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Gene Simmons said that his former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley’s shock passing was the result of ‘bad decisions.’
The late guitarist – who was one of the original members of the famed rock group – passed away at the age of 74 on October 16 when his family took him off of life support following his hospitalization.
Last month in November, his cause of death was revealed to be from blunt force trauma to the head after a fall inside his New Jersey home studio – and classified as an accident.
‘He refused [advice] from people that cared about him – including yours truly – to try to change his lifestyle. In and out of bad decisions,’ Simmons, 76, told The New York Post in an article published on Saturday.
The rock star added, ‘Falling down the stairs – I’m not a doctor – doesn’t kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart.’
Simmons then said, ‘The saddest thing – you reap what you shall sow unfortunately.’
Days after the late guitarist’s passing, Simmons as well as other original KISS founding members Paul Stanley and Peter Criss reunited to attend a memorial service in late October per an eyewitness.
The intimate celebration of life was held in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City – where Frehley had been born.
Simmons also reflected on attending Frehley’s funeral while talking to the outlet.
‘It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket. It was just heartbreaking.’
The singer also referenced to KISS being honored at The Kennedy Center Honors this weekend on Sunday, December 7.
‘Saddest of all perhaps is that Ace just couldn’t stay alive long enough to sit there proudly at the Kennedy Center and listen to – I can’t even tell you who’s going to come out…really impressive people, just to say how much KISS meant to them.’
The Rock And Roll All Nite hitmaker continued, ‘What can you say – sad.’
Simmons previously got candid about his regrets over Frehley’s death during an interview with People last month.
‘If I have any regrets, my hand to God, it’s that I sometimes, and I think we all go through this sometimes, wish we were smarter and better at trying to help Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] have better lives,’ he said.
The performer further added that they were ‘guilty’ of not talking about problems in order to avoid confrontations.
‘Let’s just continue doing the tour because you want to get through it for selfish reasons because it’s working, and the chicks of the money, and you don’t want to ruin anything.’
Simmons continued, ‘Meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions.’
The Detroit Rock City hitmaker also revealed that he regretted not instilling ‘more tough love’ with those close to him.
He explained, ‘It’s not going to be a popular thing or you’re going to argue about it, but in the long run you’re going to be helping that person hopefully change their life.’
KISS was formed in 1973 in New York City and Frehley – who was also known for inventing the persona called The Spaceman – had been the lead guitarist for the band.
He performed with the group until he left in 1982 and proceeded to form his own band Frehley’s Comet.
Frehley later joined KISS once again in 1996 for a reunion tour but would depart from the rock band in 2002.
Simmons and Stanley were left ‘devastated’ over Frehley’s death as they led emotional tributes to the late rock legend at the time of his passing.
The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office in New Jersey ruled Frehley’s death was due to blunt force trauma to the head after a fall.
Accoridng to the full medical examiner’s report obtained by the Daily Mail, the late star sustained a number of injuries including a fracture to the back of his skull and a large left subdural hematoma.
Frehley had also suffered from a left temporal bone fracture as well as a stroke.
Late last month, the iconic rock band reunited for the three-day KISS Kruise: Landlocked event, per People.
It was the also the first time the group performed since Frehley’s death one month earlier.
At one point, Stanley told the audience on Friday: ‘Obviously, before we get going, and we’re going to have an awesome time, we just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who was at the foundation of this band, and we’re talking about Ace.
‘We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about.’
On Saturday, both Simmons and Paul Stanley attended the medal presentation ceremony for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees inside the Oval Office with President Donald Trump.
The rock band KISS is one of the honorees for Sunday’s ceremony.
Simmons is set to testify before the Senate on December 9 in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which will require radio corporations to pay recording artists for their music.
Earlier this week on Friday, the performer also crashed the White House briefing room – with his wife Shannon Tweed and son Nick urging him to step away as reporters surrounded him.
Read more
- How did the KISS family and fans say their heartfelt goodbyes to rock legend Ace Frehley at his poignant memorial in New York?
- What legacies did Ace Frehley leave behind that cemented his legend, and what moving tributes did KISS bandmates and family share during their loss?
- How did KISS band members pay tribute to their late guitarist Ace Frehley after his tragic passing?
- How did KISS legend Ace Frehley spend his final days before a devastating fall that led to his tragic passing?
- Why did KISS legend Ace Frehley’s tragic departure bring soul-stirring tributes from around the globe, highlighting his vibrant legacy?
