Gene Simmons Apologises After Making Insensitive Remarks About Ace Frehley's Passing

KISS bassist, co-founder, and co-vocalist Gene Simmons has issued an apology after insinuating that drugs or alcohol had something to do with former bandmate Ace Frehley’s passing.

• KISS's Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons & Peter Criss Share Tributes For Ace Frehley

Frehley passed away in October at the age of 74. The musician’s sudden passing came shortly after news that he had been put on life support following a fall at his studio in September.

In November, TMZ reported that Frehley’s cause of death was blunt trauma to the head following a fall.

The Morris County, New Jersey Medical Examiner’s report explained that Frehley suffered a “fracture to the back of his skull, a subdural hematoma, and a stroke.” His death was ruled an accident.

Earlier this month, Simmons suggested that “bad decisions” played a role in Frehley’s death, despite the guitarist proudly declaring that he had stayed sober for two decades.

“[Ace] refused [advice] from people that cared about him – including yours truly – to try to change his lifestyle,” Simmons said in a recent interview. “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.”

Following his 2016 allegations that Prince committed suicide, and subsequently apologising, Simmons has now apologised for insinuating drugs had something to do with Frehley’s passing.

“On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologise,” Simmons wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “My hand to God, I didn’t intend to hurt Ace or his legacy, but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone. Again, I apologise. I’ve always loved Ace. Always.”

Upon news of Frehley’s passing breaking last month, KISS singer Paul Stanley and Simmons shared, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley.”

They added, “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.”