Peter Criss would perform at this event and say goodbye to the world – an opportunity that was denied them on the second farewell tour. Now that’s impossible, but chances are good that Kiss will dedicate a special tribute to him.