Kiss Launches First Show in Two Years, Honoring Ace Frehley
Kiss made a triumphant return with their first performance in nearly two years. The show, held outdoors, served as the launch of the Kiss Kruise: Land-Locked weekend in Las Vegas. It marked the band’s first gathering since concluding their farewell tour in December 2023.
Tribute to Ace Frehley
The evening began with a heartfelt tribute to Ace Frehley, a foundational member of the band. Prior to the show, electric candles were distributed to the audience. As the band took the stage, lead vocalist Paul Stanley encouraged the crowd to raise the candles and reflect on Frehley’s legacy. “Think about somebody who is at the foundation of this band. We’re talking about Ace,” Stanley stated during the touching moment.
Frehley tragically passed away after an accident at his home studio on October 16. The funeral was attended by Stanley, Gene Simmons, and founding drummer Peter Criss, underscoring the deep bond shared among the band members.
Performance Highlights
Following the tribute, the band launched into their traditional unplugged set, beginning with “Comin’ Home” from the album *Hotter Than Hell*. The audience was visibly excited, reflecting the band’s own joy at performing together again.
During the show, Simmons noted the significance of seeing familiar faces in the crowd, while both he and Stanley proudly acknowledged their sons, Nick and Evan, who are set to release an album soon. Stanley humorously added, “This is not a paid announcement; wait until you hear their album, it’s unbelievable.”
Set List
| # | Song Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Comin’ Home |
| 2 | See You Tonite |
| 3 | A World Without Heroes |
| 4 | Hard Luck Woman |
| 5 | Christine Sixteen |
| 6 | Nothin’ to Lose |
| 7 | Goin’ Blind |
| 8 | Hide Your Heart |
| 9 | Plaster Caster |
| 10 | Beth |
| 11 | Love Her All I Can |
The group’s lively atmosphere led to spontaneous performances of songs like the Beatles’ “I’ll Be Back” and Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.” At one point, the band encouraged lead guitarist Tommy Thayer to perform “Love Her All I Can,” even as he hesitated about its suitability for an acoustic rendition. “This may suck,” Stanley joked. However, the performance exceeded expectations, delighting the audience.
Fans can look forward to an electric concert scheduled for Saturday night as part of the Kiss Kruise series. Stay tuned for more exciting performances from the legendary band on El-Balad.
