Gene Simmons has walked back the remarks he made about late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, after sparking heavy backlash by suggesting Frehley’s “bad decisions” contributed to his death.
Frehley passed away on October 16, and Simmons’ original comments to the New York Post landed with a thud among fans mourning one of rock’s most electric, unpredictable figures.
In the interview, Simmons said: “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.”
He went on to describe attending Frehley’s funeral with fellow Kiss members: “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…”
Backlash
Unsurprisingly, the comments didn’t sit right with fans, nor with those who felt Simmons was assigning blame instead of expressing loss. By Wednesday morning, Simmons issued a formal apology on X:
“On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologize. 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. Again, I apologize. I’ve always loved Ace. Always.”
Regardless of intent, Simmons’ walk back highlights how raw the mourning period still is among fans, peers, and a generation of musicians shaped by Frehley’s swagger and tone.
Even in death, Ace remains one of rock’s most fiercely beloved guitar heroes, someone whose legacy always meant more than anything.
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