Longtime KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer will be a part of the band’s founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for a efficiency with out make-up at Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas as a part of the three-day “KISS Military Storms Vegas” occasion, which runs from November 14 to November 16. Additionally newly added to the lineup of artists who will seem on the occasion are Thayer‘s former band BLACK ‘N BLUE, in addition to former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach and the tribute acts MR. SPEED and KISS NATION: THE KISS TRIBUTE SHOW.
“KISS Military Storms Vegas” celebrates the KISS fan membership’s fiftieth anniversary and would be the band’s first reside efficiency since Simmons, Stanley, Thayer and drummer Eric Singer wrapped up their “Finish Of The Highway” farewell tour at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York in December 2023.
There will even be question-and-answer periods with Stanley and Simmons, in addition to KISS‘s longtime supervisor Doc McGhee, the place they are going to share tales, behind-the-scenes moments and reply followers’ most burning questions. Additionally making particular appearances might be Kiss Military founders Invoice Starkey and Jay Evans. As well as, there might be a visitor efficiency by former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.
“We is not going to do the make-up,” Gene instructed Las Vegas Assessment-Journal about “KISS Military Storms Vegas”. “We are going to maintain true to the promise [of never playing another KISS show in makeup]. There isn’t any stage present. There isn’t any crew. We cannot have 60 individuals levitating drum units and all that stuff. That is extra private gathering of the tribes, the place we meet them, greet them, possibly have a Q&A.”
Relating to what else followers can anticipate from “KISS Military Storms Vegas”, Simmons mentioned: “There may be some KISS tribute bands, virtually like a conference, if you’ll. So it is far more private. And naturally, we will not get by with out enjoying, so we’ll rise up and do some tunes. What they’re, how lengthy, I do not know.”
When KISS formally introduced the “KISS Military Storms Vegas” occasion, the band mentioned that Stanley and Simmons — together with “particular friends” — would play no less than one present “unmasked,” which means with out their iconic make-up.
KISS had beforehand set a 12-show residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 however in the end canceled the entire dates.
50 years in the past in Terre Haute, Indiana, a small group of followers lit the spark that will turn out to be the loudest and proudest fan motion in rock historical past: the KISS Military. Now, 5 a long time later — and 30 years for the reason that first official KISS conference — KISS is cranking it as much as 11 in Las Vegas for the final word celebration.
Head over to kissarmystormsvegas.com for extra data.
Simmons instructed Rolling Stone in a November 2023 interview that the second Madison Sq. Backyard “Finish Of The Highway” live performance would mark “the ultimate KISS-in-makeup look.”
Kulick was a member of KISS from 1984 till 1996.
In response to Billboard, Kulick is considered one of solely two musicians to haven’t worn make-up whereas a member of KISS, the opposite being Mark St. John.
Kulick had carried out with the band once more at their Kiss Kruise occasions in 2018 and 2021.
Simmons not too long ago postponed practically 20 dates on his forthcoming solo tour with the GENE SIMMONS BAND to 2026.
Picture courtesy of Gibson TV
TOMMY THAYER, LEAD GUITARIST OF KISS, WILL JOIN GENE SIMMONS AND PAUL STANLEY FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND KISS UNMASKED ELECTRIC…
Posted by KISS on Monday, April 7, 2025
