Tragedy struck the music world when former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley passed away on October 16, 2025, due to a blunt trauma injury of the head. The incident occurred after he fell in his studio a few weeks prior and then again down the stairs in his home.
In a recent interview with the NY Post published on December 6, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons made some insensitive comments about Frehley‘s death. Simmons stated, “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.” However, this statement has been met with criticism, as falling down the stairs can indeed be fatal, especially if one’s head hits the ground at a bad angle, as seen in various scenarios.
Simmons has since 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.” While this apology is a step in the right direction, it’s hard not to wonder if Simmons should have thought more carefully before speaking, especially considering his history of criticizing Frehley and former Kiss drummer Peter Criss in the lead-up to the Kiss farewell shows.
