by David Ellefson recently shared his thoughts on KISS’s decision not to include Ace Frehley in their final farewell shows. He addressed the controversial topic during The David Ellefson Show.
The former Megadeth bassist questioned why the original guitarist wasn’t invited to participate in the band’s historic final performances in December 2023.
“I mean, KISS played [their final shows in December 2023], and, look, would it have been appropriate for Ace to come out and play [with them one last time]? I mean, why not?” Ellefson said.
He then offered perspective on what might have been going through Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s minds regarding the decision.
“But I think in Gene [Simmons] and Paul’s [Stanley] mind, as a band guy myself, it’s, like, ‘Well, he’s not part of the band. He’s just not part of the act. He’s not part of the show. Where do we squeeze that in?’” he continued. “Yet they certainly could have, if they wanted to.”
Ellefson’s comments come nearly two years after KISS concluded their historic “End of the Road” farewell world tour. The tour marked the end of an era for one of rock’s most iconic bands.
Setlist.fm reported that KISS concluded their farewell tour with a final show on December 2, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The concert featured classic elements such as Gene Simmons breathing fire and spitting blood, Paul Stanley zip-lining to the B-stage and back, and iconic songs like “God Gave Rock and Roll to You II” playing during the encore.
The band played approximately 250 shows on the farewell tour before ending in December 2023, as Ultimate Classic Rock noted. The final performance was livestreamed via ppv.com, allowing fans worldwide to witness the historic moment.
Despite the tour being promoted as KISS’s final shows, Paul Stanley later indicated that the band’s story might not be completely over. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Stanley stated while “KISS as we know it is done,” the band itself is “so far from over,” suggesting potential for future special events.
The absence of founding members like Ace Frehley from the farewell tour has remained a point of discussion among fans and fellow musicians. Ellefson’s recent comments reignited the conversation about whether the original lineup should have reunited one final time for the historic occasion.
