KISS returned to the stage for the first time in nearly two years on Friday night (November 14), opening the KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas with a heartfelt tribute to the late Ace Frehley. The weekend-long event began with an intimate outdoor unplugged set—one that carried extra emotional weight as fans and band members came together to celebrate the legacy of the band’s original Spaceman.
Before the first chords rang out, Paul Stanley paused the crowd to acknowledge Frehley, who passed away last month at age 74. Fans were handed electric candles upon entry, and Stanley invited everyone to raise them in a moment of reflection.
“Before we get going, we just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who is at the foundation of this band,” Stanley told the audience. “And we’re talking about Ace. So, we certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about. And… let’s have a moment for Ace. Candles up.” He added with a smile that Frehley was probably “looking down from Jendell.”
Friday’s setlist featured:
01. Comin’ Home
02. See You Tonite
03. A World Without Heroes
04. Hard Luck Woman
05. Christine Sixteen
06. Nothin’ to Lose
07. Goin’ Blind
08. Hide Your Heart
09. Plaster Caster
10. Beth
11. Love Her All I Can
The KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas, running November 14–16, marks a special moment for the band and fans alike. Alongside the acoustic show, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer are gearing up for a full electric, “unmasked” set—the first proper KISS performance since the group officially stepped away from touring in December 2023.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley, the legendary KISS guitarist died on October 16 at his home in Morristown, New Jersey, as a result of blunt trauma injuries to the head following a fall, according to the Morris County Medical Examiner.
He was laid to rest on October 22 at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York — near where he grew up and beside his parents, per his wishes. A private memorial service took place the day before, on October 21, at the Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers.
Frehley played on some of KISS’s most legendary albums, including Kiss (1974), Destroyer (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Dynasty (1979), writing and performing classics like “Shock Me,” “Rocket Ride,” and “Talk to Me.” His 1978 self-titled solo album, featuring the hit single “New York Groove,” remains a fan favorite.
After leaving KISS in the early 1980s, Frehley continued a successful solo career with FREHLEY’S COMET and released a string of acclaimed albums, including Anomaly (2009) and 10,000 Volts (2024). He reunited with KISS for their 1996 reunion tour, thrilling fans worldwide and reaffirming his place as one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
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