Gene Simmons Suggests “Bad Decisions” May Have Contributed to Ace Frehley’s Death

Bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons has commented on the recent passing of his former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley, suggesting that the guitarist’s “bad decisions” may have played a role. Speaking to The New York Post, Simmons offered a candid reflection on the events leading to Frehley’s death at age 74.

Frehley suffered a fall in a studio in late September 2025, sustaining blunt force injuries to the head. Despite emergency surgery, the injuries proved too severe, and his family made the difficult choice to remove him from life support in October. The Morris County Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental, with toxicology results still pending.

Simmons, however, implied that lifestyle choices may have contributed to the tragedy, stating:

“He refused [advice] from people that cared about him — including yours truly — to try to change his lifestyle. In and out of bad decisions. 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. It breaks my heart.”

Reflecting on Frehley’s funeral, Simmons added:

“It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket. 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. What can you say – sad.”

On December 6th, Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss we represented with the Kennedy Center Honors by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. Frehley was posthumously honored, with his daughter Monique Frehley accepting the award on his behalf.

Upon Frehley’s passing, Simmons and Stanley released a joint statement:

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

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