Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley’s cause of death revealed

(NewsNation) — Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of glam rock band Kiss, died of blunt trauma injuries to his head stemming from a fall, according to multiple reports.

The musician died peacefully Oct. 16 surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, according to his agent.

In a no-longer-available Instagram post, Frehley described the fall as “minor” on Sept. 25.

Kiss, whose hits included “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” was known for its theatrical stage shows, with fire and fake blood spewing from the mouths of band members dressed in body armor, platform boots, wigs and signature black-and-white face paint.

Kiss’ original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. Frehley’s is the first death among the four founding members.

Frehley frequently feuded with Stanley and Simmons through the years. He left the band in 1982, missing the years when they took off the makeup and had mixed success.

He would leave again in 2002. When the original four entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, a dispute scrapped plans for them to perform. Simmons and Stanley objected to Criss and Frehley being inducted instead of then-guitarist Tommy Thayer and then-drummer Eric Singer.

Frehley would appear occasionally with Kiss for shows in later years.

A 2023 concert at Madison Square Garden was billed as the band’s last.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.