Ace Frehley, a Founding Member of Kiss, Is Dead at 74

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of the hard-rock band Kiss, died on Thursday in Morristown, N.J. He was 74.

A statement from his family said the cause of his death, in a hospital, was a recent fall at his home

Mr. Frehley, who often performed in white-and-silver face makeup as the group sold millions of records during his two tenures with it, from 1973 to 1982 and then from 1996 to 2002, was a consummate showman, like all the members of Kiss. He was known for playing guitars rigged with pyrotechnic effects and for his distinctive stage persona: He was known as “the Spaceman” or “Space Ace” because of the silver stars on his face. He also designed the band’s logo, with its lightning-bolt letters.

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