KISS shares heartfelt tribute in first show since Ace Frehley's death

KISS stepped back into the spotlight this weekend, marking their first performance since Ace Frehley’s death.

The legendary rock band reunited onstage for their KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in Las Vegas over the weekend, just weeks after their former guitarist died at 74 following a fall at his home. And the moment carried a mix of celebration and loss.

Before launching into the show, Paul Stanley paused to honour the late co-founder.

“Obviously, before we get going — and we’re going to have an awesome time — we just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who was at the foundation of this band, and we’re talking about Ace,” Stanley told the crowd on Friday, November 14.

“We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about,” he added, referring to Frehley’s exit from the band followed by years of ups and downs between the former bandmates.

The next night, Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer kept their nods brief, mentioning Frehley only in passing while recalling a 1970s recording session. 

At one point, Thayer lifted a hand toward the sky before diving into a solo, a quiet gesture fans picked up on instantly.

Throughout the three-day event, chants of “Ace, Ace, Ace” echoed between sets, including one led by opener Sebastian Bach. The outpouring reflected decades of admiration for Frehley, who helped launch KISS in 1973 with his signature “Spaceman” persona before leaving the group in 1982.