Ace Frehley, the iconic founding guitarist of KISS, passed away on Thursday, October 16, at the age of 74, following injuries sustained from a fall the previous month. His death comes just seven weeks before KISS is scheduled to receive a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor, an event set to tape on December 7 and air on CBS on December 23.

Frehley's family released a heartfelt statement, expressing their profound grief: "We are completely devastated and heartbroken. 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. … Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!"

The news of his passing reverberated through the music community, prompting a wave of tributes from fellow rockers. Gene Simmons, Frehley's onetime bandmate and KISS co-founder, shared his sorrow on X, stating, "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!" Other musicians, including Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Pearl Jam, and Poison's Bret Michaels, also shared their condolences and admiration. Morello lauded Frehley as "My first guitar hero," praising his "timeless riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and his unforgettable crazy laugh." Mike McCready of Pearl Jam remembered Frehley as a hero and friend whose solos he studied endlessly.

Frehley's posthumous recognition at the Kennedy Center Honors is a rare distinction, as the cultural institution typically mandates that its honorees must be living. He will be only the third person to receive this honor posthumously, joining Glenn Frey of Eagles (who died in January 2016 before the group's December 2016 honor) and Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead (who died on October 25, 2024, six weeks before his group's honor). This stands in contrast to previous instances where deceased members like Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead, Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire were not included in their groups' honors.

KISS is the seventh group ever to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, and their recognition, following Grateful Dead's award last year, marks the first time two groups have been honored in consecutive years. Previous group honorees include The Who (2008), Led Zeppelin (2012), Eagles (2016), Earth, Wind & Fire (2019), and U2 (2022). This year's ceremony, slated to air on December 23 from 8-10:30 p.m. ET/PT, will also recognize Grammy-winning country music icon George Strait, Tony-winning stage and screen star Michael Crawford, Grammy-winning disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor, and film icon Sylvester Stallone. President Trump announced he would host the program, which, if he follows through, would be a historic first for an elected official or president.

Throughout his career, Frehley left an indelible mark on rock music. He was instrumental in shaping KISS's early sound, playing on their first nine albums before his departure in 1982. He later rejoined the band for their 1998 reunion album, "Psycho Circus," before ultimately leaving again in 2002. Beyond KISS, Frehley also released nine solo studio albums, further cementing his legacy as a distinctive and influential guitarist. His unique style and stage persona inspired generations of musicians and fans, ensuring his memory and music will continue to live on.