After almost 50 years in the game, iconic rockers KISS are set to call it quits with (another) farewell tour.
Earlier this year, we noted how a US trademark application had been made under KISS’ name for the phrase ‘The End Of The Road,’ indicating that Gene Simmons’ previous comments about the band breaking up may have been right on the money.
Not long after, Gene Simmons spoke to a US news outlet to reveal that the band were set to pull up stumps sometime in the future.
“There will be [a farewell tour] at some point,” Simmons admitted. “We can’t keep doing this forever. We are the hardest-working band in show business. If [Mick] Jagger stepped into my Dragon Boots he couldn’t last a half hour.”
Gene Simmons went on to note that the group “doesn’t want to stay on stage a day longer than when we feel valid. … Remember we introduced ourselves as ‘When you wanted the best you got the best, the hottest band in the world.’ Not we ‘used to be’ the best.”
Later, Simmons confirmed to a Swedish newspaper that the group’s upcoming world tour is set to kick off in January of 2019. “It will be a three year long tour starting in January 2019,” Simmons explained. “It will be our most spectacular tour ever. We will go to all continents, though exactly where I can’t tell you now.”
Now, KISS have confirmed that their ‘End Of The Road’ tour is imminent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlSFmotba2I
Taking to the stage for the finale of the 13th season of America’s Got Talent, the band performed ‘Detroit Rock City’ before breaking the news to their fans.
“This is gonna be our last tour,” said Paul Stanley. “It will be the most explosive, biggest show we’ve ever done. People who love us, come see us. If you’ve never seen us, this is the time. This will be the show.”
While the KISS website promises that more details are forthcoming, it also gives the option to sign up for pre-sale access.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym3846j4BF4
KISS fans should be used to big televised announcements like this coming from the group. After all, back in 1983, the group took to MTV to appear without their makeup for the first time, and in the mid-’90s announced a reunion of the group’s original lineup while on an aircraft carrier.
Of course, who’s to know what the future actually holds, because it’s important to remember this isn’t KISS’ first farewell tour.
Some folks might remember how back in 2000, KISS began what was supposed to be their final tour before they would break up, with the tour serving as a way to “put KISS out of its misery”. Following 142 shows over the course of 13 months, the band played their last show in Canberra in March of 2001, before announcing in 2002 that they weren’t actually retiring after all.
While we wait and see when this farewell tour will kick off, we definitely hope that the band decide to once again include their loyal fans in Australia for these ‘final’ tour dates.
Check out KISS’ ‘Rock And Roll All Night’:
