The three living original members of KISS — guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss reunited at the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7 in Washington D.C., less than two months after the passing of their longtime bandmate, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley.
Peter Criss got emotional
During an interview on the Red Carpet of Kennedy Center Honors, Peter Criss described the honor as an overwhelming, emotional moment, far beyond anything he imagined growing up in Brooklyn.
The most powerful point for him was seeing the president personally comfort his late bandmate’s family, which brought tears to his eyes and reminded him deeply of the loss they’re still grieving. That moment, mixed with gratitude and faith, made the honor feel profoundly personal and unforgettable.
Stanley, Simmons and Criss were all clad in black tuxedos and medals at the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts for the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which was hosted by U.S. president Donald Trump and also honored songwriter George Strait, actors Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone and singer Gloria Gaynor.
Trump praised this year’s honorees as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center honorees ever assembled.”
Before presenting Simmons, Stanley and Criss, along with Frehley’s daughter Monique, with their medals, Trump called KISS an “incredible rock band” and acknowledged Ace, “who now is resting in peace”, adding that the guitarist’s “beautiful daughter is here to accept the award.”
