There has been an alarming number of celebrity deaths recently. Over the weekend, we lost Diane Keaton, who passed away from pneumonia, and earlier this week, the music industry mourned the loss of neo-soul legend D’Angelo, who passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Earlier today (Friday, 17th October), we lost yet another legend in music. It was reported that Ace Frehley, the lead and founding guitarist of legendary rock band KISS, had passed away at 74 years old. Here’s what happened:
The musician’s family confirmed the news of his death on Instagram, writing: “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. 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. 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.”
The cause of death has yet to be disclosed, but the tragic news came after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member reportedly sustained injuries in a fall last month. As a result of the incident, he was forced to cancel several tour dates to allow time for his recovery. In a post shared on the official KISS Instagram page, former band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley paid tribute to their dear friend and offered their condolences to the guitarist’s family.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative and foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is, and will always be, a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique, and all those who loved him — including our fans around the world,” they wrote.
Ace Frehley joined the band in 1973 after impressing Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley during his audition. A few weeks later, the classic line-up was solidified, and the group officially became known as KISS. The band quickly rose to fame with their self-titled debut album in 1974 and have since become rock legends, earning 16 Metal Edge Readers’ Choice Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance for their 1999 track “Psycho Circus”. They even received a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
We would also like to extend our deepest condolences to Ace Frehley’s loved ones. May they find strength and comfort during this difficult time.
Sources: Instagram (1)(2), Variety, TheStar, TheGuardian
