KISS – Ace Frehley tribute and Vegas fan weekend confirmed
Published on 08/24/2026 at 08:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
KISS fans get a rare combination of celebration and remembrance this year. According to the official KISS site and US radio reports, the band will host the 2026 KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from November 13 to 15, including an all?star tribute to late guitarist Ace Frehley.
What the Ace Frehley tribute weekend offers
The Las Vegas event is framed as a three?day fan gathering rather than a conventional tour stop, but its centerpiece is the Ace Frehley All?Star Tribute concert in the resort’s theater space.
Reports from US rock radio detail that all four current KISS members – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer – will each perform individually with the Ace Frehley band during the tribute set, honoring Frehley’s influence following his passing in 2025. US rock radio coverage describes the show as one of the weekend’s major highlights.
Monday numbers – Destroyer at 50 and streaming strength
Alongside the Vegas weekend, KISS are still treating the 50th anniversary of their 1976 studio album Destroyer as a running campaign in 2026. A Canadian label announcement confirms that the live set KISS Destroys Anaheim ’76, capturing their August 20, 1976 Anaheim Stadium concert for over 42,000 fans, is due for release on August 21, 2026 as part of this celebration. Universal Music Canada highlights that the Anaheim crowd was the largest KISS audience to that date.
Streaming data show that the catalog remains heavily played. A current Spotify?based overview lists more than 4.7 billion total streams for KISS recordings, with around 1.98 million plays per day. I Was Made for Lovin’ You alone stands at roughly 1.66 billion streams and nearly one million daily plays, ahead of Rock And Roll All Nite at over 626 million streams. The current Spotify chart breakdown underlines that KISS function today as a catalog streaming powerhouse rather than an actively touring act.
KISS news, tours and Destroyer anniversary at a glance
Fans who follow KISS closely can find more coverage of German tribute shows, anniversary releases and future fan events in our news archive.
Where German fans see KISS music live in 2026
Even though KISS have ended their classic touring cycle, Germany is still a key territory for live celebrations of their catalog in 2026.
On October 30, 2026, the Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf hosts an official fan event titled “50 Years of KISS in Germany,” presented by Rolling Stone Germany and Universal Music International. A post from the band’s own communication channels notes that guitarist Tommy Thayer will appear as the featured guest, joining the tribute band Kiss Forever Band onstage for the finale. The same announcement stresses that KISS as a full band will not perform, while German metal veteran Doro Pesch is listed among the guests.
In Berlin, the Kiss Forever Band marks the 50th anniversary of Destroyer with a show at the Fontane?Haus on September 4, 2026, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Local ticket listings describe the act as one of Europe’s most established KISS tributes and give a starting ticket price of just over €39. A separate concert portal shows that the same band continues the celebration later in the month with an “XXX Years on Fire!” anniversary show at LKA Longhorn in Stuttgart on September 26, 2026, again at 8:00 p.m.
How KISS sound in the Destroyer era
The current anniversary releases and German events all orbit the sound and imagery KISS established on Destroyer. Released on March 15, 1976, the album moved the group from relatively raw hard rock toward a more produced, theatrical studio aesthetic with layered vocals, sound effects and orchestration.
Key songs like Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, God of Thunder and the ballad Beth became staples of their setlists and, in the case of Beth, their first US top?10 single. Contemporary chart records show the album reaching number 11 on the Billboard album chart and achieving Platinum certification within a year in the United States, later progressing to double Platinum. The thriving tribute scene in Germany generally builds its setlists around exactly this era, combining these tracks with later anthems such as I Was Made for Lovin’ You and Love Gun.
What’s next for KISS and their live presence
For now, the next officially confirmed KISS?branded live event is the KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from November 13 to 15, 2026, where the band will appear in curated performances and host the Ace Frehley tribute concert.
KISS – key facts at a glance
- Act: KISS
- Genre: Hard rock / arena rock
- Origin: New York City, United States
- Active since: 1973
- Lineup: Paul Stanley (vocals, guitar), Gene Simmons (bass, vocals), Tommy Thayer (lead guitar), Eric Singer (drums, vocals)
- Label: Various, including Casablanca Records and Universal Music
- Key works: Alive! (1975), Destroyer (1976), Love Gun (1977), Dynasty (1979)
- Current album/Single: KISS Destroys Anaheim ’76, live album release on August 21, 2026
- Charts / certifications: Destroyer reached number 11 on the Billboard album chart in 1976 and was certified double Platinum in the US in subsequent years.
- Next live date: November 13–15, 2026 – KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Frequently asked questions about KISS
Will KISS tour Germany again in 2026?
There is currently no full KISS tour announced for Germany in 2026. Instead, German fans have tribute shows such as Kiss Forever Band’s Destroyer anniversary concerts in Berlin and Stuttgart and the official “50 Years of KISS in Germany” fan event in Düsseldorf featuring Tommy Thayer.
What new release ties into Destroyer’s 50th anniversary?
The live album KISS Destroys Anaheim ’76, documenting their August 20, 1976 Anaheim Stadium show for over 42,000 fans, is scheduled for release on August 21, 2026 as part of the wider Destroyer anniversary campaign.
How strong is KISS on streaming platforms today?
Current Spotify figures show more than 4.7 billion total streams for KISS, with catalog tracks generating around 1.98 million plays per day. I Was Made for Lovin’ You leads their individual songs with roughly 1.66 billion streams.
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially checked. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications may change at short notice; correction hints can be sent via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.
