KISS was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. Surviving members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss attended the event. The band shared a photo on Instagram, expressing their gratitude for the recognition and remembering their late guitarist, Ace Frehley.
“From the very beginning, KISS has been about proving that anything is possible with hard work and passion. We’re deeply honored to receive the Kennedy Center Honors and proudly share this recognition with our fans and everyone who helped create this legacy,” they wrote. They also acknowledged Frehley’s contributions, saying, “This honor would not be possible without Ace. Knowing how much this award meant to him, we celebrate this milestone as we mourn his loss.”
The ceremony featured performances by Garth Brooks, Marcus King, and Cheap Trick. Garth rocked the stage with “Shout It Out Loud,” while King performed the heartfelt ballad “Beth.” Cheap Trick closed the tribute with the classic “Rock and Roll All Nite.” The ceremony will air on CBS on December 23.
In related news, Simmons spoke about Frehley’s passing in an interview, attributing it to his “bad decisions.” He mentioned that Frehley often ignored advice from those who cared about him. “It breaks my heart,” Simmons said. “The saddest thing – you reap what you shall sow, unfortunately.
