Lead: The Morris County Medical Examiner has ruled that former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, 74, died from blunt force trauma to the head after a fall, with the manner of death listed as an accident. The findings, reported after a CT scan, include skull fractures, multiple contusions, intracranial hemorrhages and a subdural hematoma; the examiner also noted a stroke. Frehley died on October 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx following a private memorial on October 21 and burial on October 22. Family statements, manager remarks and media reports confirm the sequence of events and the musician’s recent health setbacks.
Key Takeaways
- The Morris County Medical Examiner attributed Frehley s death to blunt trauma to the head from a fall; the death was ruled accidental.
- CT imaging showed multiple contusions, fractures at the back of the skull, hemorrhages and a subdural hematoma; additional bruising was noted on the hip, thigh and abdomen.
- Frehley, born Paul Daniel Frehley, died October 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, at age 74 and was buried October 22 at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
- The musician had experienced a second fall at home nearly two weeks before his death and was placed on life support before the family removed the ventilator.
- Close friends and original KISS members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss were among those reported to attend private services; about 75 people attended the Yonkers memorial, mostly collaborators and fellow musicians.
- Earlier in October Frehley canceled remaining 2025 tour dates after a fall forced him to withdraw from the Antelope Valley Fair and seek treatment.
- At the time of his passing he was working on Origins Vol. 3; his most recent original album, 10,000 Volts, was released in February 2024 via MNRK Music Group.
- Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973, played on the band’s first nine albums, rejoined for the 1998 reunion album Psycho Circus, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014.
Background
Ace Frehley rose to prominence as the lead guitarist and founding member of KISS, a band formed in New York City in 1973. He performed on the group’s formative recordings and became known as the Spaceman, a persona later carried on stage by guitarist Tommy Thayer after Frehley s departures. Frehley left KISS initially in 1982, returned during the 1996 reunion era, recorded Psycho Circus in 1998, and left again in the early 2000s amid touring and lineup changes. The original quartet was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
In the years before his death Frehley recorded solo albums and compiled collections of cover songs titled Origins. His most recent studio record of original material, 10,000 Volts, was released in February 2024 through MNRK Music Group. Health problems and onstage reliability had been public topics in the rock press for decades, and in October 2024 he publicly canceled remaining 2025 tour dates after sustaining injuries in a fall that prompted medical advice to avoid travel.
Main Event
Morris County officials examined Frehley s injuries after he was hospitalized following a fall at his home. According to the medical examiner s report, a CT scan identified multiple contusions, fractures along the posterior skull, intracranial hemorrhages and a subdural hematoma, the latter a bleed between the skull and the brain s surface often linked to head trauma. In addition to cranial injuries, examiners documented bruising on other parts of his body and noted that Frehley had suffered a stroke.
Friends and family say Frehley experienced a second fall at his residence that led to deterioration and placement on life support. The family subsequently made the decision to remove ventilatory support; Frehley passed away peacefully on October 16 in Morristown with relatives at his side. His longtime manager confirmed arrangements and family statements described the final moments as surrounded by loved ones and peaceful words.
Funeral arrangements were private. A memorial service at Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers on October 21 was followed by burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx on October 22, fulfilling the musician s wishes to be interred near his parents. Manager John Ostrosky publicly thanked Yonkers officials and funeral staff for their assistance during the escort to Woodlawn. Fellow artists, close friends and the remaining original KISS members were reported among the attendees.
Analysis & Implications
The medical examiner s findings place Frehley s death squarely in the category of accidental head trauma. Subdural hematomas and skull fractures are consistent with significant blunt-force impact; such injuries can be rapidly progressive, especially in older adults where the brain is more vulnerable to bleeding and swelling. The report s note of a stroke introduces an additional medical complication that may have influenced his clinical course, but distinguishing which condition was primary versus contributory requires the full medical record.
For the music community, the loss closes a career that was both influential and tumultuous. Frehley s contributions to KISS s early sound and image helped define a major segment of 1970s rock. His continuing solo work and planned projects, such as Origins Vol. 3, meant his artistic output remained active through 2024. The abrupt end to those projects highlights risks artists face when touring and recording while managing chronic health issues.
From a public safety perspective the case underscores falls as a leading cause of severe head injury among older adults. Musicians in their 60s and 70s who continue heavy touring schedules face a blend of physical strain and travel-related risks. Promoters, medical teams and families may increasingly weigh those risks when planning live schedules for older performers.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Death | October 16, 2024 |
| Private memorial service | October 21, 2024 |
| Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery | October 22, 2024 |
| 10,000 Volts release | February 2024 |
| KISS formation | 1973 |
| Rock Hall induction | 2014 |
The timeline above places the final days in context with recent career activity. The interval between Frehley s reported second fall and his death was roughly two weeks, during which he was hospitalized, treated and placed on life support. Comparing this case with broader epidemiological data shows that intracranial hemorrhage following falls carries increased mortality and morbidity risk with advancing age.
Reactions & Quotes
Family and management issued public statements expressing grief and gratitude for care. Manager John Ostrosky acknowledged local officials and funeral home staff for facilitating the burial and services.
We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments we were fortunate enough to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words and thoughts as he left this earth
Family statement
Longtime radio host Eddie Trunk, who attended services, described the burial as honoring Frehley s wishes to be laid to rest near his childhood neighborhood.
Ace Frehley was laid to rest in a cemetery in the Bronx, very close to where his parents were buried, which were his wishes
Eddie Trunk, SiriusXM host
Manager Ostrosky thanked local Yonkers officials and funeral staff for a dignified escort to Woodlawn Cemetery.
We would like to thank Frank Sinatra Jr., Joseph Vivona and the entire staff at Sinatra Memorial Home, as well as Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and the police for a safe escort to Woodlawn
John Ostrosky, manager
Unconfirmed
- Precise circumstances of the fall or falls, including whether any surface, object or medical event precipitated the initial impact, remain unreported.
- The extent to which the reported stroke contributed to Frehley s deterioration versus the head injuries is not detailed in the public summary of the medical examiner s findings.
- Full hospital records and treating physicians assessments have not been released publicly, so the timeline of clinical care and specific interventions is not independently verifiable from public sources.
Bottom Line
Ace Frehley s death has been officially attributed to blunt head trauma from a fall, with imaging documenting skull fractures, contusions and a subdural hematoma; the death was ruled accidental by the Morris County Medical Examiner. The case highlights the real dangers posed by falls in older adults and the rapid, sometimes irreversible course of intracranial bleeding.
For fans and colleagues the immediate legacy will be Frehley s recorded output with KISS and his solo catalog, plus the unfinished Origins Vol. 3 project. For the broader music and touring industry, his passing is a reminder to reassess medical oversight and travel demands for veteran performers. Further details will depend on the release of complete medical records or a fuller public report from county authorities.
Sources
- Blabbermouth.net (music news site) — original report summarizing the medical examiner s findings and funeral details
- TMZ (entertainment news) — reported obtaining the Morris County Medical Examiner s report
- New York Post (newspaper) — coverage of funeral arrangements and manager remarks
- Tampa Bay area news (regional news) — reporting on attendance at the Yonkers memorial
- Morris County official website (official county/medical examiner) — county office that issued the medical examiner s determination