Gene Simmons says “bad decisions” killed Kiss bandmate Ace Frehley
Gene Simmons has opened up about the death of his Kiss bandmate, Ace Frehley, suggesting that it was his lifestyle, and not a fall in the studio, that killed him.
Frehley passed away on October 16th. It was recently revealed that the musician died after sustaining blunt trauma injuries from an accidental fall in Morristown, New Jersey. The injuries were to his head, which proved to be fatal.
Nonetheless, one person not quite buying this reason is Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss. He founded the band alongside Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Frehley in 1973.
Speaking to the New York Post, 76-year-old Simmons mused that he believes the death was down to “other issues” than just a fall.
Simmons shared, “He refused [advice] from people that cared about him – including yours truly – to try to change his lifestyle. In and out of bad decisions.”
He continued, “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 then reflected on Frehley’s recent funeral, which had an open casket. “It breaks my heart,” he shared. “Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket.”
Simmons shared, “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 Centre 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.”
Donald Trump recently awarded the band with a Kennedy Centre Honour on December 6th, making Frehley one of only three musicians to have ever received the award posthumously.
Kiss recently paid tribute to the late member at their first show in nearly two years. Frontman Paul Stanley said at the time, “We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about.”
At their first show in nearly two years, Kiss paid tribute to their original lead guitarist and founding member, Ace Frehley.
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