The cause of death for KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was officially revealed on Monday. Frehley passed away last month at the age of 74 after suffering a brain bleed following a serious fall.
TMZ previously reported that Frehley had been placed on life support after the fall occurred in his music studio in early October. On Monday, the Morris County, New Jersey Medical Examiner confirmed that his death resulted from blunt head trauma caused by the fall.
According to the report, Frehley suffered a skull fracture at the back of his head, a subdural hematoma—a collection of blood between the brain and its protective outer layer—and a stroke. Despite undergoing a procedure to remove the hematoma, his condition could not be saved, and his death was ruled an accident.
Ace Frehley was a founding member of KISS, joining forces with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss. He played guitar with the band from 1973 to 1982, leaving amid creative differences and struggles with substance abuse.
A private funeral for Frehley was held last month in the Bronx, New York. The original members of KISS attended the service, along with family and close friends. Billboard.com reported that the intimate ceremony took place on Wednesday, Oct. 22, marking a heartfelt farewell to the legendary guitarist.