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GENE SIMMONS confirms KISS will play without makeup in Las Vegas: “we will hold true to our'promise”

31-03-2025

Gene Simmons spoke to Las Vegas Review-Journal about KISS‘s upcoming performance without makeup at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as part of the three-day “KISS Army Storms Vegas” event, which runs from November 14 to November 16.

“KISS Army Storms Vegas” celebrates the KISS fan club’s 50th anniversary and will be the band’s first live performance since Simmons, guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer wrapped up their “End Of The Road” farewell tour at Madison Square Garden in New York in December 2023.

“We will not do the makeup,” Gene said. “We will hold true to the promise (of never playing another KISS show in makeup). There’s no stage show. There’s no crew. We won’t have 60 people levitating drum sets and all that stuff. This is more personal gathering of the tribes, where we meet them, greet them, maybe have a Q&A.”

Regarding what else fans can expect from “KISS Army Storms Vegas”Simmons said: “There might be some KISS tribute bands, almost like a convention, if you will. So it’s much more personal. And of course, we can’t get by without playing, so we’ll get up and do some tunes. What they are, how long, I don’t know.”

When KISS officially announced the “KISS Army Storms Vegas” event, the band said that Stanley and Simmons — along with “special guests” — would play at least one show “unmasked,” meaning without their iconic makeup.

Last week KISS has confirmed that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will reunite for an event at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as part of the three-day “KISS Army Storms Vegas” event, which runs from November 14 to November 16.

Stanley and Simmons — along with “special guests” — will play at least one show “unmasked,” meaning without their iconic makeup.

It is expected to be Stanley and Simmons‘s first joint concert since 2023, when KISS wrapped up its “End Of The Road” farewell tour at Madison Square Garden in New York.

KISS‘s official “KISS Army Storms Vegas” announcement makes no mention of the band’s longtime guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, making it unclear if they will be part of the event.

KISS‘s unmasked electric show will be in honor of the 50th anniversary of the hottest fan club in the world, KISS Army.

There will also be question-and-answer sessions with Stanley and Simmons, as well as KISS‘s longtime manager Doc McGhee, where they will share stories, behind-the-scenes moments and answer your most burning questions.

Fans can also expect guest performances, including from former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, as well as surprise appearances, guest sets, tribute bands and unforgettable moments that will make this weekend in Vegas a piece of KISStory.

KISS had previously set a 12-show residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 but ultimately canceled all of the dates.

50 years ago in Terre Haute, Indiana, a small group of fans lit the spark that would become the loudest and proudest fan movement in rock history: the KISS Army. Now, five decades later — and 30 years since the first official KISS convention — KISS is cranking it up to 11 in Las Vegas for the ultimate celebration.

KISS Army VIP memberships give you first access to the best packages and limited tickets. The VIP pre-sale begins on March 28 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET. As a VIP member, you will receive your exclusive pre-sale code via e-mail.

KISS Army and fan presale begins April 2 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET. General on-sale begins April 7 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET.

Head over to kissarmystormsvegas.com now to explore your options.

Simmons told Rolling Stone in a November 2023 interview that the second Madison Square Garden “End Of The Road” concert would mark “the final KISS-in-makeup appearance.”

Kulick was a member of KISS from 1984 until 1996.

According to BillboardKulick is one of only two musicians to have not worn makeup while a member of KISS, the other being Mark St. John.

Kulick had performed with the band again at their Kiss Kruise events in 2018 and 2021.

Simmons recently postponed nearly 20 dates on his forthcoming solo tour with the GENE SIMMONS BAND to 2026.

Packages include:
→ 3-night stay at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
→ Unmasked photo with KISS
→ Access to the KISS Unmasked live show
→ Q&As with members of KISS
→ All KISS Kontent panels and activities
→ A curated “KISS Army Storms Vegas” gift
→ Signed poster, photos with KISS memorabilia, and a collectible laminate and lanyard’

This past January, it was announced that Gene will perform with his solo band, the GENE SIMMONS BAND, on Friday, April 26 at the Brazilian edition of the Summer Breeze festival at Memorial da América Latina in São Paulo.

In addition to Simmons, the GENE SIMMONS BAND members for this date will include guitarists Brent Woods (WILDSIDE, SEBASTIAN BACH, VINCE NEIL) and Zach Throne (COREY TAYLOR) alongside drummer Brian Tichy (LYNCH MOB, THE DEAD DAISIES, WHITESNAKE, BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER, PRIDE & GLORY, SLASH’S SNAKEPIT).

Back in 2017 and 2018, the GENE SIMMONS BAND played a number of shows with a lineup that consisted of Simmons alongside guitarist/bassist Jeremy Asbrock, guitarist Ryan Cook, guitarist Phil Shouse and drummer Brent Fitz.

Six years ago, Simmons stated about his solo shows: “Doing these smaller concert halls, which hold a thousand to three thousand people, means they get filled up by real diehard fans. They don’t want to hear the ‘same old, same old.’ They want to hear nuggets, as they say. It’s a hoot for me because I’ve never really had a chance to do this stuff live. It’s been a lot of fun.” Gene told the Chicago Sun-Times: “By the end, I get the chance to bring as many people from the audience as we can fit on the stage to sing with me.”

Regarding how the idea for a solo tour came about, Simmons told Australia’s Advertiser in a 2018 interview: “The GENE SIMMONS BAND was not a plan or anything. About a year ago, a corporate event asked me to be keynote speaker … then they said, ‘Won’t you get up and sing a few tunes?’ I explained that you can’t just do that, you’ve got to have a band and rehearse and all that. They said, ‘Well, we’ll pay you X dollars more,’ and I said, ‘I like you!’ “So I put together a band from Nashville — these guys back up Kid Rock and lots of other people — and without a single rehearsal, I just told them which songs I wanted to do and they learned them. It just sounded natural — there is such a thing called chemistry. They don’t teach that anywhere — I mean, they do teach ‘chemistry’ but not the kind I’m talking about. It felt right and as soon as the videos went on YouTube and such, people were calling. This little GENE SIMMONS BAND never tried to be KISS… It was just a little bit of fun and stuff. Now all of a sudden, we’re headlining festivals in the Czech Republic, Canada, Germany… It’s crazy.”

KISS played the final concert of its “End Of The Road” farewell tour on December 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Regarding why now was the right time for KISS to call it quits, Simmons told USA Today: “The touring band that is KISS with the makeup and the dragon boots and fire-breathing, that has to stop and that has to do with Mother Nature and Father Time. If we were a blues band or I was blessed to be Keith Richards in THE ROLLING STONES, I’d show up in my comfy sneakers and T-shirt and stand still and play. But we’re different bands. Physically, we are the hardest-working band on the stage. We idolize (MickJagger and Bono and the great showmen, but if you put those guys in my outfit, they would pass out in half an hour. It’s 40 pounds of armor and studs and seven-inch dragon boots that are about the weight of a female bowling ball. So you’ve got 20 pounds on your feet and then you’ve got to spit fire, fly through the air and the entire band is doing that for two-plus hours. If you have any love for the fans, get off the stage before it’s too late. How many boxers have stayed too long in the ring? We’re doing the right thing.”

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