KISS Members Reunite to Pay Their Final Respects at Ace Frehley’s Private Memorial Service

Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, one of rock’s most iconic and influential performers, has been laid to rest following a private memorial service in the Bronx, New York. The ceremony, held on October 22, honored the late musician, who passed away on October 16 at the age of 74, and brought together those who knew him best, including fellow Kiss members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss.

A Farewell Among Friends

Radio host and longtime friend Eddie Trunk attended the intimate service and later reflected on the emotional farewell in an Instagram post.

“Ace Frehley has now been laid to rest in Bronx, NY. It has been an emotional couple of days to say the least saying farewell to a rock icon and longtime friend,” Trunk wrote. “All of the services went as well as they could and were attended by a small group of family and close friends, including the three surviving original members of Kiss.”

Trunk added that it was “an honor to be invited to attend and participate” in the service, sharing that he reunited with familiar faces and met new ones while celebrating Frehley’s legacy.

“It was an honor to be invited to attend and participate and saw some old friends and made some new ones celebrating Ace,” he said.

Plans for a Tribute Celebration

Trunk also revealed that Frehley’s family has granted permission to move forward with a future tribute show and fan celebration in honor of the guitarist’s storied career.

“That’s something I feel, and many others feel, is deserved and should happen,” Trunk added.

Fans have since expressed hope that such an event will serve as a fitting tribute to the man whose larger-than-life persona and groundbreaking guitar work helped define Kiss’s classic sound.

Investigation Into the Cause of Death

On the day of Frehley’s memorial, reports confirmed that his cause of death remains under investigation by a New Jersey medical examiner. According to TMZ, a representative from the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that no autopsy was performed, but that toxicology tests and an external examination are being conducted. Results are expected within the coming weeks.

In the days prior to his death, Frehley had reportedly suffered a brain bleed in September while working in the studio. The incident left him on life support and forced him to cancel his planned 2025 tour dates.

Though his passing has left a void in the world of rock, Ace Frehley’s music, stage presence, and unmistakable influence will continue to inspire generations of fans and musicians alike.