KISS Announces First 'End Of The Road' World Tour Dates

After an epic and storied 45-year career that launched an era of rock and roll legends, KISS announced that they will launch their final tour ever in 2019, appropriately named "End Of The Road". The initial announcement was made a month ago on NBC's "America's Got Talent", which sent the Internet into overdrive with fans hoping their city would get one final KISS show. The band announced today the first set of dates and cities in North America, produced by Live Nation. International markets were also announced simultaneously today. Tour itinerary detailed below; KISS will be offering VIP experiences and special KISS Army fan presales.

KISS Meet & Greet Experiences will be available beginning Tuesday, October 30 at 10 a.m. local time through KissOnline.com. KISS Army fan club presales will begin Wednesday October 31 at 10 am local time also through KissOnline.com. Citi is the official presale credit card for the "End Of The Road" world tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase U.S. presale tickets beginning Wednesday, October 31 at 12:00 p.m. local time until Thursday, November 1 at 10:00 p.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass program. Tickets to the general public will go on sale starting Friday, November 2 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com.

Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why it is hands down the most iconic live show in rock and roll. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide have said this tour is devoted to the millions of KISS Army fans.

Said KISS: "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. 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."

"End Of The Road" tour dates:

North America

Jan. 31 - Vancouver, BC, Canada @ Rogers Arena
Feb. 01 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Moda Center
Feb. 02 - Tacoma, WA @Tacoma Dome
Feb. 04 - Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena
Feb. 07 - San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
Feb. 08 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
Feb. 09 - Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
Feb. 12 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
Feb. 13 - Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
Feb. 15 - Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
Feb. 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
Feb. 19 - Corpus ChrisW, TX @ American Bank Center
Feb. 20 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Feb. 22 - New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
Feb. 23 - Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
Feb. 26 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake
Feb. 27 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Mar. 01 - Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
Mar. 02 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
Mar. 04 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
Mar. 06 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford Premier Center
Mar. 07 - Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
Mar. 09 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Mar. 10 - Moline, IL @ Mark of the Quad CiWes
Mar. 12 - Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
Mar. 13 - Detroit, MI @ Lible Caesars Arena
Mar. 16 - Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
Mar. 17 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
Mar. 19 - Montreal, QC, @ Canada Bell Centre
Mar. 20 - Toronto, ON, @ Canada Air Canada Centre
Mar. 22 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Mar. 23 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Mar. 26 - Boston, MA TD @ Garden
Mar. 27 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Mar. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Mar. 30 - Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
Apr. 02 - Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre
Apr. 03 - Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
Apr. 06 - Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
Apr. 07 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
Apr. 09 - Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
Apr. 11 - Tampa, FL@ Amalie Arena
Apr. 12 - Jacksonville, FL@ Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Apr. 13 - Birmingham, AL @ BJCC

Europe

May 27 - Leipziger Messe - Leipzig, Germany
May 29 - Stadthalle - Vienna, Austria
May 31 - Konigsplatz - Munich, Germany
Jun. 02 - Georg Meiches Stadium - Essen, Germany
Jun. 04 - Waldbuhne - Berlin, Germany
Jun. 05 - Expo-Plaza - Hannover, Germany
Jun. 07 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, Sweden
Jun. 11 - Ice Arena - St. Petersburg, Russia
Jun. 13 - Dinamon Stadium - Moscow, Russia
Jun. 16 - Nsa Stadium - Kiev, Ukraine
Jun. 18 - Tauron Arena - Krakow, Poland
Jun. 25 - Ziggo Dome - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jun. 27 - Tons Of Rock - Oslo, Norway
Jun. 28 - Trondheim Rocks - Trondheim, Norway
Jul. 02 - Ippodromo Snai San Siro - Milan, Italy
Jul. 04 - Hallenstadion - Zurich, Switzerland
Jul. 06 - Rennbahn - Iffezheim, Germany
Jul. 09 - Birmingham Arena - Birmingham, England
Jul. 11 - O2 Arena - London, England
Jul. 12 - Manchester Arena - Manchester, England
Jul. 14 - Newcastle Arena - Newcastle, England
Jul. 16 - Sse Hydro - Glasgow, Scotland

As most fans remember, back in 2000 and 2001, KISS already performed a "Farewell Tour". The trek, which was the last to feature both guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, played 142 shows over five legs, covering North America, Japan, and Australia.

"Let's put it into perspective and try to at least get a sense of what's different [this time around]," frontman Paul Stanley told Rolling Stone. "The farewell tour took place 19 years ago. The farewell tour was at the end of the time that we had brought back the two original members [guitarist Ace Frehley and Peter Criss] and it was such drudgery and so difficult and so unhappy that it just seemed, like, 'Let's put the horse down.' And after the tour was over, it didn't take me very long to realize I didn't want to say goodbye to the band; I wanted to say goodbye to two members. So that was the differences. We've had 19 years of the band. The band has never been better, happier… But with all that in mind, it's time to think about an end."

Although Stanley didn't rule out the possibility of guest appearances by former members, he didn't promise anything either. "I really can't say," Stanley said. "This will be a celebration of KISS and not any individual lineup or any individual members. I wouldn't rule anything out, but it's not the crux of what we're doing… and I'm not being coy either. I don't want to mislead anybody, really that's not something that's been given a lot of thought at this point, the majority of our time has gone into what is the stage going to be, what is the show going to be, and we're actually in the midst of toying with setlists now."

Rumors of KISS's final run of live shows gained strength several months ago following the news that the band was attempting to trademark the phrase "The End Of The Road." An application from KISS was filed in February to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which means that the band could use it in connection with "live performances by a musical band."

Bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons recently told Sweden's Expressen newspaper that KISS's next tour will last three years. Calling it the band's "most spectacular tour ever," the bassist/vocalist added that the trek will make stops on "all continents."

Photo credit: Jen Rosenstein