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Tag: Gene Simmons

  • Gene Simmon Speaks of Honoring Ace Frehley at The Kennedy Center

    December 6th KISS will be the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor. As reported by Blabbermouth, Gene Simmons recently said at a charity event, “In Ace’s memory, we’re gonna make sure one of the four chairs is empty with Ace’s name, because he deserves to be there in spirit, even if he can’t be there physically.” Here’s hoping that Gene’s words come true to honor Ace Frehley at The Kennedy Center that night.

    Gene Simmons Speaks Publicly

    During his November 9 performance at the 34th annual Love Ride motorcycle and music charity event in Castaic Lake, California, Gene Simmons paused before launching into “Cold Gin” to honor the late Ace Frehley, founding guitarist of KISS. “Cold Gin” was Ace’s biggest song with KISS: one he wrote and eventually sang lead vocals on in live shows.

    Simmons reflected on his longtime bandmate’s passing, saying: “Very sad… we went to Ace’s funeral. He sadly passed, and the saddest part of all… is that Ace didn’t live long enough to be with us on December 6th when the president and everybody’s gonna get up there and honor KISS in entering the Kennedy Center Honors.” Here’s Gene at the Love Rides event talking about Ace:

    Other KISS Members Were On-Site with Simmons

    The event, which raises funds for veterans and music education programs, unfolded like a KISS reunion of sorts. Simmons’s solo band was joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer for a set of classic KISS anthems. But the emotional core of the night was the tribute for Ace Frehley, who passed away on October 16, 2025 at age 74. The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as blunt trauma injuries to the head resulting from a fall.

    Honoring Ace Frehley at The Kennedy Center

    Simmons’s tribute serves as a prelude to formally honoring Ace Frehley at The Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony scheduled for December 6 will honor KISS as a group and posthumously include Frehley. The empty chair will symbolize his absence but also give Ace the presence at the ceremony that he deserves.

    Simmons said, “Ace deserves to be there in spirit.”

    Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.

    Donielle Flynn

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  • Kiss rocker Gene Simmons recovering after crashing SUV

    Kiss rock star Gene Simmons is recovering after he fainted while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and crashed his SUV into a parked car, authorities said.Simmons, a co-founder and bassist for the legendary band, was evaluated at a hospital Tuesday before being released. He posted on social media that he was doing well.“Thanks, everybody, for the kind wishes. I’m completely fine. I had a slight fender bender. It happens,” he said on X.The 76-year-old’s SUV crossed several lanes before hitting a parked car along the highway, agencies that responded to the crash told several media outlets. Simmons was then transported to a hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.Kiss retired from a half-century of touring in 2023, but Simmons and his bandmates plan to play in November at a special event in Las Vegas. In August, President Donald Trump announced that Kiss will be among this year’s Kennedy Center honorees.

    MALIBU, Calif. —

    Kiss rock star Gene Simmons is recovering after he fainted while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and crashed his SUV into a parked car, authorities said.

    Simmons, a co-founder and bassist for the legendary band, was evaluated at a hospital Tuesday before being released. He posted on social media that he was doing well.

    “Thanks, everybody, for the kind wishes. I’m completely fine. I had a slight fender bender. It happens,” he said on X.

    The 76-year-old’s SUV crossed several lanes before hitting a parked car along the highway, agencies that responded to the crash told several media outlets. Simmons was then transported to a hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

    Kiss retired from a half-century of touring in 2023, but Simmons and his bandmates plan to play in November at a special event in Las Vegas. In August, President Donald Trump announced that Kiss will be among this year’s Kennedy Center honorees.

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  • KISS Begins New Era as Avatars Following Band's Final Performance

    KISS Begins New Era as Avatars Following Band's Final Performance

    Minutes after KISS left the stage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden following their final farewell tour performance Saturday night, a new KISS era began. Current band members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer will continue on — virtually.

    A video of digital avatars of the foursome appeared on both the Garden’s screens and the KISS Instagram page once the band left the stage on December 2. Posted with the caption “A NEW ERA BEGINS #KISSARMY #KISSNEWERA,” the video provided a glimpse into the making of the avatars, proclaiming, “KISS have been immortalized. Reborn as avatars to rock forever.”

    “The future is so exciting,” Simmons said in a clip. “We can live on eternally.”

    Stanley added, “The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are.”

    After five decades as a band, KISS will continue touring in avatar form, created by Industrial Light & Magic (George Lucas’ special-effects company) in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group.

    The same companies recently worked on the ABBA avatars for the ABBA Voyage digital shows in London. Pophouse Entertainment CEO Per Sundin said this new avatar technology allows bands like ABBA and KISS to “have a concert in three cities in the same night across three different continents” if they wanted.

    Fans can get access to the new KISS era by signing up on the KISS website.

    Jackie Kolgraf

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  • Gene Simmons Assures He’s ‘Fine’ After Brief Dehydration Forced Him To Perform Sitting Down During KISS Concert

    Gene Simmons Assures He’s ‘Fine’ After Brief Dehydration Forced Him To Perform Sitting Down During KISS Concert

    By Melissa Romualdi with files from Miguel A. Melendez‍ , ETOnline.com.
    Published:

    Gene Simmons is assuring fans that he’s feeling better after he wasn’t his usual self during KISS’ concert Wednesday night in Brazil, where he was forced to perform while sitting down after falling ill.

    On Thursday, the 73-year-old musician responded to fans’ concern on Twitter regarding the incident.

    “Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes. I’m fine,” Simmons tweeted. “Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, experienced weakness because of dehydration. We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious.”


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    Gene Simmons’ Daughter Sophie Gets Married In Mom Shannon Tweed’s Backyard

    An hour later, the rocker shared a follow-up tweet, elaborating on why he briefly fell ill.

    “Ok, kids. Not a big deal. Thanks for your kind wishes,” he began his tweet. “Last night we played Amazon jungle Stadium/Brazil. Humidity and temperature were sky high. I was dehydrated and was forced to sit for a song. We got back on stage in 5 minutes & finished the show.”


    READ MORE:
    Gene Simmons Promises KISS Will Extend Farewell Tour To ‘Another 100 Cities Before We Stop’

    Following KISS’ Brazil concert earlier this week, a video shared on social media, sees Simmons holding his bass while sitting in a chair. The one-minute video then cuts to Paul Stanley telling the audience at Arena da Amazônia in Manaus, Brazil they’re going to have to stop the concert to tend to Simmons.

    “We’re gonna have to stop,” he says. “Because we love him, right? Let’s give Gene a really loud, ‘Gene!’ One, two, three. Gene!’”

    According to People, the concert was halted for about five minutes before Simmons returned to the stage to perform “Say Yeah” while sitting down.


    READ MORE:
    Gene Simmons Thinks Beyoncé And Bruno Mars ‘Would Pass Out’ Performing In KISS Costumes

    Back in March, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers announced the final dates of their “End of the Road” tour. The band said their final shows will take place where it all started 50 years ago, New York City.

    “KISS was born in New York City. On 23rd Street. Half a century ago. It will be a privilege and honour to finish touring at Madison Square Garden, 10 blocks and 50 years from where we first started,” the band said in a statement.

    The final tour dates will be Dec. 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden.

    “The End of the Road” tour kicked off in 2019, but was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql2D1qfUemk

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    Melissa Romualdi

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