Paul Stanley recently talked about KISS‘ approach to setlist curation and addressed fan expectations during the Q&A session of KISS Kruise Vegas 2025.
Paul Stanley talks about deep cuts
During the sessions Stanley explained his reasoning for prioritizing popular tracks over lesser-known songs. He highlighted that deep cuts, by definition, lack the appeal and quality of a band’s most successful material.
“Let’s talk about deep cuts for a minute. Deep cuts appeal to two people,” Stanley said. “I once went to see a very, very big band, and what they were advertising for this particular show was [that] they were going to play all deep cuts. It was the most boring f*cking thing I’d ever seen in my life.”
Stanley further elaborated on why KISS maintains a hits-focused approach to their performances.
“Honestly, the reason cuts are deep is because they’re not popular, and they’re not as good,” he continued. “Do we take out ‘Detroit Rock City’? Do we take out ‘Love Gun’? Do we take out ‘God Of Thunder’ to play some [lesser-known] song? I don’t think you’ll be disappointed [with Saturday night’s set list], but if you’re expecting deep cuts, I’ll see you next time.”
The KISS Kruise Landlocked in Las Vegas marked a significant moment for both the band and its fans. It was the first time KISS had performed live since finishing the End of the Road tour in New York in December 2023. Instead of returning to the high seas, the band brought the familiar Kruise atmosphere to the Nevada desert, transforming Las Vegas into a multi-day rock-and-roll festival that included concerts, fan gatherings, and exclusive performances.
