Paul Stanley recently commented on KISS’s recognition as 2025 Kennedy Center honorees. He addressed the band’s foundation in a statement shared on CBS Mornings.
The statement focused on acknowledging the original members who built the legendary rock band. It particularly reflected on the absence of late guitarist Ace Frehley.
“You can’t build something without a strong foundation. And Ace and Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer] and Gene and I are that foundation,” Stanley said.
Gene Simmons also reflected on the milestone. He expressed emotion about Frehley’s passing. “The saddest thing of all is that Ace couldn’t live long enough to see this amazing thing. We are there at the finish line with Peter. And Ace is up there and he’s gonna be watching and proud,” Simmons said.
Stanley further emphasized the band’s journey and work ethic. “We are products of the American dream,” he explained. “There are opportunities, and they’re not always the same for everybody, but you’re willing to work hard and find out how much something matters to you by how much you’re willing to work to get it.”
The Kennedy Center honor marks a significant recognition for the iconic rock band’s decades-long career and cultural impact. The recognition carries a bittersweet note as the band reflects on the loss of one of its founding members and the legacy they built together.
Wikipedia documents that Ace Frehley, the former lead guitarist and founding member of KISS, died in October 2025 after complications from a fall at his home. Frehley was noted for his aggressive, atmospheric, and melodic guitar playing, which became a defining element of KISS’s signature sound throughout the band’s career.
Legacy Remembers reported that Frehley died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 74. The guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose rocking guitar licks drove the iconic sounds of KISS left behind an indelible mark on rock music history.
Metal Injection revealed that Frehley died from blunt trauma injury to the head after falling in his studio a few weeks prior to his death. The tragic circumstances surrounding his passing added to the poignancy of KISS’s Kennedy Center recognition as the surviving members acknowledged the irreplaceable role Frehley played in establishing the band’s foundation.
Following Frehley’s death, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons issued a joint statement calling Frehley an “essential and irreplaceable rock soldier.” They paid tribute to his legacy and the indelible mark he left on rock music history. The Kennedy Center honor now stands as a testament not only to the surviving members’ continued influence but also to the foundational work of all four original members who shaped one of rock’s most iconic bands.
