Gene Simmons recently paid an emotional tribute to late KISS guitarist Ace Frehley during a performance with his Gene Simmons Band. He shared his reflections on Rock Photography.
Simmons spoke about attending Frehley’s funeral alongside fellow KISS members Paul Stanley and Peter Criss. He expressed his sadness over the loss of the band’s co-founder and reflected on a significant milestone that Frehley would miss.
“I wanna take a moment just to tell you that somebody I’ve known for many decades, who started the band with us, a guy named Ace Frehley… Very sad. Paul and myself and Peter Criss, we went to Ace’s funeral. He sadly passed,” Simmons said during the performance.
Simmons highlighted the timing of Frehley’s passing. The guitarist would not be present for an upcoming honor. “And the saddest part of all, besides the pain and suffering to his friends, family, his daughter, his wife, his whole family, is that Ace didn’t live long enough to be with us on December 6th when the president and everybody’s gonna get up there and honor KISS in entering the Kennedy Center Honors.”
The KISS bassist revealed plans to honor Frehley’s memory during the prestigious ceremony. “And the first person who’s gonna walk out there and talk about how KISS changed his life is Garth Brooks, who’s gonna host a little bit. Then he’s gonna play ‘Shout It Out Loud’ and knock it out of the park. And in Ace’s memory, we’re gonna make sure one of the four chairs is empty with Ace’s name, because he deserves to be there in spirit, even if he can’t be there physically.”
Frehley’s death marked the end of an era for one of rock music’s most influential figures. Ace Frehley passed away on October 16 at age 74, following complications from a fall that led to a brain bleed and subsequent life support, as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock. The legendary guitarist co-founded KISS in the early 1970s and left behind a legacy that shaped the sound of rock and roll for generations.
Frehley’s funeral reflected his deep connection to his roots. The service was held on October 22 in the Bronx, New York, his childhood neighborhood, close to where his parents were buried—fulfilling his wishes, according to Blabbermouth. The private memorial service was attended by the original KISS lineup, along with close friends and family, creating an intimate gathering to honor the guitarist’s memory.
The loss came at a particularly poignant moment for KISS. The band was preparing for one of the highest honors in American music. The Kennedy Center Honors, scheduled for December 6, 2025, would recognize KISS’s monumental impact on rock music and popular culture. Per Consequence, the timing of Frehley’s passing meant that one of the band’s founding members would not be present to witness the recognition that had eluded them for decades.
Simmons’ decision to keep an empty chair in Frehley’s honor during the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony demonstrates the enduring bond between the original KISS members. Despite the physical absence, Frehley’s contributions to rock music and his role in shaping KISS’s iconic sound will be acknowledged as the band receives this prestigious recognition. The gesture serves as a tribute to a musician whose influence on rock and roll remains immeasurable.
