For the first time in two years, KISS reunited onstage — returning to perform at their KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in Las Vegas, marking an emotional comeback following the passing of founding guitarist Ace Frehley last month.
The three-day event, held at the Virgin Hotel, reportedly brought together thousands of fans celebrating the band’s enduring legacy and honoring Frehley’s memory. Before the show began, Paul Stanley addressed the crowd, paying tribute to his former bandmate. “We certainly had differences,” he said, “but that’s what family is about.” Stanley then led the audience in a moment of silence, asking fans to picture Frehley “looking down on us — from Jendell, probably,” referencing the Spaceman’s famed alter ego.
Fans waved candles and chanted “Ace, Ace, Ace” throughout the night, a touching show of respect for the guitarist who helped define the band’s signature sound. The group — Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer — opened their set with “Comin’ Home,” a track co-written by Stanley and Frehley.
Remembering the Spaceman
Frehley, 74, passed away in October after sustaining injuries from a fall. Known to fans as the band’s original “Spaceman,” he co-founded KISS in 1973, leaving an undeniable mark on rock history with his guitar work and larger-than-life stage presence. His family said in a statement that they were “completely devastated and heartbroken,” adding that he was surrounded by loved ones in his final moments.
The Las Vegas performances were the band’s first since their farewell “End of the Road World Tour” concluded in 2023 at Madison Square Garden — a show that was billed as their final concert. But true to form, KISS’s legacy continues to evolve. The current lineup performed two unmasked sets over the weekend, including an acoustic performance outside the Virgin Hotel.
Fans weren’t the only ones paying tribute. Opening act Sebastian Bach led a crowd chant in Frehley’s honor, while Simmons praised his former bandmate in an earlier statement, calling him “an irreplaceable rock soldier” and saying, “No one can touch Ace’s legacy.”
From Farewell to Reunion
The reunion marks a full-circle moment for the band, which had last performed together as a group two years prior. In 2023, KISS said goodbye to touring after five decades of pyrotechnic-filled shows and theatrical performances. Yet, as music historian Joel Selvin once noted, “Nobody ever really says goodbye” and the band’s emotional return proves just that.
Their performance at KISS Kruise: Landlocked served as both a tribute and a celebration, uniting fans and bandmates through shared memories of Frehley’s groundbreaking career. As Stanley told the cheering crowd, “We just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who was at the foundation of this band.”
