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‘What can you say — sad,’ KISS rocker says in new interview
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Published Dec 09, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 3 minute read
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Gene Simmons poses for a photo at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto on Sept. 14, 2018. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Toronto SunArticle content
Gene Simmons says Ace Frehley’s poor lifestyle choices is what led to his death at the age of 74 in October.
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“He refused (to take advice) from people that cared about him – including yours truly – to try to change his lifestyle,” Simmons says in a new interview with the New York Post. “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.”
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Simmons called Frehley’s death the “saddest thing,” but said his KISS bandmate’s passing was inevitable because he didn’t take his health seriously. “You reap what you shall sow,” he said.
KISS was recognized by U.S. President Donald Trump at the annual Kennedy Center Honors over the weekend.
“Billions and billions of people have watched them over the years,” Trump said as he paid tribute to KISS as well as country music superstar George Strait, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, I Will Survive singer Gloria Gaynor and Tony Award-winning actor Michael Crawford.
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Simmons said Frehley’s funeral left him devastated.
“It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul (Stanley) and myself went to the funeral, open casket,” Simmons continued.
“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 … really impressive people, just to say how much KISS meant to them,” Simmons said. “What can you say — sad.”
Frehley died on Oct. 16 of blunt trauma to the head due to a fall, according to a report from the Morris County Medical Examiner obtained by TMZ.
The guitarist’s death was ruled an accident.
Frehley, who called himself “a Trump supporter” in 2020, described the Kennedy Center Honor as “a dream come true that I never thought would materialize.”
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Ace Frehley performs at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at The LINQ Promenade on March 6, 2016. Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty Images
In a statement, Frehley’s family said they were “completely devastated and heartbroken” by his death.
In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the statement read.
“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension,” they continued.
‘Not everybody is designed to run a marathon’
Simmons has previously been candid about his former bandmates and how they couldn’t fit in with KISS’ commitment to long term success.
“Rockers are morons, drugs get in the way and alcohol … but you can’t pay attention to that,” Simmons told Postmedia in a 2021 interview. “So KISS always took care of business and continues to. That means, when you’re a car and you get a flat tire, you get rid of the tire so you can continue on your journey. You can’t let one or two flat tires stop you. (We had) a few dysfunctional people who preferred alcohol and drugs to doing their best.”
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Simmons added that he loved Ace and wished he well, “but not everybody is designed to run a marathon.”
He also spoke about KISS’ decision to retire from the road.
“We’re doing the right thing by the fans. We have too much self respect to stay out there a day longer if we can’t live up to our self-mandated manifesto: You wanted the best, you got the best,” he said at the time. “It’s not, ‘Hey, I remember when they were good.’ We’re not fat, bloated Elvis that should have quit earlier.”
Frehley co-founded KISS alongside Simmons, Stanley and Criss in 1973 and played with the band until 1982 when he left to form his own group, Frehley’s Comet.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer reunited with his KISS bandmates in 1996 before departing again in 2002.
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