KISS star Paul Stanley looks devastated in first sighting after tribute to Ace Frehley following shock death

Paul Stanley was seen for the first time since the sudden death of his KISS bandmate Ace Frehley.

Frehley passed away Thursday at age 74 after suffering a brain bleed that left him on life support. 

The famous guitarist, an original member of the celebrated rock band with Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss, was taken off life support following hospitalization and after being placed on a ventilator, according to reports from his family.

Following the news, Stanley and Simmons released a statement praising Frehley as a key and unique member of the band during its early, most important years.

Less than 24 hours later, Stanley was spotted in Los Angeles looking downcast during a coffee run.

The musician, wearing a black tank top and pants, looked sad – which was understandable, given that he had just shared how heartbroken he was about Frehley’s death in a moving post.

Stanley and Simmons shared that he will always be remembered as an important part of KISS’s history, and expressed their sympathy to Jeanette, Monique, and all his fans worldwide.

Ace Frehley played lead guitar for the band and famously created his stage character, The Spaceman.

He played with the group until 1982, when he started his own band called Frehley’s Comet.

Ace Frehley rejoined KISS in 1996 for a reunion tour, but left the band again in 2002.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always said music is a huge part of creating a fun vibe! And when it comes to iconic rock anthems, you absolutely can’t forget KISS. They had so many hits that really defined a generation – think songs like ‘Rock And Roll All Nite,’ ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You,’ and the energetic ‘Detroit Rock City.’ Those tracks are instant mood-boosters!

In addition to his work with Kiss, Ace Frehley has released eight solo studio albums, such as Trouble Walkin’ (1989), Space Invader (2014), and Origins Vol. 2 (2020).

Bret Michaels, the lead singer of Poison, was among the many celebrities who honored the musician after his passing on Thursday.

He shared a photo of himself with Ace Frehley, writing a message thanking Ace for years of amazing music, the festivals they played together, and his guitar work on the song ‘Nothing But A Good Time’.

Michaels continued, ‘All my love and respect, from my family and myself – may you rest in peace!!!’ 

Tom Morello, famous for his work with Rage Against the Machine, posted a tribute on Instagram with a photo of the guitarist who recently passed away.

Ace Frehley, the iconic guitarist and a major inspiration for countless rock fans and guitar players, has sadly passed away. Known as ‘Space Ace,’ he helped ignite a love for rock and roll in generations.

He shared, ‘We’ll miss Ace’s incredible guitar playing, the energy he brought to his performances, and his signature laugh, but his music and memories will live on. Thank you, Ace, for a lifetime of amazing music and unforgettable moments.’

Maynard James Keenan, the singer for the band Tool, posted ‘Godspeed, Ace’ on Instagram on Thursday.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame uploaded a photo of the band when they received their star back in 1999. 

To honor Ace Frehley, a star on the Walk of Fame will have flowers placed on it today, October 16, 2025, at 5:30 pm.

Ace Frehley, formerly of Kiss, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 1999. It’s located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard, close to La Brea Avenue.

I was so incredibly saddened to learn about the passing of Ace Frehley, one of this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees and a legendary member of KISS. It’s a huge loss, and I’m thinking of his family, bandmates, and all his fans.

We are deeply saddened by the loss and extend our heartfelt sympathy to his friends, family, and fans around the world. We will honor Ace, his contributions, and lasting impact at a ceremony in December.

Guitarist Richie Kotzen expressed his sadness about the death of Ace Frehley, calling him a true legend and a hero.

Mike McCready from Pearl Jam learned about Ace Frehley’s death from Rick Friel, a musician he collaborated with on a project called Shadow.

I first heard about Ace from Rick back in 1977 – he was the first person on the bus that day with a KISS lunchbox, and it really changed my life. The next year, 1978, I got a guitar so I could join Rick’s band, which they eventually renamed from Warrior to Shadow. One of the songs we covered was “C’mon and Love Me.”

He went on to say that his friends constantly talked about and collected merchandise from the band KISS. He looked up to Ace Frehley, considering him both a musical hero and a friend, and spent years analyzing Frehley’s guitar solos.

If you listen to the song “Alive,” you’ll hear that its guitar solo was inspired by one I played on “She.” And getting to jam on “Black Diamond” with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden was a total dream come true for me.

I honestly wouldn’t be a musician today if it weren’t for Ace Frehley and KISS. They were everything to me growing up, and I owe Ace so much. It’s heartbreaking to hear of his passing, but I’ll always be grateful for the impact he had on my life. Thank you, Ace. – Mike

According to TMZ, Ace Frehley recently collapsed in his home studio after a fall where he hit his head, leading to a medical emergency.

