In a deeply emotional and candid conversation on the latest episode of the “Mohr Stories” podcast, KISS co-founder Gene Simmons opened up to host Jay Mohr about the recent loss of his longtime bandmate Ace Frehley. The legendary guitarist passed away in October following a fall at his home, and for Simmons, the reality of the situation didn’t fully sink in until he was standing before his friend’s body.
Simmons recounted the moment he received the devastating news while at his home in California. It was Gigi Criss, wife of original KISS drummer Peter Criss, who broke the silence via text message.
“I was here in California, and I got a text from Gigi, Peter Criss‘ wife, that Ace had passed,” Simmons shared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “He fell down the stairs, apparently the second time, and they couldn’t… The short story is the hospital said, ‘He has to go.’ The family fought to keep him alive, but he didn’t last long.”
The tragedy prompted an immediate, somber reunion of the surviving original lineup. Simmons, along with frontman Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, traveled to New York to pay their final respects. However, Simmons admitted that facing the physical reality of Frehley‘s death was overwhelming.
“So Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and myself went and flew to the wake [in New York] and then the funeral. But I will tell you that no matter how emotional it was, the open casket was just too much. I just had to put my head down because he was right in front of — we were right there. And Ace looked like he was [gonna go], ‘Oh, just kidding,’ and get up and always be the fun guy he was.”
Reflecting on the turbulent, often fractured history of the band, Simmons emphasized that the bond between the original four members transcends their public feuds. He acknowledged that without the unique chemistry of Frehley and Criss, the KISS phenomenon would never have ignited.
“Families have squabbles. Sometimes they don’t agree on stuff, sometimes they don’t talk to each other, but family is forever, and without Ace, and certainly without Peter, KISS wouldn’t have happened. There’s that chemistry thing.”
He also took time to highlight Frehley‘s monumental influence on the rock world, noting that icons like Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam built their styles on Frehley‘s foundation.
“What I can say about Ace, whether you like it or not, is almost every guitar player out there grew up playing his licks… Kirk Hammett from Metallica and Mike McCready literally copied his solo note for note… He told me. I said, ‘Yeah, that’s note [for note].'”
When asked if he had been expecting the call about Ace‘s death for a long time, Simmons did not shy away from the truth. He described witnessing decades of “self-destructive behavior,” noting that Frehley survived situations where “lesser people would’ve died.”
“We all tried, and then it went on to this stuff and some of the heavier stuff, and he was just in and out of it, back and forth. And then he finally passed younger than I am,” Simmons lamented. “And maybe the only thing you can say is he lived his life his way all the way to the end, and people tried to either change him, but he was always Ace. And that’s the way he chose to live his life.”
The timing of Frehley‘s passing adds a layer of tragedy to the band’s upcoming accolades. KISS is set to be honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, an event Simmons wishes Frehley could have lived to see.
“The saddest part of all, for me, other than his passing, is we’re about to be honored by the president of the country… and we’re gonna have a seat right between us that’s gonna be empty and hopefully Ace is gonna be looking out. ‘Wow, we did some cool stuff, right? Didn’t we?’ He should have at least stayed alive just that long.”
The podcast appearance follows a brief period of controversy regarding Simmons‘ initial reaction to the death. Earlier this month, he faced backlash after suggesting in a New York Post interview that Frehley‘s “bad decisions” and refusal to change his lifestyle contributed to his demise, stating: “You reap what you shall sow, unfortunately.”
Realizing the insensitivity of the timing, Simmons issued a humble apology on X (formerly Twitter) just days later.
“On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologize. My hand to God I didn’t intend 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.”
Official reports from the Morris County Medical Examiner confirmed that Frehley, 74, died of accidental blunt-trauma injuries to the head sustained during the fall.
