Gene Simmons, the frontman of KISS, shared that a sequence of “bad decisions” made by guitarist Ace Frehley played a part in his death. Frehley passed away at 74 on October 16, shortly after falling down the stairs at his home studio in Morristown, New Jersey, which led to a brain hemorrhage.
Simmons pointed to drug abuse as a significant factor in Frehley’s demise, mentioning that those who cared for him tried to guide him towards a healthier lifestyle. He added, “I’m no doctor, but falling down the stairs won’t kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart.”
A coroner’s report determined that blunt force trauma to the head from the fall was the cause of death, with a toxicology report expected to follow regarding Frehley’s blood.
Reflecting on the situation, Simmons, 76, said, “The saddest thing is, unfortunately, you’re going to reap what you sow.”
Currently in Washington, D.C., to collect Kennedy Center Honors and testify about legislation for performer royalties at major radio stations, Simmons expressed his heartbreak over attending Frehley’s private funeral on October 22. He noted, “Peter Criss, Paul [Stanley], and I went to the funeral and opened the casket. It was just heartbreaking. Probably the saddest thing is that Ace didn’t live long enough to be able to sit proudly at the Kennedy Center and hear just how much KISS meant to people.”
“What can I say? It’s sad,” he added.
Simmons has also discussed the difficulties that may have prevented him and others from intervening in Frehley’s life. He remarked, “Let’s keep touring. It’s going well, the kids are here, we’ve got the money, so we just want to get through it for selfish reasons.” He lamented that while success continued, someone close was struggling immensely.
Frehley previously criticized Simmons for comments regarding his drinking and unreliability, stating, “Your disparaging comments about my bad habits over the years have cost me millions of dollars.” He emphasized that he had been sober for over 12 years and was capable of performing without issue.
Frehley’s past included run-ins with the law, including drunk driving incidents. He co-founded KISS in 1973, left in 1982, returned for a reunion in 1996, and stayed until 2002. Following Frehley’s passing, Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with Peter Criss, seemed to set aside their past disputes in his honor.
