The Hottest Show On Earth Tour - 2010​ - '11
Start Date: July 23, 2010
End Date:June 28, 2011
Shows: 58
Legs: 2
Countries: Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States
Opening Acts: Airiel Down, Alana Grace, Bad City, Before Nine, Big Boss Graffiti, Candlelight Red, Daughtry, Dean Cramer's So Low, DoDriver, Gardens of Bedlam, Heartbreak Hangover, Inambush, Isabelle's Gift, Konniption Fit, Light The Black Skye, Lovehammers, Love Turns Hate, Miles Schon Band, Pat Green, Octane, Ruido Rosa, Seven Ten Oil, Switchblade Suicide, Tester, The Academy Is, The Crunge, The Dirty Pearls, The Envy, The SilenTreatment, Top Dead Center, Wheeliebar
Average Attendance: 16,760
Line Up: Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer
After the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour was concluded, the band continued on touring in support of the Sonic Boom album, but turned the American leg into a whole separate tour called "The Hottest Show On Earth" tour. They would tour in North America, Canada, one show in Puerto Rico and four dates in Mexico.
April of 2011 had seven dates reserved for another tour in Japan, for unknown reasons the entire Japan leg of the tour got cancelled just a few days after it was announced. Gene Simmons did mention in May of 2011 that the band had recorded new songs for a upcoming studio album. So the tour was either cancelled to record, or they just used April to record the songs as they had some free time. Guitar Center held a contest (North America only) so local bands could win a spot to open the show beside already booked opening bands The Envy and The Academy Is...
Just like in the 1996-'97 Alive/Worldwide Tour, they would dub their North America, Canada leg of their tour the "Lost Cities tour" where they would tour cities they did not perform in a long time. The set list was the same as the previous tour except for the Lost Cities leg where 'Crazy Crazy Nights' was replaced by 'Do You Love Me', and 'God Of Thunder' was added and Gene would spit blood and fly again on this song instead on 'I Love It Loud'. 'God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II' was dropped from the encores.
Hottest Show On Earth Tour Stage:
No big changes were made to the stage or effects:
Mixed Alive 35/Sonic Boom Stage - The band did use the Alive 35 stage at their Puerto Rico show and for Canada they used a mix of the Alive 35 and Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour stage where the video screen cubes were added in two rows.
Directional Flamethrower - A new flamethrower was added in front of the drum riser that shot fire in four directions.
KISS in Puerto Rico with the Alive 35 stage.
Stage Props:
Alive 35 Stage In Puerto Rico/Canada
Pre-Show "hum"
Fire Engine Lights
Fire Engine Siren
KISS Logo
Giant KISS Logo Curtain Before Show
Video Screen
Video Screen Cubes
Mirror Ball
Gene Spitting Blood
Gene Breathing Fire
Flash Pots
Gene Flying
Paul Flying
Tommy's Guitar Solo
Tommy's Shooting Rocket Guitar
Tommy's Flying Guitar
Eric's Rocket Launcher
Eric's Drum Solo
Platform Risers
Dry Ice Smoke
Bombs
Fireworks
Pyrotechnics
Drum Riser
Flamethrowers
KISS Army Banners
Confetti
Paul Smashing Guitar
Eric Singer and his rocket launcher
Typical Setlist:
01.'Modern Day Delilah'
02. 'Cold Gin'
03. 'Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll'
04. 'Firehouse'
05. 'Say Yeah'
06. 'Deuce'
08. 'Calling Dr. Love'
09. 'Shock Me'
10. 'I Love It Loud'
11. 'Love Gun'
12. 'God Of Thunder'
13. 'Black Diamond'
14. 'Detroit Rock City'
Encore:
15. 'Beth'
16. 'Lick It Up'
17. 'Shout it Out Loud'
18. 'Rock And Roll All Nite'
Tour Book:
The Hottest Show On Earth tour book was basically the Sonic Boom Over Europe tour book with the
only differences being the front cover and the last three pages.
During the Hottest Show On Earth tour, KISS donated $1 dollar of every ticket to the CSRA Wounded Warrior project, in September 2010 they already raised $440,000 dollars. After the show the band would show the check on how much money they raised at the show together with veterans or personnel from the venue. The raised funds would be used to establish transitional housing, expanding programs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and building a retreat center to train more providers to deliver marriage and family workshops for returning service members. These days the project goes by the name of Forces United.
