KISS Founding Guitarist Ace Frehley Declines 2025 Las Vegas Reunion Invitation

Ace Frehley, original guitarist of KISS, has declined an invitation to participate in the band's upcoming KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Vegas event scheduled for November 14-16, 2025. Frehley cited multiple reasons for his decision, including his dissatisfaction with the event being held in a smaller Las Vegas venue rather than at Madison Square Garden, where KISS played its final shows in 2023 without his participation. He recalled that band founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons initially indicated that all former members would join the final concerts, but later reversed that decision and made disparaging remarks about him and drummer Peter Criss. Frehley also suggested that his absence has been partly due to financial considerations, implying that a formal invitation with substantial payment would be necessary for his involvement. Despite ongoing tensions, Frehley maintains that he does not harbor hatred toward his former bandmates and remains open to the possibility of future collaboration. Meanwhile, the KISS Kruise event will feature performances by current members and other former guitarists, marking the band's first live shows since their farewell tour ended in 2023.