Gene Simmons Needs Four Tries to Nail First Pitch at Angels Game with Paul Stanley

KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley handled ceremonial first-pitch duties before the Los Angeles Angels hosted the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Simmons needed multiple attempts before he was satisfied with his throw, turning what is usually a quick pregame formality into an extended moment on the mound.

The Angels had officially invited the two rockers to throw out the first pitch for the Major League Baseball matchup. Simmons and Stanley began the ritual together, each lobbing a pitch toward a separate catcher at the same time.

 

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Stanley’s throw came up short and bounced before reaching the mound, while Simmons’ opening toss was solid overall but drifted a bit high. Rather than stop there, Simmons kept going, sending two more pitches into the dirt before finally putting a near-strike over on his fourth try. He capped the sequence with a rock-star pose once he got the result he wanted.

Major League Baseball’s official social media and YouTube accounts posted footage of the moment, poking fun at Simmons for needing four attempts to complete what is typically a single ceremonial toss. The Angels went on to defeat the Royals 1-0 in the game that followed.

• Simmons previously threw a ceremonial first pitch in July 2011 before a Los Angeles Dodgers versus New York Mets game at Dodger Stadium.
• He also threw out a first pitch in May 2018 at Wrigley Field ahead of the Crosstown Classic between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
• Simmons and Stanley were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with KISS’s original lineup in 2014.
• KISS received the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2025.

What Is Next for Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley?

Simmons and Stanley are set to perform unmasked with KISS at the 2026 KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas festival, scheduled for November 13 through 15 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

KISS played what were billed as its final two concerts ever in December 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with the December 2 show broadcast live on pay-per-view. In early 2024, the band sold its entire music catalog, likeness rights and brand name to the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is now developing a biopic, an avatar-based show and a KISS-themed experience, with Simmons and Stanley taking on key creative roles in those projects.

More Info

• Watch: KISSs GENE SIMMONS And PAUL STANLEY Throw Out First Pitch At Angel Stadium | Blabbermouth(opens in new tab)
• Rock and Throw All Nite: KISS Gene Simmons Tosses Four First Pitches at LA Angels Game | Consequence(opens in new tab)