Gene Simmons has taken again the feedback he made about former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley’s demise, admitting he “was improper” to make them.
The guitarist and founding member of the group died at 74 years previous in Morristown, New Jersey, on October 16. An announcement shared on the time revealed that Ace – also called Spaceman – died “peacefully surrounded by household” following “a current fall at his dwelling”. An investigation was then launched into Frehley’s demise, and the outcomes of a medical examination have since been shared, ruling his demise an accident.
Simmons’ controversial feedback got here when n Sunday (December 7), Donald Trump offered this 12 months’s Kennedy Heart honourees – amongst them KISS, Sylvester Stallone and Gloria Gaynor – with medals for his or her lifetime of contributions to American tradition.
Forward of the Kennedy Heart Honors, the place Frehley was inducted posthumously, Simmons instructed the New York Instances that “unhealthy selections” led to his deadly fall, seemingly implying that substance abuse may need performed a job.
“He refused [advice] from people who cared about him – together with yours actually – to attempt to change his way of life,” he stated. “Out and in of unhealthy selections. Falling down the steps — I’m not a physician — doesn’t kill you. There might have been different points, and it breaks my coronary heart.
“The saddest factor – you reap what you shall sow sadly.”
Simmons has now apologised for what he stated. Writing on X on Wednesday (December 10), he stated: “On reflection, I used to be improper for utilizing the phrases I used. I humbly apologize. My hand to God I didn’t meant to harm Ace or his legacy however upon rereading my phrases, I see the way it damage everybody. Once more, I apologize. I’ve all the time liked Ace. All the time.”
On reflection, I used to be improper for utilizing the phrases I used. I humbly apologize. My hand to God i didn’t meant to harm Ace or his legacy however upon rereading my phrases, I see the way it damage everybody. Once more, I apologize. I’ve all the time liked Ace. All the time.
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) December 10, 2025
Frehley and Simmons had a notably rocky relationship, with Simmons in 2019 claiming that Frehley was fired from the band for his substance abuse, whereas Ace argued that he was 12 years sober by then and give up “of my very own free will, since you and Paul [Stanley] are management freaks, untrustworthy and have been too troublesome to work with”.
Final month (November 15), the surviving members of KISS paid homage to him throughout their first “unmasked” present since retiring from touring. Forward of the present, electrical candles have been handed out to the viewers, and upon taking the stage, Paul Stanley requested the gang to carry them within the air and take a second to “take into consideration someone who’s on the basis of this band”.
“We’re speaking about Ace,” he stated. “We actually had variations, however that’s what household is about. Why don’t we take a second [and] take into consideration him wanting down on us” from the fictional planet “Jendell, most likely”, which Ace also known as his dwelling. “Let’s have a second for Ace.”
Following Frehley’s passing, a Change.org petition was launched in an effort to persuade NASA to award the guitarist with honorary astronaut standing. The petition – began by a fan named Kathryn – has since acquired over 3,000 signatures and counting.
