Gene Simmons Insists Ace Frehley’s Death Was Due To ‘Bad Decisions’

Ace Frehley‘s former bandmate Gene Simmons has voiced his displeasure with the late guitarist’s “bad decisions” that contributed to his death.

Simmons got emotional over the rock star’s death as he described how “heartbreaking” it was for him to witness his open casket funeral.

The pair’s relationship seemingly suffered a strain around 2019 after Ace Frehley slammed Gene Simmons in an online post for making pointed comments at his drinking and perceived unreliability.

KISS guitarist and co-founder Gene Simmons reminisced on his former partner Ace Frehley’s way of life following his death on October 16 at the age of 74.

The rock icon condemned Frehley’s “bad decisions” and substance abuse, which contributed to his eventual demise after suffering a fatal fall down the stairs in his home studio, leading to a brain bleed.

“He refused [advice] from people that cared about him – including yours truly – to try to change his lifestyle in and out of bad decisions,” Simmons told the NewYork Post. “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,” he added.

An autopsy report from the Morris County medical examiner stated Frehley’s cause of death as a blunt trauma injury of the head due to a fall, with his blood work still under investigation.

In his recent interview, Simmons became emotional as he described his experience attending the late singer’s private funeral service on October 22.

“It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley], and myself went to the funeral, open casket,” he said.

The 76-year-old rockstar is scheduled to collect a Kennedy Center Honor with other surviving band members on Sunday, and would also be testifying before the Senate on Tuesday in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which will make it mandatory for large radios to pay royalties to performers.

Simmons continued, “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 – I can’t even tell you who’s going to come out … really impressive people, just to say how much KISS meant to them.”

“What can you say – sad,” he added.

Simmons previously commented on the pressure that bandmates may have faced that made them not intervene and help Frehley.

His comments went beyond simple regret, suggesting that self-interest within the band may have prevented them from stepping up to help.

“Let’s just continue doing the tour because you want to get through it for selfish reasons because it’s working, and the chicks, and the money, and you don’t want to ruin anything,” he told People Magazine. “Meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions.”

Simmons and Frehley’s relationship seemingly suffered a strain after the now-late icon slammed him for his comments about his drinking and unreliability.

“Your slanderous remarks about my bad habits over the years have cost me millions of dollars, and now that I’m over 12 years sober, you’re still saying I can’t be trusted to play a whole night’s show!” Frehley said at the time, calling out Simmons’ remarks about him.

Frehley added, “Well, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 12 years with different configurations of ‘The Ace Frehley Band’ to you and Paul’s dismay!”