Why KISS wore iconic makeup as founder Ace Frehley dies weeks after cancelling tour

Ace Frehley, one of the founding members of the iconic rock band KISS, has died at the age of 74.

The guitarist, who was also known as The Spaceman or Ace Man, is said to have suffered a fall at his home which led to a bleed on the brain, requiring him to go on life support.

His family announced the death in a statement, in which they said they'd been left 'completely devastated and heartbroken' by the musician's passing.

"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," they told Rolling Stone.

“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.

Frehley was known as The Spaceman (Gary Miller/Getty Images)

"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's fellow founding KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have also shared their devastation over the tragic news, calling the 74-year-old '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. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world," they added.

The news came just weeks after Frehley's tour manager John Ostrosky shared that the musician had experienced a 'minor fall' and would be cancelling an upcoming tour date. Earlier this month, a message on his website said the remainder of his 2025 dates would be cancelled 'due to some ongoing medical issues.'

KISS were known for their iconic makeup (Fin Costello/Redferns)

As one of the founding members of a world-famous rock band, Frehley, like his bandmates, was arguably most recognisable when he donned his famous face paint, which became their signature look after launching the band in 1973.

Each original member of KISS had their own persona which was represented by their makeup, with Frehley known as The Spaceman. Meanwhile, Stanley was The Starchild, Simmons was The Demon and Peter Criss was The Catman.

In the 70s, it was normal for rock bands to experiment with their 'looks,' but none took it as far as KISS, which added to the band's notoriety, with fans having no idea what they actually looked like for several years.