Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley died on October 16, 2025 from blunt trauma injury of the head after falling in his studio a few weeks prior, and then again down the stairs in his home.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons was kind of a dick about Frehley‘s death in an interview with the NY Post published on December 6, saying: “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.”
Beyond not knowing what the toxicology report said and if any substances were involved in the accident, falling down the stairs can absolutely kill you. So not only was it kind of a shitty comment, but it’s also not true. I’m pretty sure falling down the stairs and slamming your head against the wall at a bad angle can absolutely shuffle you outta this life, among several other scenarios.
Simmons has now taken to Twitter to apologize for his comments, saying: “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.”
Which is nice, but yeah – maybe take a beat and think about how it could be perceived when you’re basically blaming a dude for his own death. Also, I’m not “I’ve always loved Ace” is the move here either, considering Simmons wasn’t exactly kind about Frehley or former Kiss drummer Peter Criss leading up to the Kiss farewell shows.
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.
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) December 10, 2025
Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter
Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.
