Original lead guitarist of KISS, Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74, in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by his family, following a fall and health complications. A week after his passing, an intimate memorial celebrating the life of the legendary guitarist took place in New York City’s Bronx borough. Gene Simmons was among the list who attended Frehley’s funeral.
Gene Simmons at Ace Frehley’s funeral
Michael Des Barres posted a picture of Simmons at the funeral and he seemed heartbroken.
Meanwhile, Dee Snider recently commented on the long-standing debate surrounding KISS’s replacement members. He addressed the issue in a statement shared on X.
The statement focused on whether Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer should have adopted the personas of their predecessors, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Rather than developing their own identities, they were assigned the original members’ stage personas.
A KISS fan wrote, “I’ve never understood why Thayer and Singer took on the personas of Ace and Peter, when Vinny Vincent and Eric Carr had their own unique identities. As the Highlander once said, there can be only one.”
Snider replied by saying, “I’ll bet Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer would have preferred their own makeup designs. Hell, they made Eric change his hair color to match Peter Criss!”
I’ll bet Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer would have preferred their own makeup designs. Hell, they made Eric change his hair color to match Peter Criss! https://t.co/8k8SqteU6A
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) October 19, 2025
The Twisted Sister frontman has often criticized KISS for allowing replacement members to wear the iconic makeup. Snider argued this approach “cheapens the legacy” of the originals. He particularly targeted Tommy Thayer, noting Thayer’s prior participation in a KISS tribute band and suggesting that “he’s imitating Ace in his entire act!”
