Kiss founding member Ace Frehley’s cause of death has been revealed nearly a month after he died at 74. The lead guitarist died after suffering a head injury in a fall, the Morris County Medical Examiner confirmed in a report obtained by TMZ and People on Monday. His death was ruled accidental. His agent previously said Frehley died peacefully Oct. 16 surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey. About a week before his death, the rocker’s team announced he was canceling the remaining dates of his 2025 tour due to “ongoing medical issues.” The announcement came after news that Frehley had suffered a brain bleed during a fall in his studio in September and had been placed on life supprt. Ace Frehley was a part of Kiss’ original lineup, which also included singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. The New York-born musician’s death is the first among the four founding members.Gary Miller via Getty ImagesFrehley’s family first announced his death in a statement shared with People on Oct. 16.“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,” the statement read. “We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.” Simmons and Stanley also mourned their longtime bandmate in a joint statement. “We are 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,” the pair said. “He is and will always be a part of Kiss’s legacy.”Close