Gene Simmons is reflecting on the death of his KISS bandmate, Ace Frehley, who died on Oct. 16 at age 74.
“If I have any regrets, my hand to God it’s that I sometimes — and I think we all go through this sometimes — wish we were smarter and better at trying to help Ace and Peter [Criss] have better lives,” the rocker, 76, told People.
Without giving details, Simmons revealed that the band members were “guilty” of not addressing issues in order to avoid confrontation at times.
Frehley co-founded Kiss alongside Simmons, Paul Stanley, 73, and Criss, 79, in 1973. Frehley left the band in 1982.
However, he rejoined KISS for a reunion tour in 1996 and remained in the band until 2002.
Criss, meanwhile, left in 1980 before reuniting with the group from 1995 to 2000.
From 2003 to 2004, the drummer came back for one final run.
“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,” recalled Simmons to People. “Meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions.”
The heavy metal icon went on to share he wishes he “would’ve practiced more tough love.”
“Tough love is a good idea in my opinion, with your children, with the people you love, with the people you care about, with the people you work with,” Simmons continued. “It’s not going to be a popular thing or you’re going to argue about it, but in the long run you’re going to be helping that person hopefully change their life.”
In his own life, the “Rock and Roll All Nite” hitmaker gave his mom that kind of treatment in order to help her quit smoking. He said he “put these explosive loads in her cigarette.”
“She whacked me on the butt, but my mother quit smoking,” Simmons confessed. “And that’s what it’s about.”
Despite changes in their lineup over the years, the band never considered calling it quits.
“We decide how long this is going to go on,” he stated.
Frehley died of blunt trauma injuries to his head due to a fall. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s loved ones said on the day of his passing, per Variety. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.”
“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others,” they continued. “The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
Frehley, known as “Spaceman,” is dad to daughter Monique from his marriage to ex-wife Jeanette Trerotola.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons and Stanley also wrote online. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.”
The musicians noted that Frehley will “always be a part of Kiss’ legacy.”
“Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
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