We previously reported that the legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away back in October. Afterwards, Frehley’s former KISS bandmate Gene Simmons alleged that Frehley may have died because of his own “bad decisions.”
Now, Simmons is speaking out to apologize for making these comments about Frehley’s passing.
Simmons Apologizes
Last weekend, Simmons made headlines when he claimed that Frehley’s “lifestyle” contributed to a fall at his New Jersey home. Indeed, this is what ultimately caused his death on October 14, when he passed away at the age of 74.
Simmons, 76, has since taken to social media to backtrack on these remarks.
“On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologize,” Simmons wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“My hand to God i didn’t intended to hurt Ace or his legacy but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone,” he added. “Again, I apologize. I’ve always loved Ace. Always.”
Simmons’ Controversial Comments
This comes after Simmons implied that Frehley’s substance abuse issues is what led to his death.
“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 told The New York Post on Saturday. “Falling down the stairs — I’m not a doctor — doesn’t kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart.”
“The saddest thing – you reap what you shall sow unfortunately,” he continued.
Simmons went on to talk about attending Frehley’s private funeral service, which was held on October 22. He gave this interview while he was in Washington D.C. to collect a Kennedy Center Honor with his fellow surviving KISS band members.
“It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket” Simmons recalled. “It was just heartbreaking.”
“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,” he concluded. “What can you say – sad.”
Simmons’ Previous Remarks
Simmons had previously openly discussed the pressures that may have kept fellow band members from intervening with Frehley and his alleged “bad decisions.”
“Let’s just continue doing the tour because you want to get through it for selfish reasons because it’s working, and the chicks, and the money, and you don’t want to ruin anything,” he told People Magazine last month. “Meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions.”
It should be noted that there were tensions between Simmons and Frehley over the years. Back in 2019, Frehley slammed Simmons for comments that he’d made about his drinking and alleged unreliability. According to Frehley, Simmons was not being honest about him.
“Your slanderous remarks about my bad habits over the years has cost me millions of dollars and now that I’m over 12-years sober you’re still saying I can’t be trusted to play a whole nights show! Well that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 12-years with different configurations of ‘The Ace Frehley Band’ to you and Paul’s dismay!” Frehley wrote on social media at the time.
Frehley was one of the founders of KISS in 1973. He then left the band in 1982 before rejoining it in 1996. Frehley then left the band for a final time in 2002.
Regardless of what exactly caused Frehley’s fall, we can certainly see why Simmons is walking back his comments about his former bandmate’s death.
Rest in peace, Ace Frehley.