Kiss members talk about receiving the Kennedy Center Honors

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced Kiss as one of the bands that will receive the Kennedy Center Honors, which have already been awarded to other important musicians such as Bob Dylan and the British band Led Zeppelin. The ceremony will take place next year, and the original Kiss members, along with musicians from other eras, spoke about their selection.

It is not yet clear if only the original Kiss members will be honored, but since they were the ones inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a couple of years ago, it is expected that the same criteria will be followed for this award, even though only Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons remained in the band throughout its 50-year career.

Kiss members talk about receiving the Kennedy Center Honors

Gene Simmons

“Kiss is the embodiment of the American dream. We are deeply honored to receive the Kennedy Center Honor,” Gene Simmons told TMZ.

Paul Stanley

“From our earliest days, Kiss has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off. The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of Kiss and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band,” Paul Stanley told TMZ.

Ace Frehley

According to TMZ, Ace recalled his humble past in the Brox and called the honor “a dream come true that I never thought would materialize.” He also praised the other fellow honorees like Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford.

Peter Criss

“I feel so blessed. This is the greatest honor of our career,” Peter Criss told TMZ.

Bruce Kulick

“Let’s congratulate Paul, Gene, Ace and Peter for the announcement of being chosen for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors later this year! WOW. President Trump said Kiss will be doing something special. That’s a big tease for all of us right?” He said on his social media.

Kiss was formed in New York City back in 1973 by Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. After many line-up changes over the decades, the band came to an end in 2023, playing their final show at the Madison Square Garden.