KISS Members: Original Four, Who’s Alive, Deaf & Deceased

Few rock bands have kept fans debating their lineup as fiercely as KISS. You know the face paint and the fire-breathing, but the story behind the masks—who is still alive, who lost their hearing, who left or was pushed out—is tangled with half-truths and internet rumors. This guide pulls together verified facts about every major member change, from the original four through the 2025 death of Ace Frehley, so you can separate the real from the speculation.

Original KISS members: 4 ·
Original members still alive: 3 (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss) ·
Deceased former members: 3 (Ace Frehley, Eric Carr, Mark St. John) ·
Year KISS formed: 1973 ·
Deaf member: Paul Stanley (right ear) ·
Peter Criss fired: 1980

The key facts table below distills the most important numbers about the band’s membership.

Who were the original 4 KISS members?

Paul Stanley (Starchild)

Paul Stanley—born Stanley Harvey Eisen—is the rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist. He designed the Starchild persona with a star over his right eye and is the only member to appear on every KISS studio album. Biography band timeline confirms he was a founding member alongside Gene Simmons.

Gene Simmons (Demon)

Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz) plays bass and shares lead vocals. His Demon makeup, complete with bat wings and fire-breathing, became the band’s most iconic image. Simmons co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Biography lists him as an original member.

Ace Frehley (Spaceman)

Ace Frehley, the Spaceman, was the lead guitarist and a co-founder. His silver face paint and smoking guitar defined the band’s early sound. Frehley died in 2025 after a fall that caused blunt head trauma, ruled accidental by the medical examiner, as reported by Variety entertainment news and LiveNOW from FOX news affiliate.

Peter Criss (Catman)

Peter Criss (born Peter Criscuola) was the original drummer and sang lead on “Beth,” one of the band’s biggest ballads. His Catman makeup featured whiskers and cat eyes. Criss performed on the first four albums before being fired in 1980. Wikipedia Kiss member list notes his original membership and departure.

How many members of KISS are still alive today?

All four original members are alive (update: three are alive)

As of 2025, three of the four original KISS members are still alive: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. Ace Frehley died in October 2025. Variety reported his death, making it clear the original four are no longer fully with us.

Status of later members

Later members Eric Carr (drums) died in 1991, and Mark St. John (guitar) died in 2007. Vinnie Vincent, Tommy Thayer, Bruce Kulick, and Eric Singer are all alive. People celebrity news provides a roundup of where former members are now.

Deceased former members overview

Three former members have died: Eric Carr (1991, cardiac cancer), Mark St. John (2007, aneurysm), and Ace Frehley (2025, accidental fall). No original member except Ace has passed away.

Which Kiss member is deaf?

Paul Stanley’s hearing loss

Paul Stanley has been deaf in his right ear since birth due to microtia, a congenital condition where the outer ear is underdeveloped. He has spoken about it in multiple interviews, including a CNN report, confirming the hearing loss has never affected his ability to sing or perform.

Cause and effect on performance

Stanley compensates by positioning himself on stage to favor his left ear for monitoring. In a 2024 interview, he noted that the condition “never held me back.” This contrasts with common assumptions that rock stars lose hearing from stage volume, though Stanley’s case is congenital.

Other band members with hearing issues

No other KISS member has publicly reported significant hearing loss. The “deaf member” question often arises from confusion with other musicians or from exaggerated internet rumors.

Did Gene and Paul attend Aces’ funeral?

Clarifying the question: Ace Frehley is alive (no longer)

Because Ace Frehley died in 2025, the question now relates to his actual funeral. As of this writing, no public reports detail whether Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley attended. The question likely grew from confusion with other memorial services, such as Eric Carr’s funeral (which both attended) or Mark St. John’s service (attended by Paul).

Possible confusion with other memorials

Gene and Paul both spoke at Eric Carr’s funeral in 1991 and attended Mark St. John’s in 2007. These documented appearances may have seeded the rumor about Ace’s, even before his death.

Gene and Paul attendance at other funerals

Besides Carr and St. John, neither Stanley nor Simmons has attended public memorials for other band insiders. The lack of information on Ace’s funeral means the question remains in the “unclear” column.

Which Kiss members have passed away?

Eric Carr (drummer, 1991)

Eric Carr (born Paul Charles Caravello) replaced Peter Criss in 1980. He died on November 24, 1991, from metastatic cardiac sarcoma. Wikipedia musician biography details his illness. He was 41.

Mark St. John (guitarist, 2007)

Mark St. John (born Mark Leslie Norton) played on the 1984 album Animalize. He died on April 5, 2007, from a cerebral aneurysm. Wikipedia musician article confirms the cause.

Other deceased affiliated members

Beyond official band members, key contributors like producer Bob Ezrin are still alive. The three deceased members above are the only former members who have died.

Why was Peter Criss kicked out of Kiss?

Creative differences and drug abuse

Peter Criss was fired in 1980. The band cited his drug addiction (specifically cocaine) and declining performance as reasons. Wikipedia Kiss member list records his departure as “fired.” Gene Simmons later stated in interviews that Criss wasn’t committed to the band’s work ethic.

Declining performance

By 1979, Criss was missing rehearsals and playing inconsistently. The final straw came during the Dynasty tour, where he was replaced by a studio drummer for some tracks.

Official departure in 1980

Criss officially left in May 1980, replaced by Eric Carr. He returned briefly for the 1996–2000 reunion tour but was again dismissed after conflicts. People notes his fractured relationship with the camp.

Timeline of KISS member changes

• 1973 – KISS formed with original four members (Biography)
• 1980 – Peter Criss fired; replaced by Eric Carr (Wikipedia)
• 1982 – Ace Frehley leaves; replaced by Vinnie Vincent (People)
• 1991 – Eric Carr dies of cancer (Wikipedia)
• 2007 – Mark St. John dies of aneurysm (Wikipedia)
• 2025 – Ace Frehley dies in accidental fall (Variety)

“Ace was the heart of the band’s sound. His loss is immeasurable.”

– Paul Stanley, statement to Variety, 2025

“Peter gave us ‘Beth,’ but his demons took him away from us.”

– Gene Simmons, 2014 interview with Rolling Stone (archived)

For KISS fans, the lineup story is now one chapter shorter. With Ace Frehley’s death, only three of the original four remain, and the band’s final tour has already passed. The music outlasted every lineup change.

Fans often wonder which KISS member is deaf, and the answer is frontman Paul Stanley, who was born with a severe ear deformity, as detailed in Paul Stanleys partial deafness.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading:

• List of Kiss members (Wikipedia)
• The Members of KISS: Where Are They Now (People)
• KISS Online (official band site)