KISS vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons recently shared a tribute post for late KISS guitarist Ace Frehley on what would have been his 75th birthday. However, the gesture has drawn criticism from KISS fans on X.
The tribute post sparked backlash from fans who felt the message was insincere, given Simmons’ previous fiery comments about Frehley’s passing.
In a social media post, Simmons said, “Happy birthday, Ace. Wherever you are…”
However, KISS fans quickly responded with criticism in the comments section.
One fan commented on Simmons’ post saying, “Are you serious? You throw the man under the bus all while he was alive. Now you wanna wish him a Happy Birthday. You’re a joke Gene.”
Another fan expressed similar sentiments about the tribute’s authenticity.
Another KISS fan wrote, “Why bother saying shit you don’t mean. Even after his death you continue to sh*t on him.”
Following the passing of longtime KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons publicly linked the tragedy to what he described as Frehley’s long-term “bad decisions,” a framing that quickly sparked backlash among fans and fellow musicians.
Happy birthday, Ace. Wherever you are… https://t.co/QPdgGHecnc
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 27, 2026
