The Tour

The Tour - 2012 - '13

Start Date: July 20, 2012

End Date: March 12, 2013

Shows: 51

Legs: 3

Countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, United States

Co-Headliner Act: Mötley Crüe

Opening Acts: Before the Aftermath, Diva Demolition, Hardcore Superstar, LoCash, Satan Takes A Holiday, The Beards, The Treatment, The Rules, Thin Lizzy

Average Attendance: 6,715 (US leg)

Line Up: Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer

On August 21, 2011, it was announced on KISSONLINE.com that their next album would be called "MONSTER". Originally it was planned for release in fall 2011, then delayed until January 2012, and again until June-July 2012, with finally an official release set for October 9th 2012. After the recording of the album was finalized, the band announced on March 20, 2012 at the Roosevelt Hotel in L.A, after an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, another co-headline tour, this time with Mötley Crüe, Paul Stanley described the tour at the press conference as:

“Elvis on steroids, I want people to leave and go, so this is what rock & roll is, it’s dangerous, it’s loose, it’s not perfect. So whatever pop artist you see dancing around on a stage lip syncing, that’s a con game and that’s not a live concert. If you want karaoke, go to a karaoke bar.”

This would not be the first time both bands stood on the same stage, the Crüe opened up four shows for KISS in 1983 during the Creatures/10th Anniversary Tour and Tommy Lee was a fan of the band as well, Eric Singer stated he was always a fan of Mötley Crüe as well. Both bands would get 90 minutes per show and unlike when KISS co-headlined with Aerosmith, KISS would now be the last band to perform, this was very likely because of the elaborate stage props Mötley Crüe used like Tommy Lee's roller-coaster drum riser, stripper poles, etc... For this tour they hired Ledge Designs to create a new stage. The stage was rather empty so when the Crüe show show was over, the road crew could make the stage ready for KISS as quick as possible.

The Tour Stage:

KISS Logo - No KISS logo was present on the stage but they showed one on the giant video screen.

Staircases - Left and right of the drum riser was just one giant staircase with lights inside them that had room for allot of pyrotechnics as no amps or video cubes were present at first. During the tour eventually some video cubes would be placed at the end of the stair cases left and right or be gone again at the next show.

Amplifiers - In front of Eric Singer's drum riser there were now amplifiers.

Lighting Rig Platform - Returning to the stage was once again the World Domination Tour lighting rig platform.

Flamethrowers - A small change was added to the flame throwers as now two pair of flamethrowers were added that shot fire in three directions.

Drum Riser Curtain - Returning was the drum riser curtain with the two golden cats that looked similar to the one used during the Alive/Worldwide Tour in 1996.

Flying Guitar - Tommy 's guitar would no longer fly up into the rafters as he would now instantly play 'Shock Me' with his rocket shooting guitar.

Gene's Sparkling Boots - At the first two shows, Gene used sparklers on his boots when he would fly up to the rafters, it was quickly dropped.

Gene's Blood Spitting - Gene's blood spitting act had a small change as well, as the church bell and bright light effect were not gone.
Mirror Ball - The mirror ball was not used this tour.

Design for The Tour stage from Ledge Designs

Pyrotechnic positions on the stage.

As the original release date was getting closer for their Monster album, the band did some tweaking with their costumes, Eric, Paul and Tommy added some small things to their costumes like new shoulder pads for Tommy, a new silver design on the lower part of his platform boots. Chrome shin pads on Paul's boots were added as well. But Gene applied the biggest change to his costume to fit more with the Monster theme as his armor would look more organic now including real looking horns, and it fits more than ever with his Demon character. Sadly, KISS did no longer record the audio from their shows like they did in their previous tours that was a nice souvenir for attendees. Also no tour book for this tour. During the summer part of The Tour, the band added 'Hell or Hallelujah' from Monster to the set list and in 2013, 'Outta This World' giving fans a taste to come for the next album. Only two songs were added for the encore, one random song changing every show and 'Rock And Roll All Nite'.

KISS live on The Tour stage.

Stage Props:

Pre-Show "hum"
Fire Engine Lights
Fire Engine Siren
Giant KISS Logo Curtain Before Show
Video Screen
Video Screen Cubes
Gene Spitting Blood
Gene Breathing Fire
Flash Pots
Gene Flying
Paul Flying
Tommy's Guitar Solo
Tommy's Shooting Rocket Guitar
Eric's Rocket Launcher
Eric's Drum Solo
Platform Risers
Dry Ice Smoke
Bombs
Fireworks
Pyrotechnics
Drum Riser
Drum Riser Curtain
Flamethrowers
Confetti
Paul Smashing Guitar

Tommy Thayer

Typical Setlist:

01. 'Detroit Rock City'
02. 'Shout It Out Loud'
03. 'I Love It Loud'
04. 'Firehouse'
05. 'Hell Or Hallelujah'

06. 'War Machine'

07. 'Shock Me'
08. 'God Of Thunder'

09. 'Love Gun'

10. 'Lick It Up'

11. 'Black Diamond'

12. 'God Of Thunder'

13. 'Black Diamond'

14. 'Detroit Rock City'

Encore:

15. Random Song

16. 'Rock And Roll All Nite'

Special Shows / Happenings:

Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA, July 19, 2012

This was a free show for military veterans nicknamed "Salute the Troops", both bands donated $250,000 to the "Hiring our Heroes" charity and before the show they signed the check with both bands on the stage.

- Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA, July 20, 2012 -

The first show of the tour, because of a noise ordnance set in place by Prince William County, their was a curfew set for 23:00, if the band would still be playing they eventually have to pay a heavy fine, fines that could go from three thousand to five thousand dollars per minute. Paul told the crowd at 23:00 that they were gonna shut the power down but they were gonna continue playing into one last song, being 'Rock And Roll All Nite'.

- Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, IN, September 1, 2012 -

Rain and thunder storms, that plagued the tour in August constantly, nearly got the show cancelled.

- Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, September 15, 2012 -

Up to 10 people were arrested at the show for various charges including trespass, fighting with security guards, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

- Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, September 29, 2012 -

A heavy thunderstorm delayed this show.

- Perth Arena, Perth, WA, Australia, February 28, 2013 -

First show of the Australian leg of the tour, Gene's flying rig malfunctioned leaving him hanging just in front of his lighting rig platform, Tommy's rockets exploded

far from where he aimed them at, the flash pots during'I Was Made For Lovin' You' were out of sync, and the overall sound mix was also all over the place.

- Clipsal 500 Race, Adelaide, SA, Australia, March 3, 2013 -

A small fire started in the lighting truss, Paul started singing a a-capella version of The Doors' 'Light My Fire' and a short variation of 'Heavens On Fire'.

- Channel Nine Studios, Willoughby, Sydney, NSW, Australia, CT, March 7, 2013 -

TV performance at the "NRL Footy Show", KISS performed 'Rock And Roll All Nite' and 'Hell Or Hallelujah'.