KISS delivered an emotional tribute to their late bandmate Ace Frehley during the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, held on December 7 and hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The legendary rock group Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss accepted the prestigious award while remembering the guitarist who passed away in October.
While Frehley had an on-and-off relationship with the band over the years, his former bandmates shared heartfelt reflections about his impact and lasting legacy. Speaking on the red carpet, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss opened up about the loss and the ways they plan to keep his spirit alive.
Criss, 79, expressed how deeply Frehley’s absence is felt, saying, “We’ll all carry it forever,” noting that the original lineup no longer performs together. Stanley, 73, agreed, highlighting the powerful role fans play in preserving Frehley’s memory. He shared that although Frehley couldn’t attend the ceremony, “he was here in spirit” and had been looking forward to the event.
Stanley also spoke about the eternal nature of artistic work, explaining that musicians continue to live through what they create. “People live on through the arts,” he said. “Their contributions remain timeless, and we all benefit from them.”
For him, the bond with fans is a huge part of that legacy. He added that the band’s lifelong supporters helped shape their journey just as much as the music shaped theirs.
Ace Frehley died on October 16 after a fall at his home in Morristown, New Jersey. He was 74. According to medical examiners, he suffered blunt trauma from the fall, leaving his family “devastated and heartbroken.” Over the weekend, Gene Simmons shared that a series of poor decisions, including struggles with substance abuse, made Frehley’s life even more difficult in his later years.
