DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss, died Thursday. He had just recently canceled a Decatur show due to health issues.
He was 74 years old and died in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall, his agent said.
Frehley had been set to perform at the Lincoln Square Theater in Decatur on October 10. On October 6, the theater announced on Facebook that he was canceling the rest of his 2025 show dates, and refunds would be issued.
President of Lincoln Square Theater LaVelle Hunt posted to Facebook:
"Goodbye Ace you will rock on in our hearts.
As President of the Lincoln Square Theater, I can tell you this is truly sad news about Ace Frehley. For me, this isn’t just about a rock star—it’s about a man who gave the world joy, laughter, and unforgettable music.
I’ll never forget the night Ace played here at the Fabulous Lincoln. When he ripped into that famous guitar solo from Rock and Roll All Nite, I stood there in awe. That solo has been heard all over the world for decades—it’s a piece of rock history. But in our theater, hearing it live felt like it was just for us. He nailed it, and it sent chills down my spine. Those moments will stay with me forever.
Ace always had a way of making fame look easy. He never let it go to his head. He laughed at it. He laughed with the fans. He was funny, down-to-earth, and carried himself like a guy you’d want to hang out with after the show. That’s what made him special—he never stopped being real.
KISS was more than a band; it was an experience. And Ace was right in the middle of it, changing rock music with his guitar, his style, and his spirit. KISS was my first concert, and in my eyes Ace was larger than life, but at the same time, he felt like one of us.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our close, personal friend PJ Alvarez and his band SIIN for being instrumental in bringing Ace Frehley to the historic Lincoln Square Theater—not once, but twice. PJ has also become a huge supporter of the LST, and we are so grateful for his dedication and friendship.
For me, and for all of us here at the Lincoln, Ace isn’t just a legend in music—he’s part of our history too. And while he may be gone from the stage, his music and his laughter will always echo through these walls and in our hearts."
Kiss's hits included “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You." The band was known for theatrical stage shows and band members dressed in body armor, platform boots, wigs and black-and-white face paint.
Kiss' original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. Frehley’s is the first death among the four founding members.
Frehley's band character was known as “Space Ace” and “The Spaceman.”
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”
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