KISS legend dead at 74
In this DML Report…
Ace Frehley, the 74-year-old original guitarist of KISS, suffered a brain bleed following a collapse in his home studio several weeks ago, during which he hit his head in a fall. The incident, initially reported as minor, escalated into a medical crisis requiring hospitalization and placement on life support, including a ventilator, where he has remained for several days with minimal signs of improvement. As of Thursday afternoon, sources confirmed Frehley was still alive and on the ventilator, countering online rumors of his death. Family members are reportedly weighing the option to remove life support, with a potential decision as early as Thursday evening.
On September 25, Frehley's official Instagram account posted that he was "fine" after the fall but under doctor's orders not to travel, resulting in the cancellation of his scheduled performance on September 26 at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California. A subsequent post on October 6 announced the cancellation of all remaining 2025 tour dates due to ongoing medical issues, describing it as a difficult decision by Frehley. The September update encouraged fans to support other acts at the fair, including Quiet Riot and Vixen, and expressed Frehley's intent to resume touring and complete his next album, Origins Vol. 4. This marks the second health-related tour cancellation for Frehley in recent weeks. Tributes have come from figures like music journalist Mitch Lafon, who tweeted thanks for the music and memories, and Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, who posted "Godspeed, Ace."
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Born in the Bronx, Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973 alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss, contributing significantly to the band's image and music, including the track "Shock Me." He departed the group in 1982 to form Frehley's Comet, rejoined for the 1996 reunion tour, and stayed until 2002, after which he pursued a solo career in performing and recording. Separately, KISS co-founder Gene Simmons, 76, was hospitalized last week after a minor car crash in Malibu, California, where he reportedly fainted while driving his Lincoln Navigator, causing it to veer into a parked vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway. Simmons was treated and released, later stating on X that he was completely fine and attributing the incident to his poor driving skills.