KISS THEM GOODBYE, BAND ANNOUNCES “END OF THE ROAD” FINAL WORLD TOUR

After a 45-year career, KISS announced they will embark on their final word tour, during their appearance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent on Wednesday.

The band performed their hit Detroit Rock City to launch AGT‘s season finale episode before announcing the news. “This is going to be our last tour,” they announced onstage. “It will be the most explosive, biggest show we’ve ever done. People who love us, come to see us. If you’ve never seen us, this is the time. This will be the show.”

The band has not yet revealed tour dates, but they said in a statement that their final shows will be part of a multi-year End of the Road world tour and that they’d announce updates on their official website in the coming weeks…

…“All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years,” Kiss said in a statement. “This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable.”

additional source: rollingstone.com

53 Responses

  2. This is the right decision by Gene and Paul. My first concert was KISS and Judas Priest during the Dynasty tour in Toledo, OH. The first record I ever bought was Rock and Roll Over. I have seen them countless times over the years, and each time I left a satisfied customer. I am a huge KISS fan, but it’s time for them to hang it up. Paul’s voice is not what it once was, and Gene doesn’t move around the stage like he did back in the day. Age creeps up on all of us, so it’s not their fault. It sounds like they are going to tour for a couple of years, and the show is going to be a big one. I hope that they bring all of the past, living members of the band back for the final shows. Peter could come out and sing “Beth”, and maybe play drums on a song or two. Ace, Bruce, and even Vinnie could come out and play on songs they were involved with. These shows would be sure sell outs wherever they were played. It would celebrate all of the history of the band, and be a fitting tribute to the fans. This would be the best way for KISS to finalize what has been a remarkable career.

    1. Keith – as I posted, below, KISS and Priest on the Dynasty tour was my first concert in nearby Fort Wayne, IN. Never forget how great it was – Gene flying; Ace’s guitar smoking/exploding; Peter’s drum riser; and Paul being the best frontman in the business. KISS Alive was my first KISS album (got it for Christmas in 1976) and I was hooked. From then on, if they put it out, I bought it. I have also seen them numerous times over the years and they have been a constant presence in my life since 1976. That’s why, even though it is time to end it, it is going to be so hard to see them leave the road.

    3. Hi, Dana
      Well, truth be told, I was only 12 years old at the time, and at that point, KISS was just about the only thing that mattered in my world.
      I think Priest was touring behind “Hell Bent for Leather” at that point. I do remember thinking they were really “heavy” and that they played very fast. Also remember thinking their lead singer was pretty cool with his biker outfit.
      Then, “British Steel” came out in the spring of 1980 and the band just took off. I became a big fan a few years later.
      Priest is one of those rare bands that, to me, achieved a true trifecta with three of my all-time favorite albums back to back:
      1. British Steel – what more needs to be said? Ushered in a new era.
      2. Point of Entry – I still love this album. Hot Rockin’, Heading Out to the Highway, Don’t Go, Solar Angels and, best of all, Desert Plains, which is one of my all time favorite Priest tracks.
      3. Screaming for Vengeance – the Holy Grail! I love a good twin guitar attack and on this album, Priest set the standard. Probably never matched by anyone. I love everything about this album but especially the opening. The Hellion/Electric Eye followed by Riding on the Wind has to be one of the best album openers of all time (Scorpions came close on Blackout with the title track followed by Can’t Live Without You). I still remember buying this cassette at the mall with my older brother and some of his friends. We got in his Pontiac Firebird and put it in the cassette deck and cranked it up. He had these huge Pioneer speakers and when The Hellion came blasting out followed by Electric Eye and Riding On the Wind, well, I never forgot it. After Riding on the Wind, I remember my brother turned it down – we couldn’t take any more – and we all just sat there…too stunned to speak. Then, someone said, “Play those again” and we did. I mean, there really isn’t a bad song on that album and the guitars are just excellent. Plus, Rob’s voice is stellar. Hearing “Up here in space…” still gives me chills everytime I hear ’cause I know what’s to follow. Pure magic!

      Sorry for the long response, but just couldn’t help myself!

    4. KB,

      That sounds about right, and Screaming For Vengeance, is not only my favorite Priest album, it is my favorite album, period. Thank you for the detailed reponse, I really enjoyed it.

      BTW, Delivering The Goods, off of Hell Bent is such a killer song.

      D 🙂

    5. Dana,
      I remember that a friend of mine let me listen to “Unleashed in the East” a few days before the concert. That was my first exposure to Judas Priest, and I LOVED it! So, I would guess that they were touring to support that record.

  3. Already said goodbye on the farewell tour back in June 2000. But I wouldn’t mind saying goodbye again, but ONLY if Ace & Peter are a part of it in some way shape or form, they have to be involved, preferably in all of the above!

    1. Doug,
      I agree that Ace and Peter should be involved in at least the final show, hopefully in NYC where everything began. I would love the final show to be in Madison Square Garden, with all of the living past members of the band participating. The four current members of the band wearing the grease paint, inviting the past members up to play on songs that they were involved with during their tenure with the band. What a show that would be! Heck, I might travel up to NYC to be part of it. It would be EPIC!!

