When KISS took their final bow at Madison Square Garden in late 2023, the world basically assumed Gene Simmons would retire to a gold-plated vault and spend his days counting licensing checks. We were wrong.
The Demon isn't staying home. Honestly, he’s probably physically incapable of it. Instead of hanging up the axe, he's spent much of 2024 and 2025 zig-zagging across the globe with the Gene Simmons Band tour, a project that feels less like a corporate stadium machine and more like a high-octane garage band—if that garage were owned by a billionaire.
The Raw Reality of the Gene Simmons Band Tour
If you’re expecting the 12-inch platform boots, the dragon-scale armor, or the fire-breathing, you’re going to be disappointed. Or maybe refreshed. This tour is about Gene as a musician, not Gene as a brand icon. He’s traded the "God of Thunder" theater for a t-shirt, jeans, and a bass guitar that’s right up in the mix.
The 2025 North American leg has been hitting spots like the Mohegan Sun Arena and various House of Blues locations. It’s tight. It’s loud. And surprisingly, it’s mostly covers and deep cuts.
Who is actually in the band?
One thing people often miss is that Gene isn't just hiring "some guys." The lineup is a rotating door of absolute shredders. In the 2024–2025 runs, we’ve seen:
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
- Brent Woods (who has played with Sebastian Bach and Vince Neil) on guitar.
- Jason Walker adding more guitar muscle.
- Brian Tichy, a literal legend who has sat behind the kit for Whitesnake, Billy Idol, and Foreigner.
- Zach Throne, often seen handling guitars and backing vocals.
These guys are a "commando unit," as Gene likes to call them. There are no backing tracks here. No lip-syncing. If a note is sour, you hear it. If the drummer wants to go double-time, they go. It’s a level of musical freedom Gene hasn't really had since 1973.
The Setlist Gamble: More Than Just KISS
Let’s be real. If you go to a Gene Simmons show, you want to hear "Deuce." You get it. But the Gene Simmons Band tour setlist is a weird, wonderful junk drawer of rock history.
He’s been opening shows with "Deuce" (classic move), but then he’ll pivot into "Are You Ready" or "War Machine." But the real curveballs are the covers. He’s doing Motörhead’s "Ace of Spades" and Led Zeppelin’s "Communication Breakdown." He even throws in a version of Van Halen’s "House of Pain"—specifically using the arrangement he produced for the band’s legendary 1976 demo tape.
It’s a bit of a flex, honestly.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
Some fans on Reddit have complained that the setlist is too short, often hovering around 15 songs. They aren't wrong. A typical night might only run 90 minutes. But a huge chunk of that time is spent on Gene just... being Gene. He brings kids up on stage. He gives "dance lessons." He tells stories about his mother. It’s essentially "An Evening with Gene Simmons" interrupted by heavy metal.
2026 Dates and What’s Next
The momentum isn't slowing down as we head into 2026. While the massive 2025 spring trek covered 19+ cities from Anaheim to Houston, new dates are popping up on the calendar.
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 17, 2026 | Revel Entertainment Center | Albuquerque, NM |
| February 20, 2026 | L'Auberge Casino Resort | Lake Charles, LA |
| February 21, 2026 | Margaritaville Resort Casino | Bossier City, LA |
| February 23, 2026 | Rock Legends Cruise | Miami, FL |
Tickets aren't exactly cheap, averaging around $166, though you can sometimes snag them for closer to $100 if you aren't trying to breathe the same air as him.
The $12,000 "Roadie" Controversy
We have to talk about the money. Gene made headlines (and a lot of people angry) by offering a $12,000 "Roadie for a Day" package. People called it exploitative. Gene called it an "experience."
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
Basically, you pay the price of a used car to carry guitars and watch soundcheck. Is it worth it? For 99% of the population, absolutely not. But for the die-hard KISS Army members who want to see the "business" from the inside, those slots are actually selling. It’s the ultimate Gene Simmons move: monetize curiosity.
Is it worth going?
If you want the circus, stay home and watch the End of the Road DVD. But if you want to see a 76-year-old man who still loves the smell of a tube amp, go.
The Gene Simmons Band tour is loose. It’s occasionally messy. It’s full of "boomer humor" that sometimes misses the mark. But it’s also the most authentic Gene has been in decades. He’s not hiding behind a mask. He’s just a guy who likes loud basses and The Beatles.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check Smaller Venues: This tour thrives in theaters and casinos. Don't just look at Ticketmaster; check the venue's direct site for VIP upgrades that don't cost $12k.
- Expect the Unexpected: Don't get married to a specific setlist. He's been known to swap songs on a whim based on audience requests or just what the band felt like playing at soundcheck.
- Watch the "Vault" Material: If you aren't familiar with his Vault box set, listen to a few tracks before you go. He loves playing those "unreleased" gems that never made it onto a KISS record.
- Arrive Early for Merch: Unlike the stadium shows, Gene has been known to do signing sessions at the merch booth in the lobby, sometimes for free or for a much lower cost than the official meet-and-greets.
The Demon might be retired, but Gene Simmons is just getting started. Grab a ticket while he’s still feeling the itch to travel commercial and play the clubs.
Next Steps for You:
- Verify the latest 2026 dates on official sites like Live Nation or https://www.google.com/search?q=GeneSimmons.com, as he tends to add "one-off" casino shows with very little lead time.
- If you're attending a show, look into the "Soundcheck" packages—they are often significantly cheaper than the full "Roadie" experience but still get you that "behind the curtain" access.