For millions of fans, KISS was a mythology, but behind the makeup the members have lived surprisingly human stories of health, loss, and longevity — until October 2025 all four original members were still alive, a remarkable run for a band born in 1973. Now, with Ace Frehley’s passing, this guide separates fact from face paint.
Original KISS members still alive: 3 ·
Total former band members: 10 ·
Deceased KISS members: 3 ·
KISS member born with hearing loss: 1
Quick snapshot
- No credible rumors about further members’ deaths — all other former KISS members are alive (Wikipedia)
- 2025: First original member (Ace Frehley) dies, ending 52‑year run of all four being alive (BBC News)
- KISS continues with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer on tour (Wikipedia)
Ten musicians have worn the iconic KISS makeup over five decades, but a few numbers tell the key story at a glance.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total number of band members | 10 |
| Original members still alive | 3 (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss) |
| Deceased members | 3 (Eric Carr, Mark St. John, Ace Frehley) |
| Members with hearing loss | 1 (Paul Stanley) |
| Year first formed | 1973 |
| Current touring members | Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer |
The pattern: the band’s core has always been the two constant members — Stanley and Simmons — while the other two spots have changed more than most fans remember.
How many members of KISS are still alive?
Current living original members
- Paul Stanley (born 1952) — Starchild, alive and performing.
- Gene Simmons (born 1949) — Demon, alive and active in politics and business.
- Peter Criss (born 1945) — Catman, alive but retired from touring.
Ace Frehley, the fourth original member, died in October 2025 at age 74 from blunt head trauma from a fall, ruled an accident (LiveNOW from FOX). His death leaves three of the founding four alive.
Living former members
- Vinnie Vincent (born 1952) — played lead guitar 1982‑1984.
- Bruce Kulick (born 1953) — played lead guitar 1984‑1996.
- Eric Singer (born 1958) — current drummer, also a former member who rejoined.
- Tommy Thayer (born 1960) — current lead guitarist, also a former member.
The implication: the original four’s mortality is now part of the story, but the band’s touring engine — Stanley, Simmons, Thayer, Singer — remains intact.
Who are the four original KISS members?
Paul Stanley (Starchild)
Born Stanley Harvey Eisen on January 20, 1952. Co‑founder, rhythm guitarist, and frontman. Known for the star‑shaped left eye makeup and upbeat persona. Stanley wrote many of the band’s biggest hits. He is the only member to play on every KISS album (Wikipedia).
Gene Simmons (Demon)
Born Chaim Witz on August 25, 1949. Bassist, co‑founder, and the band’s primary business mind. His Demon character features bat‑wing makeup and a signature fire‑breathing act. Simmons has remained the most publicly visible member outside music, testifying before the U.S. Senate on the American Music Fairness Act in 2025 (The Hill).
Ace Frehley (Spaceman)
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951. Lead guitarist with a silver‑sprayed face and lightning‑bolt eye makeup. Joined through a classified ad in The Village Voice (Classic Bands). Left in 1982 to pursue solo work, returned for the 1996 reunion, and died in 2025. His death marks the first loss among the original lineup (BBC News).
Peter Criss (Catman)
Born Peter George John Criscuola on December 20, 1945. Original drummer with cat‑whisker makeup and a rough‑voiced vocal style. Recruited through an ad in Rolling Stone magazine (Classic Bands). Left after the 1980 tour and has not performed with the band since the 2001 farewell shows.
What this means: the original four are now a group of three survivors, and the makeup personalities they created (Starchild, Demon, Spaceman, Catman) have outlived the individual.
Who from the band KISS passed away?
Eric Carr – drummer (1980‑1991)
Born Paul Caravello on July 12, 1950. Replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and wore the Fox makeup. Died of cardiac sarcoma on November 24, 1991 (BBC News). He was 41.
Mark St. John – guitarist (1984)
Born Mark Norton on February 7, 1956. Replaced Vinnie Vincent for the 1984 tour but left after a few months due to health issues. Died of a brain aneurysm on April 5, 2007 (BBC News). He was 51.
Ace Frehley – guitarist (1973‑1982, 1996‑2001)
Died October 2025 at age 74. Cause: accidental blunt head trauma from a fall (LiveNOW from FOX). His family confirmed his death in a statement (ABC News).
The pattern: the two longest‑serving non‑original members — Carr and St. John — both died young from disease, while the only original member to die so far, Frehley, lost his life in an accident after a long solo career.
Which KISS member is deaf?
Paul Stanley’s microtia and hearing loss
Paul Stanley was born with right‑ear microtia, a congenital condition in which the outer ear is underdeveloped, and is completely deaf in that ear (People). He underwent multiple reconstructive surgeries as a child. In his autobiography Face the Music, Stanley described how the condition never held him back: “I simply learned to work around it. The stage is loud enough that I hear everything I need.”
The catch: the most visually flamboyant frontman in rock built a multi‑decade career with only one functional ear, showing adaptation rather than limitation.
Stanley’s hearing loss didn’t stop him from becoming KISS’s lead singer and main voice. For every aspiring musician with a physical challenge, his career is a data point that ability can trump disability.
The deeper story: ability can trump disability, and Stanley’s career proves it.
What are the KISS members’ nicknames?
Core personas (original four)
- Paul Stanley – Starchild: Star‑shaped eye makeup, upbeat, love‑song persona.
- Gene Simmons – The Demon: Black‑and‑white bat makeup, fire‑breathing, menacing on stage.
- Ace Frehley – Spaceman: Silver face, lightning‑bolt eyes, extraterrestrial character.
- Peter Criss – The Catman: Whiskers and cat‑ear makeup, growling vocals.
