Scot Coogan, the late KISS icon Ace Frehley’s last drummer and close friend, has addressed the decision by Frehley’s solo band members to continue live performances following the guitarist’s death, according to youtube.com.
Coogan explained that he felt compelled to make a public statement after being repeatedly questioned about his absence from the ongoing performances. He noted that his comments were misunderstood by those involved.
“So many messages and people are asking me like, ‘What’s going on, why aren’t you a part of it?'” Coogan said. “And I had to make a statement. So, I got my publicist and I said what I wanted to say and I think certain people took it the wrong way.”
Coogan went on to clarify his position. He explained that while he personally disagrees with the decision to move forward, he does not believe it is his place to stop it.
“The Ace Frehley people thought that I was trying to say that what they were doing was wrong,” he continued. “And I actually do think it’s wrong, but I also can’t tell them what to do. And I give them, you know, I don’t give a blessing because I’m not Ace Frehley. Ace Frehley needs to give the blessing and he’s not here. So, that’s where I draw the line.”
Despite his reservations, Coogan emphasized that he holds no ill will toward the musicians involved. He also expressed hope that the situation will eventually resolve.
“I don’t have a mean bone in my body unless you screw with my family or my bandmates but you know, I have a bad taste about it,” Coogan said. “But you know what? God bless them and I hope that it goes well. It makes me sad, man, to talk about. I love Ryan so much and I know eventually, you know, things will come around and we’ll be good.”
Coogan’s comments reflect a complicated history that stretches back well before Frehley’s death, one marked by tension, loyalty, and the guitarist’s own unpredictable decisions about his band.
Frehley died on October 16, 2025, at age 74, following a fall at his New Jersey home. The Morris County Medical Examiner listed his cause of death as blunt trauma injuries to the head sustained in the fall, closing the book on one of rock’s most enduring and eccentric careers.
Coogan’s own relationship with Frehley had already gone through its share of turbulence years before the guitarist’s passing. He previously revealed that he left Frehley’s band following a heated dispute during a live show. Coogan made that decision even after being offered nearly double his existing pay to stay, according to Rock Celebrities.
Coogan said his departure was tied to deeper friction within Frehley’s camp. He has claimed that Gene Simmons played a role in pushing Frehley to dissolve his solo band altogether, alleging that the KISS bassist influenced Frehley’s choice to let go of his musicians in favor of touring alongside Simmons instead.
Those layers of history help explain why Coogan’s reaction to the band continuing without Frehley carries such weight. His bond with the guitarist was built through years of collaboration and conflict alike, making his current mix of disapproval and personal restraint all the more telling.
Coogan’s comments come as debate continues among fans and former collaborators over the future of Frehley’s musical legacy following his passing.
