Ace Frehley, a Founding Member of Kiss, Is Dead at 74

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of the hard-rock band Kiss, who often performed in white-and-silver face makeup and sold millions of records during his two tenures with the band — from 1973 to 1982, and then from 1996 to 2002 — died Thursday in Morristown, New Jersey. He was 74.

A statement from his family said the cause was a recent fall at his home but did not specify where in Morristown he died.

A consummate showman, like all the members of Kiss, Frehley was known for playing guitars rigged with pyrotechnic effects and for his distinctive stage persona: He was known as “the Spaceman” or “Space Ace” because of the silver stars on his face. He also designed the band’s logo, with its lightning-bolt letters.

The other founding members of Kiss were guitarist Paul Stanley, drummer