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Kiss have paid tribute to their late guitarist Ace Frehley ahead of their first concert since his death in October. At the launch of KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas on Friday, Paul Stanley spoke to the audience about the late “Spaceman.”
Tribute to Ace Frehley
“Before we get started – and we’re going to have a great time – we wanted to stop for a moment and think about someone who helped lay the foundation of this band. And we’re talking about Ace,” Stanley said.
“We certainly had our differences. But that’s part of being a family. Let’s take a moment of silence. And imagine him looking down on us – probably from the planet Jendell – and let’s remember Ace.”
After the moment of silence, the crowd outside the Virgin Hotels began a loud chant of “Ace! Ace! Ace!” as Stanley asked fans to hold up plastic candles to honor the guitarist.
Reactions and backgrounds
Frehley died on October 16 at the age of 74 as a result of a fall. “Our hearts are broken. Ace is gone. No one can touch Ace’s legacy,” Simmons said in a statement at the time. “I know he loved the fans. He told me so many times. What’s sadder is that he didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in December. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. His legacy will live on!”
Although Kiss ended their touring era with a farewell show at Madison Square Garden, the final lineup – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer – announced no-makeup appearances and big effects for the “KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas.”
Kiss are making their mark in Las Vegas
“Here we are. No ship,” Stanley said after the Frehley tribute. “What do you think if we do this again next year on a cruise ship?” Kiss then opened the concert with “Comin’ Home”, written by Stanley and Frehley.