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Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have paid tribute to KISS co-founder Ace Frehley, who passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday, October 16th.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons, 76, and Stanley, 73, told Page Six in a joint statement Thursday. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock warrior in the most formative and foundational chapter of the band and its history.”
“He is and always will be a part of the KISS legacy,” they added, sending condolences to Frehley’s estranged wife Janet Trelotola, daughter Monique Frehley and “all who loved him, including his fans around the world.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Simmons and Stanley’s representatives for comment.
Frehley’s family announced his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, saying he had recently suffered a fall at home and died early that day in Morristown, New Jersey.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we were fortunate to be able to surround him with loving, caring and peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this world,” the family said.
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“We cherish all of his fondest memories, his laughter, and celebrate the strength and kindness he inspired others. The magnitude of his death is epic and beyond comprehension. Ace’s memory will live on forever as we reflect on all of the amazing accomplishments of his life,” the statement concluded.
TMZ previously reported that Locker was on life support due to a brain bleed following a fall several weeks ago.
Frehley told fans about the fall in a statement posted to Instagram on September 25, noting that he had to cancel a performance scheduled for the next day in Lancaster. California
A statement said the fall was “minor” and the star was “in good spirits” but was unable to attend the show on doctor’s orders.
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“Ace looks forward to continuing touring and finishing work on his next album, Origins Vol. 4,” the statement read.
The founding guitarist of KISS went on to have a successful solo career of his own, including the 1978 hit “New York Groove.”