    2. Doug, I am totally with you, in concept. I hate seeing impersonators performing as the iconic Spaceman and Catman characters. I absolutely hate it. It’s exactly like you have previously stated so perfectly “Replacing band members is on thing, replacing legends is something else!”. I, too, would like to see Ace and Peter as part of this farewell tour.

      I, too, also said my goodbyes at the Farewell Tour. But we will attend this Farewell Tour. And the only reason we will attend is because I want our 12 year old son to witness the spectacle that is KI$$. I want him to see the fire, explosions, blood, rockets, etc…from the band that put on the greatest show on earth.

      Kudos to Gene, and especially Paul, for continuing the band for over 45 years. Even into their late 60s they put on a very physical and entertaining stage show. Their skills may not be a sharp as once was, but we all change as we get older. The original 4 members may not have been virtuosos at their instruments, but their music was iconic for each of them to be influential to so many other artists.

    3. Amen, Rattle! Seeing Eric & Tommy impersonate Ace & Peter would be like seeing someone impersonate Alice Cooper, and it ain’t happening! There’s only 1 Alice Cooper, and his name is Vincent Furnier! And of course there’s only 1 Spaceman, and 1 Catman, Ace Frehley & Peter Criss!! Don’t what Gene & Paul are planning, just hope that they include Ace & Peter in those plans! Keith, I spent most of my life up in NY, and I agree, KISS’ final show should definitely be at MSG! I would back in the “New York Groove” in a “New York Minute!” (Unintended Don Henley pun!) 😉 Cheers, KISS Army, We Are One! 🙂

  4. About time- I hope at least they have ace and pete do the final couple of shows , but paul will never allow that to happen , but you never know…….

  5. Kind of expected this – and I hope that the original band can at least play together for at least some dates – but still a bit sad. A lot of my favorite bands have been calling it a day lately. I just celebrated the 39th anniversary of my first KISS concert – Tuesday, September 18, 1979. Opening band was a group most had never heard of at the time – Judas Priest. However, it is certainly time for this to end. Again, just hope Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace can play together at least one more time, even if it is the final date of the tour.

    1. Wasn’t my first concert, but the first time I saw Judas Priest was September 1st, 1979, opening for KISS at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale NY! Ah the good old days! 🙂

    2. Yes, Doug R., those were the good old days! It was my first concert and I saw them about two weeks after you did. KISS really pulled out all the stops on the Dynasty tour and, for sheer spectacle, I’m not sure if anyone has ever topped it. When they rose up from beneath the stage with loads of dry ice and then the explosions went off and the KISS logo started flashing…man, it was the best!

    3. KB, I agree with you 100%! The Love Gun tour was amazing, but the Dynasty tour was way over the top! Right from the beginning the way they came up from underneath the stage on those risers, and went right into “King Of The Night Time World,” holy sh-t! Small world, I was only 12 (1 month from turning 13) as well! My favorite KISS tours were Dynasty, Asylum, and the Reunion Tour. All I really remember from JP is that they were loud, VERY loud! And very good! 🙂

    4. Doug – this is too funny! I was also 12 going on 13 the following month when I saw KISS on 09/18/79 on the Dynasty tour! Yes, Priest were very loud – had this big wall Marshall’s behind them and didn’t have much room to move around. I have seen just about every KISS tour since then and my favorites are Dynasty, Creatures of the Night, Animalize and, oddly enough, Psycho Circus. Creatures was great because the band played very well that night – Eric Carr was just a monster on the drums and the tank stage was cool. The Plasmatics opened the show and that was a little weird. Sadly, they were playing in an arena that held about 20K and there were only about 5K people there. I saw the Reunion tour but went down to New Orleans and saw them at the Superdome. I don’t know, but I think the venue was just too big and, honestly, they just didn’t sound the best and seemed tired that night. For me, and I’m probably in the minority here, the best of the 3 “reunion” tours, was Psycho Circus. I thought the stage was really cool and the night I saw them, they all seemed happy to be there and played really well. I saw the Farewell Tour twice and neither time was it a good experience. At the first show, Ted Nugent opened the show and as a 3 piece, outplayed KISS by a mile. Tommy Aldridge was on drums and the guy was phenomenal.

      Better stop. This is quickly turning into “A Headbanger’s Journey”!

    5. KB, spot on! In 1979 JP were a “Killing Machine!” 😉 I seen every KISS tour up to 2000 except for the “Hot In The Shade” tour. Always bothered me because that was Eric Carr’s last tour. Psycho Circus tour was awesome as well, only problem was those damn 3-D glasses! Putting them on, taking them off, at moments it was cool, but after a while it became a pain in the ass! Also, after a couple of beers those glasses started making me dizzy! But overall the 3-D concerts were cool, even with the dizziness. Really loved the pyro on that tour, come to think of it, every tour! When they were on, and everybody was in the zone, whichever tour it was, between the music, and as always an incredible stage show, KISS was the greatest band on the planet! They were untouchable. Okay, time for me to get back to my “Rock & Roll Party!” And “Turn On The Night!” 😉 Cheers, KB, and everybody else in the KISS Army! 🙂

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