Kiss to Honor Late Guitarist Ace Frehley With All-Star Tribute in Las Vegas

Kiss will honor late guitarist Ace Frehley with a special all-star tribute during the second annual Land-Locked in Vegas event. Frehley, a founding member of the band, died unexpectedly in October 2025. His death left a strong impact on both fans and the band.

The tribute will feature each member of Kiss performing a hand-picked Frehley song. The band said the tribute will serve as a personal way to honor Frehley's legacy.

"It's an important thing," Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer told UCR. "That was a huge loss last year for everyone and I think it really hit us-especially Paul [Stanley] and Gene [Simmons]. But it hit me too, and it left an emptiness. There have been issues and interpersonal stuff through the years, but at the end of the day, I think everybody loves each other."

Thayer said Frehley played a major role in shaping what Kiss became, both musically and culturally.

"He was such an important part of creating what they did in the first place," Thayer said. "Even for me personally, Ace Frehley was such a huge part of my young teenage experience. Learning to play guitar and mimic his parts was so signature at the time. He made a huge impact on a lot of people."

Thayer said Frehley's death touched many within the Kiss community.

"When something like that happens suddenly, and he's gone, everybody kind of loses part of themselves," Thayer said. "I had the same feeling when Eddie Van Halen passed away. It leaves a hole in your heart and your musical soul. He's missed, so we'll be having a nice Ace tribute. It's going to be well planned and everyone's going to be involved. I think it's really appropriate for this."

Kiss will also play two "unmasked" concerts-one acoustic and one electric-during the Land-Locked in Vegas weekend. Other artists on the bill include Night Ranger, Bruce Kulick, Slaughter and Chris Jericho's Kuarantine.

Thayer is preparing to release the debut album from his new band Shogun Mojo, with Dan Reed of the Dan Reed Network. Thayer will also travel to Germany in late October to join a celebration of the area's 50-year connection to Kiss. The event will feature performances by tribute bands and metal singer Doro Pesch.