KISS bassist and singer Gene Simmons was interviewed by the New York Post in the wake of the band being recognized at The Kennedy Center Honors. Sadly, the band’s original guitarist Ace Frehley passed away in October following a bad fall.
Simmons made comments that rubbed some the wrong way when he said: “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. The saddest thing — you reap what you shall sow, unfortunately. It breaks my heart.”
SiriusXM DJ Eddie Trunk was perhaps the most vocal of Simmons’ critics regarding what he said. “This is beyond belief,” Trunk wrote via X. “The only thing Gene should be saying about Ace right now is that he is missed and wishes he was there with them for (the Kennedy Center honor). Beyond belief even for Gene.”
On Wednesday, Simmons took to his X account to apologize. “On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used,” he wrote. “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.”