Special Shows / Happenings:
- First Niagara Pavilion, Camden, NJ, July 29, 2010 -
One of the opening bands, The Envy, was the first band that was signed to Simmons Records, Gene's record company.
This was the third show of the tour but the first one recorded by SymfyLive.
- Susquehanna Bank Center, Philadelphia, PA, August 6, 2010 -
Because of issues with recording 'Modern Day Delilah',sold copies of the show would be replaced with the version from the
Boston show the next day.
- Hoosier Lottery Grandstand, Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, IN, August 9, 2010 -
The show started later than usual and three encores were not played because of the venue curfew, It was also a extremely humid and hot day.
- Essar Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada, August 10, 2010 -
A local fan started to cause a disturbance and after being removed by security from the venue, he allegedly punched a cop and got arrested.
- Mohegan Arena, Uncasville, CT, August 19, 2010 -
Before the show, KISS was inducted into the Mohegan Sun's Walk of Fame!
- Cricket Wireless Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ, September 24, 2010-
The Wounded Warrior project check reached an amount of $476,279!
- Epicenter Twenty Ten Festival, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA, September 25, 2010 -
Last show in North America, the show was broadcast live on the internet. Before 'Firehouse', Tommy got a drink from the back and did not
watch his surroundings on the stage and nearly got hit by a flamethrower going off.
- Teatro Banamex, Monterrey, Mexico, September 28, 2010 -
Sol beer was smart to sell their beer in special KISS 'Hottest Show On Earth' tour cups, as KISS fans love to collect anything KISS!
- Palacio De Los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico, September 30, 2010 -
As is tradition for Paul to do so in foreign countries, he sang a few lines of a local song. After singing a piece of 'Guantanamera' , that made the crowd enthusiastic
for more and after a request Paul sang a piece of 'Cucurrucucú Paloma'.
- Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, March 11, 2011 -
KISS performed in Puerto Rico for the first time since 1999. For some reason the Alive 35 stage was used at this show.
Rodeo Houston, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX, March 15, 2011
KISS and a rodeo show, who knew it would work. KISS could not use their own
stage as the stadium has it's own "In The Round" rotating stage so KISS performed with a miniature version of their stage. The band was driven towards the stage using golf carts. Seeing the entire rodeo ring was not used, it was instead used to set up pyrotechnics and fireworks all around the ring that also would be more powerful as the pyro engineers did not have to worry about hitting the light rig anymore, the pyrotechnics were fitted with more bigger charges and they almost reached the ceiling!
A charity show for the Rock 'N' Walk Event, the main floor had $1,000 per seat dinner tables for VIP's who could enjoy a three course meal and watch a scaled down show. As people were gonna have dinner, Gene did not spit blood, confetti was limited and both Gene and Paul did not fly, and pyrotechnics were limited. The charity event raised money for service groups to help children.
- Entertainment & Sports Center, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, June 27, 2011 -
A pre-show block party was held that offered food, drinks, a beer garden and entertainment.
Eric pointed his bazooka backwards for some reason and nearly blew up his drum technician who managed to jump out of the way just in time.
- Encana Events Centre, Dawson Creek, BC, Canada, June 30, 2011 -
Another kind of pre-show block party was held with a face painting zone, a "Kissing" booth, and an M&M Meats Charity BBQ with music from the band Edge Of Attack.
- Salmon Festival, Grand Falls, NL, Canada, July 9, 2011 -
The band performed on a reduced stage, when KISS was to hit the stage, a storm hit the area turning the show in a windy and wet experience.
- Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL, July 18, 2011 -
KISS was used to preachers and religious groups protesting at their concerts by now, but the reason why the Westboro Baptist Church protested at the venue was absurd. The reason why they protested is because they were against Gene Simmons's Jewish ethnicity and his involvement with the 'NOH8 Campaign'. Gene opposed the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which banned same-sex marriage.
Pool Deck, Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship, Miami, FL, October 13, 2011
This was one of the first shows of the new brainchild from Gene and Paul, the KISS Kruise! You could enjoy being closer than ever to the band, it was very similar to the KISS convention shows in 1995 but on a cruise ship, with acoustic shows where rare songs would be played, a normal KISS show, Q&A's, guest artists and much more. Many fans during the cruise found a band member just hanging out and were lucky to have a chat with them! The KISS Kruise proved to be so incredibly popular, that they are still being held now at the moment of typing this in 2021!
KISS live with the Alive 35/Sonic Boom mixed stage