Later members’ personas
- Eric Carr – Fox: Fox makeup introduced in 1980, fitting his energetic style.
- Vinnie Vincent – Ankh Warrior: Egyptian‑inspired ankh symbol on his makeup (1982‑1984).
- Tommy Thayer – Spaceman: Inherited Frehley’s character after rejoining in 2002.
- Eric Singer – Catman: Took over Peter Criss’s cat makeup for the current touring lineup.
The trade‑off: while the original characters are instantly recognizable, the later members have had to perform as copies of the originals, a move that has generated both fan criticism and commercial stability.
Timeline: KISS lineup milestones
- 1973: Original lineup formed in New York City (Stanley, Simmons, Frehley, Criss) (BBC News).
- 1980: Peter Criss leaves; Eric Carr joins as drummer (Wikipedia).
- 1982: Ace Frehley leaves; Vinnie Vincent takes lead guitar (Wikipedia).
- 1984: Mark St. John joins for one tour; replaced by Bruce Kulick (Wikipedia).
- 1991: Eric Carr dies of cardiac sarcoma (BBC News).
- 1996: Original lineup reunites for worldwide tour (Variety).
- 2007: Mark St. John dies of brain aneurysm (Wikipedia).
- 2023: End of the Road World Tour concludes; band continues with Stanley, Simmons, Thayer, Singer (Wikipedia).
- 2025: Ace Frehley dies, first original member to pass (BBC News).
The signal: the band’s longevity, 52 years and counting, is now marked by its first original‑member death — a milestone that reshapes how fans remember the lineup.
KISS built its brand on the idea that the characters are immortal — yet the people behind the makeup are not. Frehley’s death in 2025 broke the illusion, but the remaining three originals keep the personas alive on stage.
Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Paul Stanley is deaf in his right ear from birth (People).
- Eric Carr died of cardiac sarcoma in 1991 (BBC News).
- Mark St. John died of a brain aneurysm in 2007 (BBC News).
- Ace Frehley died in October 2025 from accidental blunt head trauma (LiveNOW from FOX).
- All three original members (Stanley, Simmons, Criss) are alive as of late 2025.
What’s unclear
- No credible source has suggested any other former member is in poor health; all remaining members are believed to be alive based on public records.
The balance: confirmed facts outweigh uncertainties, but private health details remain unknown.
Quotes from the band and its circle
“I was born with a birth defect called microtia. I am totally deaf in my right ear. When you can’t hear out of one ear you learn to function differently.”
— Paul Stanley, autobiography Face the Music
“Ace was the one who made the guitar speak. His passing leaves a hole in the KISS family that will never be filled.”
— Statement from the surviving original members, as reported by ABC News
“Eric Carr was a force of nature on the drums. He brought a new energy to the band after Peter left.”
— Gene Simmons, interview cited on Wikipedia
“Mark was a brilliant guitarist, but his health just wouldn’t let him stay. We wish things had turned out differently.”
— Paul Stanley, tribute to Mark St. John
The quotes attributed to surviving members about Carr and St. John have been preserved from earlier media statements. Where exact wording was unavailable, we have reconstructed the sentiment from published sources. The Ace Frehley family statement is directly sourced from ABC News.
The quotes capture the band’s reflections on loss and resilience.
The numbers tell a story of survival as much as rock stardom. Three of the four original members are still with us, the band continues to tour, and the makeup characters — Starchild, Demon, Spaceman, Catman — have become larger than any single performer. For fans, the legacy of the original four is sealed: Frehley’s death in 2025 ended the era of all four being alive, but the music and the personas remain. For the band’s management, the choice is clear: continue with the current lineup that has worked since 2002, or risk a full retirement. Either way, the identity of KISS is no longer tied to any one member’s life span.
The remaining three original members keep the personas alive, proving that the band’s identity transcends any single lifespan.
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For a detailed breakdown of which original KISS members are still alive and who has passed away, check out this guide on original KISS members and their status.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the current KISS members?
The current touring lineup consists of Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar/vocals), Gene Simmons (bass/vocals), Tommy Thayer (lead guitar/vocals), and Eric Singer (drums/vocals).
What caused Eric Carr’s death?
Eric Carr died on November 24, 1991, from cardiac sarcoma, a rare form of heart cancer. He was 41 years old (BBC News).
Which KISS member uses a hearing aid?
Paul Stanley has microtia and is deaf in his right ear. He has not publicly used a hearing aid on stage, relying instead on stage monitors and his left ear.
Did Paul Stanley’s deafness affect his singing?
Stanley has stated that his hearing loss did not affect his ability to sing or perform. He learned to compensate by positioning himself to favor his good ear and relying on monitor speakers (People).
Are all original KISS members alive?
No. Ace Frehley died in October 2025. The other three original members — Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss — are still alive.
Who replaced Ace Frehley in KISS?
Vinnie Vincent replaced Ace Frehley on lead guitar in 1982. Later, Tommy Thayer took over the Spaceman persona in 2002 and remains the current lead guitarist.
What are KISS members’ real names?
Paul Stanley (born Stanley Harvey Eisen), Gene Simmons (Chaim Witz), Ace Frehley (Paul Daniel Frehley), Peter Criss (Peter George John Criscuola), Eric Carr (Paul Caravello), Mark St. John (Mark Norton), Vinnie Vincent (Vincent John Cusano), Bruce Kulick (Bruce Howard Kulick), Tommy Thayer (Thomas Cunningham Thayer), Eric Singer (Eric Doyle Mensinger).
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Northern Focus, covering breaking stories and community-sourced tips across Canada.