Gene Simmons Says Former Kiss Member Ace Frehley’s Death Was Due to ‘Bad Decisions’

A series of “bad decisions” led to the death of former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, according to frontman Gene Simmons.

In an interview with the New York Post, published on Saturday, Dec. 6, the rocker suggested that substance abuse contributed to Frehley’s fatal fall down the stairs in his New Jersey home studio. Frehley was 74.

The founding KISS member died of blunt-trauma injuries to his head due to a fall, the Morris County Medical Examiner confirmed in a report obtained by PEOPLE on Nov. 10. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

“He refused [advice] from people that cared about him — including yours truly — to try to change his lifestyle. In and out of bad decisions. Falling down the stairs — I’m not a doctor — doesn’t kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart,” Simmons, 76, told the outlet.

“The saddest thing — you reap what you shall sow, unfortunately,” said KISS’ co-lead singer and bassist.

According to the Post, a separate toxicology report on Frehley’s blood at the time of his death will be issued.

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“It breaks my heart,” Simmons continued, before describing Frehley’s private funeral service on Oct. 22. “Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket.”

“It was just heartbreaking. Saddest of all perhaps is that Ace just couldn’t stay alive long enough to sit there proudly at the Kennedy Center and listen to — I can’t even tell you who’s going to come out … really impressive people, just to say how much KISS meant to them,” he added, referring to President Donald Trump’s upcoming honors for the legendary rock band at the Kennedy Center.

“What can you say — sad,” Simmons said.

Frehley’s family announced his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Oct. 16, saying that the rocker, born Paul Frehley, died earlier that day in Morristown, N.J., following a recent fall at his home. TMZ had previously reported that Frehley was on life support due to a brain bleed caused by a fall several weeks prior.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the statement read.

It continued, “We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”

Simmons has previously been candid about what he would have done differently when it came to his bandmates.

“If I have any regrets, my hand to God, it’s that I sometimes — and I think we all go through this sometimes — wish we were smarter and better at trying to help Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] have better lives,” Simmons said on Nov. 16 at the KISS Kruise in Las Vegas.

He added that he wished he “would’ve practiced more tough love” with the people he cared about in the past.

“Tough love is a good idea in my opinion, with your children, with the people you love, with the people you care about, with the people you work with,” Simmons said. “It’s not going to be a popular thing, or you’re going to argue about it, but in the long run you’re going to be helping that person hopefully change their life.”

Frehley originally played with the group from its inception in 1973 until he left the band in 1982. He later rejoined the group in 1996 before departing again in 2002.