KISS bassist Gene Simmons has spoken candidly about the late Ace Frehley's death and his current relationship with former drummer Peter Criss, in a new interview with Michael Moynihan of The Moynihan Report. Simmons said the band's historic tensions with its two original members were driven by drug and alcohol problems rather than money, offering a rare personal reflection on why Frehley and Criss repeatedly left and rejoined KISS over the years.

Simmons described Frehley as a major influence on generations of guitarists, including Pantera's Dimebag Darrell and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, but said Frehley was not built to endure the pressures of long-term touring, recalling him saying he feared he would "kill himself" if he stayed on the road. He also revealed that Frehley learned of KISS's Kennedy Center Honors from the White House shortly before his death, and that an empty chair was left in his honour at the ceremony, attended by his daughter Monique. On Criss, Simmons said their relationship is warm in person but strained otherwise, accusing him of viewing himself as a "victim" rather than taking responsibility, and confirmed Criss earns "very little" from KISS after the band bought out his ownership stake in 1982.