Though they’ve adopted very totally different profession paths over the previous 4 many years, founding Kiss stars Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley have used remarkably related set record formulation on their latest solo excursions.
Since first leaving Kiss within the early ’80s, Frehley has toured steadily and launched 9 studio albums. (He additionally returned to Kiss for a five-year reunion in 1996.) Simmons remained busy with Kiss till their 2023 retirement from touring, however started enjoying occasional solo excursions in 2017.
Evaluating the typical set lists of Frehley and Simmons’ latest excursions reveals some widespread patterns. At a typical present Simmons performs 9 Kiss songs, which is both one or three lower than Frehley relying on for those who depend songs from his 1978 solo album, launched whereas he was nonetheless within the band, as solo songs or not.
Learn Extra: The Kiss Album That Made Gene Simmons ‘So Nervous’
What’s extra, the 2 former bandmates play 5 of the identical Kiss songs most nights: “Parasite,” “Chilly Gin,” “Deuce,” “Shout It Out Loud” and “Rock and Roll All Nite.” The primary two songs have been written by Frehley, though Simmons sang them on the 1974 albums Kiss and Hotter Than Hell.
On his 2024 tour Simmons normally performed two songs from his solo albums. Regardless of having a a lot larger solo discography, that is the identical quantity Frehley performs from his post-Kiss solo albums at a median present, in comparison with 12 from his former band. Simmons has additionally been mixing in covers of songs by Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and Motorhead at latest reveals.
Simmons’ Kiss track picks are additionally tied carefully to his time with Frehley – solely one of many 9 Kiss songs he performs comes from after the guitarist’s departure from the group, 1982’s “I Adore it Loud.” And Frehley was nonetheless technically a member of the band at the moment. Though he would not carry out on the track, for contractual causes the “Spaceman” seems in its video and on the quilt of its house album, Creatures of the Night time.
All these commonalities may make you assume, “Hey, why do not Ace and Gene simply tour collectively?” In truth they did simply that on a quick 2018 tour of Australia, which went so effectively that Frehley wound up wholesale changing his former band with Simmons’ touring band.
However contemplating how they’ve already damaged up over persona and artistic variations twice, and nonetheless sometimes commerce nasty barbs with one another within the press, it is most likely finest that the 2 Kiss stars keep on their separate tour buses.
So who has the higher set record? It is a powerful name for the reason that majority of each reveals attracts largely from the identical half-decade of Kiss’ profession. Simmons is clearly having a blast performing with out 50 kilos of leather-based and steel or a inflexible set record timed to match as much as Kiss’ pyrotechnics and lighting cues, and the quilt songs are effectively chosen.
However, the maybe too small choice of solo songs that Frehley performs every evening rank among the many best work by anyone ever related to Kiss. So resolve for your self, and even higher go to each reveals!
Gene Simmons Band Common 2024 Set Record
1. “Deuce”
2. “Battle Machine”
3. “Are You Prepared” (from Gene Simmons Vault, 2017)
4. “I Love It Loud”
5. “Shout It Out Loud”
6. “Home of Ache” (Van Halen cowl)
7. “Communication Breakdown” (Led Zeppelin cowl)
8. “Ace of Spades” (Motorhead cowl)
9. “Weapons of Mass Destruction” (from Asshole, 2004)
10. “Charisma”
11. “Parasite”
12. “Chilly Gin”
13. “Calling Dr. Love”
14. “Rock and Roll All Nite”
Watch the Gene Simmons Band Carry out ‘Shout It Out Loud’
Ace Frehley Common 2025 Set Record
1. “Shock Me”
2. “Deuce”
3. “Cherry Medication” (from 10,000 Volts, 2024)
4. “Rock Troopers” (from Frehley’s Comet, 1987)
5. “Love Gun”
6. “Rocket Trip”
7. “Parasite”
8. “Detroit Rock Metropolis”
9. “Rip It Out”
10. Blues Jam
11. “She”
12. “New York Groove”
13. “Chilly Gin”
14. Guitar Solo
15. “Shout it Out Loud”
16. “Rock and Roll All Nite”
by way of SetList.fm
Watch Ace Frehley Carry out ‘Shout It Out Loud’
Simmons will launch a nine-date tour on Might 2 in Peachtree Metropolis, Georgia. That very same evening Frehley and his band will probably be on the Starland Ballroom in Sayerville, New Jersey. You possibly can sustain with the Kiss legends’ tour plans at GeneSimmons.com and AceFrehley.com.
Kiss Solo Albums Ranked Worst to Greatest
Counting down solo albums launched by numerous members of Kiss.
Gallery Credit score: Matthew Wilkening
