Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist and co-founder of rock legends KISS, has publicly stated that the tragic death of his former bandmate Ace Frehley was the result of a series of 'bad decisions'. The guitarist, famed for his 'Spaceman' persona, died on October 16 at the age of 74 after his family made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support.
A Tragic Accident and Heartfelt Regrets
Frehley's cause of death was later confirmed in November as blunt force trauma to the head from a fall inside his New Jersey home studio, officially ruled an accident. Speaking to The New York Post, Simmons, 76, expressed his profound sorrow and frustration. '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 revealed.
The rock veteran poignantly 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.' He concluded with a sombre reflection: 'The saddest thing - you reap what you shall sow unfortunately.'
A Band in Mourning and a Missed Honour
In late October, following Frehley's passing, the original KISS members – Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss – reunited for a private memorial service in the Bronx, New York City, Frehley's birthplace. Recalling the emotional funeral, Simmons said, 'It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket. It was just heartbreaking.'
The tragedy was compounded by its timing, as KISS was set to be honoured at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors on December 7. 'Saddest of all perhaps is that Ace just couldn't stay alive long enough to sit there proudly at the Kennedy Center,' Simmons lamented, highlighting the missed celebration of their collective legacy.
Reflections on Missed Intervention and 'Tough Love'
In a previous interview with People, Simmons had expanded on his regrets, expressing a wish that he had been more proactive. 'If I have any regrets, my hand to God, it's that I sometimes... wish we were smarter and better at trying to help Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] have better lives,' he confessed.
He admitted the band was sometimes 'guilty' of avoiding difficult conversations to maintain tour momentum, a decision he now views as selfish. 'Meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions.' Simmons stated he regretted not instilling 'more tough love', believing that confronting issues, though unpopular, could have spurred positive change.
The medical examiner's report detailed the severity of Frehley's injuries, which included:
- A fracture to the back of his skull.
- A large left subdural hematoma.
- A left temporal bone fracture.
- Evidence of a stroke.
Frehley, an original member of KISS from its 1973 formation, left the band in 1982, rejoined for a reunion tour in 1996, and departed again in 2002. His death left Simmons and Stanley 'devastated', leading emotional tributes from across the music world. The band's first performances since his passing occurred at the KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in late November, where Stanley honoured their founding guitarist, acknowledging their differences but affirming, 'that's what family is about.'
