Guitarist and Kiss collaborator Karl Cochran dies in freak accident

Posted On February 22, 2025February 22, 2025

Karl Cochran, the guitarist known for his collaborations with rock band Kiss, has died in a car accident at the age of 61, local police have confirmed.

Cochran’s 90-year-old mother, Arna Cochran, was driving Subaru Legacy when she accidentally crashed into a tree, tragically killing her son, who was in the passenger’s seat.

According to the police, Cochran’s mother “backed the vehicle across the front yard and struck a tree, ejecting” Cochran on private property before he was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick “with life-threatening injuries”.

Following his death, Kiss posted a heartfelt tribute to X, describing him as someone who “never stopped hitting back” despite previously experiencing a significant health setback in 2014. The band also said he was a “constant inspiration” while expressing “deep condolences” to his wife and family.

“Our dear friend Karl Cochran was killed in a car accident on Feb. 19th,” they wrote. “Karl was a vocalist and guitarist extraordinaire who suffered a massive stroke but never stopped fighting to make his way back.”

Alongside a photo of Cochran with Paul Stanley, the band continued, “He was loved by our fans worldwide through his appearances worldwide and was a constant inspiration as our guest on our KISS Kruises. Our deep condolences to Geri and family.”

Bruce Kulick also took to X to pay tribute, saying that Cochran’s passing was “gut wrenching to hear” and said he was a “fantastic musician” and “a gentle giant who was taken too soon from all of us.”

He added, “As a frequent guest on the Kiss Kruise everyone that met him was touched with his smile and his special passion of life. My condolences to his family and his wonderful fiancé Ger Fasano who was his loving partner.”

Cochran worked alongside Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and his solo band in the 1990s, co-writing tracks like ‘Into the Void’ for the 1998 album Psycho Circus. He also collaborated with Eric Singer on The Eric Singer Project around the same time.

Cochran also frequently played with former Deep Purple member Joe Lynn Turner, who paid tribute by describing him as “an unbelievable loss not only to me but to the music world in general.” He said he had lost a “brother” and will always remember the time he was “fortunate enough” to share with his “boundless spirit”.

Despite Cochran suffering from a stroke in 2014 that left him with restricted mobility and verbal skills, he remained in music, working as a producer and music teacher, staying active until he died.

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