Ace Frehley recently had a fall at home, and his health has gotten worse since then, according to his representative, Lori Lousararian. Details about the fall are currently limited.

Shortly before he passed away, Frehley canceled the rest of his tour. He described the decision as a tough one in a message to his fans on Instagram.

People close to Ace Frehley reported to TMZ that he was on a ventilator for several days, and doctors weren’t seeing any positive changes before they made the difficult decision to discontinue life support.

Ace Frehley’s family told Rolling Stone they were ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by his death, but found comfort in knowing he was peaceful and comfortable in his final moments.

It meant so much to all of us that we could be with him at the very end, sharing our love, peaceful thoughts, prayers, and best wishes as he passed away. We were truly grateful for that time with him.

Frehley’s family celebrated his life and musical contributions, remembering his joyful spirit, and the generosity and kindness he shared with everyone.

They continued: ‘The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension.

Ace lived a remarkable life, and his accomplishments will always be remembered.

Ace Frehley was the first of the four original Kiss members to die. The original band included Frehley, along with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss.

The musical ensemble, which formed in 1973, in 2014 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Ace Frehley was key to creating KISS’s iconic, flamboyant image and energetic stage presence. He brought a crucial element of spectacle to their performances.

Oh my god, KISS! They weren’t just a band, they were an *experience*! I mean, seriously, the music – songs like ‘Detroit Rock City,’ ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You,’ and ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ – those were total anthems! But it wasn’t just the sound, it was *everything*. The costumes, the insane makeup, the huge platform boots… and the FIRE! They had so much pyrotechnics, it was unbelievable! It was just…over the top in the best way possible. I was completely obsessed, and still am!

Ace Frehley was a pioneer in stage effects, being one of the first musicians to use guitars that lit up, produced smoke, and even launched rockets. This innovation inspired many other performers to add similar visual elements to their shows, giving fans an extra layer of entertainment.

After departing from the band in 1982, he formed Frehley’s Comet and later rejoined KISS for their hugely successful 1996 reunion tour.

He stayed with the band until 2002, and afterwards continued to perform and record music on his own.

As a creative myself, I totally get what Ace Frehley shared with Antihero recently. He told them he’s really proud of building a career both as a solo artist *and* as a key member of his band. It’s fantastic to see someone embrace all facets of their artistic journey – really owning both collaboration and individual expression!

He stated he’s achieved more solo success than any other original member of Kiss, pointing to his 1978 hit, ‘New York Groove,’ as evidence.

Ace Frehley expressed pride in his impact on music, noting the many tributes recognizing his innovative work.

He explained that most guitar players he meets – around 75% or even more – tell him they were inspired to start playing because of him. They often say hearing the album *Alive!* made them decide to pick up a guitar and learn his songs.

According to Frehley, he believes his lasting contribution will be successfully moving from being a member of the popular band Kiss to having a thriving career as a solo artist.

Despite recent health problems, Ace Frehley’s Instagram account posted on September 25th to let fans know he was doing okay, even though his doctors had advised him against traveling.

Only a week after the initial announcement, he confirmed he was canceling all remaining shows scheduled for 2025 due to continuing health problems.

Fans were worried and demanded explanations after Frehley suddenly canceled the remainder of his 2025 tour, following a series of emotional posts.

Ace has canceled the rest of his 2025 shows because of health problems, according to a message posted on his Instagram account on Monday, October 6th.

This is the second time in recent weeks that the artist, known as ‘Spaceman,’ has canceled performances because he wasn’t feeling well. He previously shared that he’d been hospitalized last month after a small accident in his studio.

We recently shared that Ace had a small accident in his studio and needed to go to the hospital. He’s doing okay, but his doctor is advising him to stay home and avoid traveling, even though Ace would prefer to be on the road.

Unfortunately, he has to cancel his show at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California, which was scheduled for Friday, September 26th.

Please visit the fair to show your support for Ace’s friends in the bands Quiet Riot and Vixen. Ace is excited to continue his tour and finish recording his next album, Origins Vol. 4.

The sad news about Frehley arrived shortly after his KISS bandmate, Simmons, publicly spoke out following a scary car accident in Malibu.

Last week, the 76-year-old celebrity was taken to the hospital after losing consciousness while driving on Pacific Coast Highway and colliding with a parked vehicle.

Simmons was treated at a local hospital and later released, telling fans he’s ‘completely fine.’

The bassist shared a lighthearted update on X, joking about his driving after a minor car accident. He thanked fans for their well wishes, assuring them he was okay and that these things happen – especially to drivers like him. He ended by saying everything is alright.

According to NBC4 LA, Simmons lost consciousness while driving his Lincoln Navigator and crashed into a parked car.

The rock icon has since reassured fans he’s recovering and doing well.

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2025-10-18 00:36