- The official cause of death for legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has been released as blunt trauma to the head resulting from an accidental fall.
- According to the Morris County Medical Examiner’s report, the 74-year-old suffered a skull fracture, a subdural hematoma (a severe brain bleed), and a stroke.
- Frehley was placed on life support after the fall, but an emergency procedure to treat the brain bleed was unsuccessful, leading to his family’s difficult decision to turn off his ventilator on October 16.
- The iconic guitarist was a founding member of KISS and is the first of the original four members of the band to pass away.
Official Cause of Death Confirmed
The music world is mourning after official details surrounding the death of KISS co-founder and lead guitarist Ace Frehley were released. TMZ has learned that the rock icon’s death was the result of blunt trauma to the head, sustained during a tragic fall. The manner of death has been officially ruled an accident.
The Tragic Accident
The Morris County, New Jersey Medical Examiner’s report provides a heartbreaking look into Frehley’s final days. The 74-year-old musician suffered a catastrophic fall in a studio, which led to a fracture at the back of his skull. This injury caused a subdural hematoma, a serious condition where blood collects between the brain and its outer protective layer, and a subsequent stroke.
Following the accident, Frehley was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. Doctors performed a procedure to evacuate the hematoma and relieve the pressure on his brain, but unfortunately, the attempt was not successful. After this, his family made the gut-wrenching decision to remove him from the ventilator on Thursday, October 16.
A Rock and Roll Legacy
As “The Spaceman,” Ace Frehley was a pivotal force in rock and roll history. He co-founded KISS in 1973 alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss, creating a sound and spectacle that would define a generation. His electrifying guitar solos and unique stage persona made him a legend. Frehley was with the band during their meteoric rise from 1973 to 1982 before leaving to pursue a successful solo career, citing creative differences and issues with substance abuse. His passing marks a somber milestone, as he is the first of the band’s four original members to die.
A Poignant Final Interview
In a sad twist of fate, Frehley had spoken optimistically about his future just months before his death. In a March interview with The Aquarian, a New Jersey newspaper, he shared a recent conversation he had. “I just spoke to a psychic,” he said. “She goes, ‘Ace, you’re going to live to be a hundred.’ So I said, ‘No problem!'”
Fans and fellow musicians continue to pour out tributes, remembering the man whose guitar riffs became the soundtrack for millions.
Image Referance: https://www.tmz.com/2025/11/10/ace-frehley-cause-of-death/