France, Oct. 17 -- Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons led the tributes on Friday for fellow KISS founding member Ace Frehley who died on Thursday at the age of 74.

He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife, Jeanette, and daughter Monique, in Morristown, New Jersey, his agent said.

Stanley and Simmons, who started the band with Frehley and Peter Criss, said in a joint statement:"We are devastated. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.

"He is and will always be a part of KISS's legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world."

Mike McCready, one of the co-founders of the Se...