Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley, founding member of legendary band Kiss, has died.
He was 74.
He leaves behind one daughter and his wife.
Frehley died on Oct. 16 after sustaining injuries in a fall the previous week.
The announcement of his death by his family was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and tributes across the music world.
Frehley was known as the "Spaceman" to a legion of rock fans in the 1970s and beyond.
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, fellow founding members of the band, paid tribute to their former comrade in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
"I am devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley.
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 be a part of KISS's legacy.
My thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world."
In a separate tribute, the "Demon" Simmons wrote that Frehley was the "eternal rock soldier":
"Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace's legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times.
Sadder still, Ace didn't live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!"
The other founding member of the band, drummer Peter Criss, wrote on X that he was "shocked" and said he loved his friend.
Co-founded Kiss
Frehley was born in New York City in 1951, co-founding Kiss in 1973 with Simmons, Stanley and Criss.
He never took formal training in playing the guitar, but taught himself.
The band's first album was released in 1974, simply titled "Kiss".
They quickly gained fame and popularity for their iconic black-and-white costumes, fanciful stage personas and wild, high-energy live shows, helped by Frehley's iconic Les Paul guitar.
However, they also received an equal amount of backlash from conservative groups for supposedly encouraging a "demonic" lifestyle, including the rumour that the band's name was a secret acronym that stood for "Knights In Satan's Service".
Stanley has debunked the rumour, saying "we're not that smart".
While the band revolutionised the rock world with songs like "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You", Frehley struggled with personal issues and substance abuse.
He left the band in the 1980s, but rejoined for their reunion in 1996.
Unfortunately, Simmons criticised Frehley for his struggle with drug addiction, even though he had stayed sober for several years, which led to more acrimony.
However, the Starman's influence and legacy lives on through artists like Pearl Jam, whose guitarist Mike McCready credited Frehley's work with inspiring him to pick up a guitar.
Top image from Kiss and Ace Frehley's Facebook pages.
