When KISS played their final concert in December 2023, there were some notable exclusions from the tribute. The lineup consisted of founders Paul Stanley (vocals, guitar) and Gene Simmons (vocals, bass) along with guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer.
KISS was also founded by guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss; however, neither were a part of the show aside from being featured in some historical footage on the video screens. Former members Vinnie Vincent, Bruce Kulick and the late Mark St. John and Eric Carr were also never acknowledged by name.
"Kisstory was not represented for the final show," Kulick declared in an interview after the concert took place.
During a recent visit to Chris Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast, Stanley explained why the band decided to exclude some of its past members. "To be somewhat diplomatic, there were people who made unrealistic demands of what they required," he revealed. "And it's not about that. It wasn't, for example, a celebration of the beginning of the band; it was a celebration of 50 years of a band, as opposed to a tribute to the start."
"What are we gonna have — videos up on the screen or draped photos?" Stanley added. "The fact that we were there, we were there because of everybody who participated, some more than others, but the tribute to everyone is us existing."
Although KISS may have physically retired, the band will live on through avatar shows that are set to launch in 2027. Last year it was revealed that Pophouse Entertainment, the Swedish company behind KISS' upcoming avatar shows and the ABBA Voyage tour, acquired the band's music catalog and rights to branding in a $300 million deal. Simmons has teased that the show "is going to be something that will blow your socks off, like nothing you’ve ever not seen."
For now, fans can see Simmons perform solo on an upcoming North American tour. Check out those dates here and listen to Stanley's full Talk Is Jericho interview below.