KISS Returns to the Stage for the First Time Since Ace Frehley’s Death: We ‘Had Differences, but That’s What Family Is About’

KISS returned to the stage for the first time since Ace Frehley‘s death.

The rock band performed its three-day KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in Las Vegas this weekend, shortly after Frehley died at age 74 on Oct. 16, weeks after suffering a fall at his home.

“Obviously, before we get going — and we’re going to have an awesome time — we just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who was at the foundation of this band, and we’re talking about Ace,” Paul Stanley told the crowd on Friday, Nov. 14. “We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about.”

The following night, band members Stanley, 73, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer mentioned Frehley only briefly when speaking about a recording session in the 1970s, and guitarist Thayer, 65, pointed to the sky at one point before a solo. 

Chants of “Ace, Ace, Ace” broke out at various events throughout the weekend, one of which was led by Sebastian Bach, the opening act on Saturday, Nov. 15.

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Frehley, known for his “Spaceman” persona and makeup in KISS, co-founded the group in 1973 and left in 1982.

His family announced his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE, stating, “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.”

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“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever,” they continued.

The cause of death for the rocker, born Paul Frehley, was revealed to be from blunt trauma injuries to his head from a fall, the Morris County Medical Examiner confirmed in a report obtained by PEOPLE on Monday, Nov. 10. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

KISS Kruise: Landlocked is a three-day event, featuring concerts, karaoke, cover bands, a pick-throwing contest, memorabilia and more.

The band performed a brief acoustic set without their infamous face paint outside the Virgin Hotel on Nov. 14.

On Nov. 15, they performed unmasked again, but through a proper concert held in the Las Vegas hotel’s theater.

A Q&A with the Grammy Award-nominated group is set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Frehley is survived by his daughter, Monique, and wife Jeanette Trerotola.