The Passing of the⁣ spaceman

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and ​founding member⁢ of the glam rock band Kiss, who captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar, ⁤died⁤ Thursday. He was 74.

Frehley‌ died peacefully⁤ surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall, according to his agent.

Family ⁣members said in a statement that they are “wholly devastated and heartbroken” but⁤ will cherish his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed upon ​others.

Kiss: A Theatrical Revolution in⁣ Rock

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.

Band members took on the personas of comic book-style characters – Frehley was known as “space ‍Ace” and “the Spaceman.” The New York-born ⁣entertainer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer often experimented with pyrotechnics, making his guitars glow, emit smoke and shoot rockets⁤ from the headstock.

statements from Bandmates

“We are devastated by the ⁢passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons ‍and Stanley said in a joint ⁢statement. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the‍ band and its history.‍ He is and will always