KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was honored and beloved by fans until the very end.
In the wake of the musician’s death at the age of 74 Thursday in Morristown, New Jersey, Daily Mail is taking a closer look at his final Instagram post.
Frehley – in an image posted to the social media site on September 24 – sat alongside a fan named Glenn who created art to honor Frehley and his work as a guitarist.
‘Glenn wanted to share her VIP with Ace on the 10,000 Volts Tour,’ the post from Frehley’s account read. ‘And her painting is a hand holding a heart referencing the lyrics of Rip It Out.
Frehley died after suffering a devastating brain bleed that left him on life support, per TMZ.
After being hospitalized and placed on a ventilator, the iconic musician passed away when his family made the difficult decision to turn off life support.
KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was honored and beloved by fans until the very end, as he signed a piece of fan art in an Instagram post from September 24
KISS legend Ace Frehley has died at the age of 74 after suffering a devastating brain bleed that left him on life support; (pictured 2018 in NYC)
The musician reportedly collapsed in his home studio a few weeks ago, hitting his head in a frightening fall that triggered the medical crisis, per the outlet.
Frehley’s rep Lori Lousararian told Rolling Stone that the musician’s health deteriorated following a ‘recent fall at his home,’ though details beyond that were not immediately clear.
In the days leading up to his death, Frehley canceled all remaining tour dates – a decision he called ‘difficult’ in an Instagram post to fans at the time.
Sources close to Frehley told TMZ that he had been on a ventilator for days, with doctors seeing little improvement before the heartbreaking decision was made.
Frehley’s family issued a statement obtained by Rolling Stone saying they ‘are completely devastated and heartbroken’ by his passing, but relieved they were able to provide him with comfortable conditions at the end.
‘In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,’ Frehley’s family said.
Frehley’s family honored the musicians legacy as well as ‘his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.’
They continued: ‘The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!’
Frehley is the first member of the original four members of Kiss to pass away. The original lineup consisted of him, singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, bass player Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss.
The musical ensemble, which formed in 1973, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Frehley played a pivotal role in shaping the band’s wild, face-painted legacy, bringing essential elements of showmanship to KISS’s act.
The band famously blended hard rock anthems – such as Detroit Rock City, I Was Made for Lovin’ You, and Rock and Roll All Nite – with elaborate costumes, wigs, platform boots and over-the-top pyrotechnics.
Frehley was one of the first performers to introduce to the stage guitars that glowed, emit smoke and shot rockets, with many in the industry following his lead in enhancing their instruments to give fans another element of the show to look forward to.
After leaving the group in 1982, he launched Frehley’s Comet before reuniting with KISS for their blockbuster 1996 reunion tour.
He remained active in the band until 2002, continuing to perform and record solo in the years that followed.
Frehley told the website Antihero in April of 2024 that he was proud of carving his own niche as a singles artist as well as a part of the band.
Just last month, he revealed he had suffered a ‘minor fall in his studio’ that landed him in the hospital.
Frehley abruptly announced he was canceling the rest of his 2025 tour
The musician reportedly collapsed in his home studio a few weeks ago, hitting his head in a frightening fall that triggered the medical crisis; (Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley in 1979)
