The rock world sadly lost original KISS guitarist and rock legend Ace Frehley earlier this year. It was reported by his longtime friend Eddie Trunk and later confirmed via TMZ that Ace suffered a fall and died from blunt-trauma injuries to his head.
In a new interview with the New York Post, KISS bassist Gene Simmons implied that there was more to the story. “He refused advice from people that cared about him — including yours truly — to try to change his lifestyle,” Simmons said. “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.”
Simmons continued: “Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul and myself went to the funeral, open casket. It was just heartbreaking. 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.”
Trunk responded to Gene’s quotes on social media saying: “This is beyond belief. . 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.”
