I always get a little excited when KISS announces a new tour, okay I am lying I always get SUPER EXCITED when KISS announces a new tour and yesterday afternoon a press conference was held to let the world know that they will be heading out with Def Leppard for a summer tour. It’s a celebration of their 40th Anniversary which is pretty cool and it was only a couple of weeks ago that I raised a glass to the 40th Anniversary of their debut album “KISS”. You can enjoy that post HERE. I’ve copied some press release stuff and then added my own thoughts on the matter for you to enjoy below the poster. Read on.
LOS ANGELES – March 17, 2014 – This summer two of the world’s greatest rock bands, KISS and DEF LEPPARD, are set to deliver a massive tour dedicated to fans who wanna rock and roll all night! These two legendary rock bands spanning two continents announced today that they will launch the tour as KISS celebrates their 40th year in music. The summer’s biggest hit-fueled rock tour, promoted exclusively by Live Nation, will storm through 40-plus cities throughout North America kicking-off on Monday, June 23 in West Valley City, UT at the USANA Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale starting on Friday, March 21 through the Live Nation mobile app and at www.livenation.com.
KISS and Def Leppard jointly decided to support our heroes and honor their dedicated fans in the armed services by partnering with numerous military organizations for the tour. Partnerships will include the USO, Hiring Our Heroes, Project Resiliency/The Raven Drum Foundation, August Warrior Project and the Wounded Warrior Project. All military personnel will be given exclusive access to discounted tickets for the tour with their own pre-sale through Military.com/Monster.com while also participating in the tour launch announcement featuring a live streamed Q&A with band members from KISS and Def Leppard in Los Angeles, California at the House Of Blues on Monday, March 17. Military charities will receive a portion of ticket sales with the money raised being split amongst all the non-profit organizations participating with the summer tour. Military personnel will have access to a pre-sale hosted by Military.com on Tuesday, March 18 starting at 10:00 a.m. local time. KISS and Def Leppard fan clubs will also have access to a pre-sale on Tuesday, March 18 starting at 10:00 a.m. local time. Visit www.kissonline.com and www.defleppard.com for more information. Citi card members will have access to pre-sale tickets through its Citi Private Pass program beginning Wednesday, March 19 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Visit www.citiprivatepass.com for details.
About KISS and Def Leppard:
With combined album sales of over 200 million, KISS and Def Leppard are more than just iconic; they remain TODAY’S dominant powerhouses of rock tallying 30+ chart-topping hits, countless sold out MEGA tours and awards and accolades from around the globe. Known for their elaborate and spectacular stage shows, each band plans to give fans the ultimate summer concert experience with the most impressive lighting and sound production ever along with KISS’ signature over-the-top pyrotechnics. KISS consists of vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons, vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley, lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. Def Leppard consists of vocalist Joe Elliott, guitarist Vivian Campbell, guitarist Phil Collen, bassist Rick “Sav” Savage and drummer Rick Allen.
Let’s take a look at the run of tour dates shall we. I am happy to see that there are no less than four close to me regional events so I will be looking into attending more than one if at all possible. Over the years I think I have seen KISS about 25 times. This pales in comparison to my friends who hit several shows per tour but I like to go at least once per tour. Its usually enough for me. I am excited since I will at long last see Def Leppard again, a band that I have not seen since one of their earliest US tours.
The Dates:
June 23 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater
June 25 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
June 27 – Ridgefield, WA @ Sleep Country Amphitheater
June 29 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
July 2 – Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion
July 3 – Wheatland, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
July 5 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 6 – Chula Vista, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
July 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
July 9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
July 12 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
July 13 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
July 15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
July 16 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
July 18 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
July 19 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 20 – Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 22 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
July 23 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 25 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
July 26 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
August 1 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
August 2 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
August 3 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
August 5 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 6 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon At Jones Beach Theatre
August 8 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
August 9 – Scranton, PA @ Pavilion at Montage Mountain
August 10 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
August 12 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
August 13 – Darien, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
August 15 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
August 16 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
August 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
August 20 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
August 22 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
August 23 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 24 – Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
August 26 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
August 28 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
August 29 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
August 31 – Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Have you decided which show or shows you are going to attend? Perhaps I will see you at one of the ones near our Metal Command HQ. Since this is a major happening for both acts you can bet that a lot of cool details and insight will be broadcast across their official websites and social networks. Follow along with those things after hitting the sites below. I know for a fact that both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons use Twitter quite extensively so maybe you want to follow their accounts as well to be right in the moment with them. I am. The diehard KISS fan in me finds me adding a couple of shots of Gene and Paul from their 2012 appearance at PNC Bank Arts Center. They are among my favorites shot and I hope you like them as well.
Official Website: www.kissonline.com
Official Website: www.defleppard.com