Kiss fans have come to expect what Gene Simmons describes as a “gathering of the tribes” at the Kiss Kruise, which first set sail in 2011 and has occurred semi-annually since then.

However, the masked legends had an opportunity to test out the concept more than a decade prior when they hit the road to meet fans and perform stripped-down acoustic sets at the first official Kiss conventions. They did a series of dates overseas in Australia in February of that year and brought it to America in June. The American dates kicked off in June at the Burbank Hotel in Los Angeles, with former drummer Peter Criss joining in on two songs. Dates continued through the summer and eventually wrapped up in August in Pittsburgh.

The acoustic gigs revealed a side of Kiss that most fans had never seen. The set lists had an off-the-cuff feeling and featured many deep cuts from the band’s catalog, creating a more casual atmosphere. “It was fun, especially for us, because you’re right up close with the fans,” Simmons recalled while speaking to UCR earlier this year. “In the middle of the songs, you can engage in a conversation or [answer a] question and you don’t have to worry about sets or lighting or any of that.”

Watch Kiss Perform in Detroit in 1995

The jam with Criss foreshadowed a full reunion that took place for MTV Unplugged that year, with the drummer and guitarist Ace Frehley reuniting with Simmons and Paul Stanley to play a selection of songs together. It was the first time the original four had performed together since 1979. As we know now, a proper reunion tour followed and was highly successful.

READ MORE: When Kiss Reunited on ‘MTV Unplugged’

However, the experience of doing the convention gigs left an important mark that they would revisit later. “The Kiss conventions begat the Kiss Kruises,” Simmons confirms. “We decided to do that, in essence, to get closer to the fans. Because when you’re up on that stage, whether you’re playing a stadium or arena, there’s all that energy going off the stage, visual and sound and all that. And even though there’s lots of energy coming from the fans up there, it’s not as personal because there are so many of them.”

Why Were the Kiss Conventions Important?

Former guitarist Bruce Kulick highlights an additional layer of significance behind those early Kiss conventions in 1995. “There aren’t many bands that could do this,” he points out during a separate conversation. “I’ve been to Beatles conventions, and as much as The Who or Led Zeppelin or AC/DC are gigantic, I don’t really hear about many conventions or anything like that with bands like them. We know that Kiss is unique, and of course, there’s the makeup and all the products. But there is some passion connected to it that people want to come together and celebrate it. That’s [also why] what the right conventions have carried on through the years.”

“The Kiss Kruises — and there were 13 years of that — really gave us a chance to get closer and get to know fans from 34 different countries,” Simmons concludes. “You get a much more personal experience from that instead of just showing off. And there’s nothing wrong with showing off. I like doing that too, but it’s a different experience for us and the fans. The [upcoming] Kiss Army [event] in Las Vegas will be like that too.”

How Will They Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Kiss Conventions and More?

A wide variety of events are planned for Kiss Kruise Land-Locked in Vegas, which is set for this weekend (Nov. 14-16) at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Simmons will reunite with Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer for two “Unmasked” Kiss concerts as part of the festivities. Kulick confirms that he’ll join his old bandmates for their second performance as well.

The event is being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kiss Army and the 30th anniversary of the first Kiss fan convention. In addition to performances from Kiss, Kulick, Sebastian Bach, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini of Ratt, Quiet Riot, and more, there will be exclusive activities and Q&A sessions with Simmons, Stanley, Thayer, and the band’s longtime manager Doc McGhee.

READ MORE: Kiss Shares Plans For Vegas Weekend

Watch Kiss Announce Land-Locked in Vegas