Gene Simmons has expressed deep personal regret for not staging an intervention with former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley decades ago. He called the band’s decision to hide his substance abuse issues a “stupid and shameful” failure.
In a candid interview on the Inside Of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Simmons reflected on Frehley’s long struggle with addiction and the band’s complicity in enabling it. “I should have, and could have, but I should have, a long time [ago], when you see the disease starting to get ahold of him, I should have, decades ago, took him aside — it’s called an intervention — and forced him to understand he’s not just hurting himself by his lifestyle choices, but his family, his child and the fans,” Simmons said.
The KISS bassist acknowledged that prioritizing the band’s public image over Frehley’s wellbeing was a critical mistake. “It was a stupid and shameful decision on all our parts — I know mine too — is, ‘No, you don’t wanna get the fans upset. Let’s make believe he’s in the band and everything’s okay at home.’ And it it’s tough. It’s really tough,” he admitted.
Simmons also described the stark contrast in Frehley’s personality depending on his sobriety. “When he’s straight — lovable, everything’s great. Early on, and when the stuff started to take hold, it was Jekyll and Hyde. You just can’t make smart decisions when you’re drunk or high,” he explained. Fans who never witnessed Frehley’s addiction firsthand couldn’t fully understand the severity of the situation.
Frehley’s addiction to “beverages and chemicals” began early in KISS’s rise to fame, according to Blabbermouth. This addiction created significant operational challenges for the band. His substance abuse led to repeated lateness, no-shows, and multiple departures from the group throughout their 50-year history. His final exit occurred in 2002.
The pattern of dysfunction extended far beyond missed performances. Sonic Perspectives reported that Frehley’s struggles with addiction created a toxic dynamic within the band. Management and bandmates chose to maintain the KISS image rather than confront the underlying health crisis affecting one of their core members.
Despite the personal and professional turmoil, Simmons emphasized ongoing respect for Frehley’s contributions to rock music. Social News XYZ noted that Simmons acknowledged Frehley was “one of the most influential guitarists of his era.” His body of work remains a testament to his early genius despite the 50-year ups and downs that characterized his relationship with the band.
Simmons reflected on how fame and power affected all band members differently. He noted that the corrupting influence of success impacted everyone in KISS, including himself. This broader acknowledgment suggests that the failure to intervene was not solely Frehley’s personal responsibility but a systemic issue within the band’s culture and decision-making processes.
Frehley passed away in October 2025 at age 74. He had maintained a rocky relationship with Simmons and Paul Stanley throughout his career. The guitarist had previously blamed his bandmates for worsening his substance issues by minimizing his contributions to KISS and failing to provide the support he needed during his darkest periods.
