​KISSworld Tour - 2017 - '18
Start Date: February 24, 2017
End Date:July 14, 2018
Shows: 44
Legs: 4
Countries: Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, United States
Opening Acts: Heavy Tiger, Pretty Maids, Mago de Oz, Megadeth, RavenEye, The Dives.
Average Attendance: 9,365
Line Up: Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer
After the "Creatures Of The Night" costumes were used for the KISS KRUISE IV show, the band decided to keep on using them for their upcoming KISSworld tour that was set to start on February 24, 2017. Five legs for the tour were planned through North America, Europe, North America again, and Europe once again.
KISS World has been talked about since the late 70's, first as a amusement park as the KISS company had taken notice more kids were into KISS in 1978 - '79, so a KISS themed amusement park seemed a good idea. Gene Simmons eventually expended the idea and wanted to turn it into a KISS themed traveling amusement park where before the show, children and their families could entertain themselves. But seeing the economy started to dwindle in 1979, ticket sales were down and so went their mainstream fame. The idea was put on ice. In 1998, the KISS World idea was kinda turned to a realization, before the October 31, 1998, Dodger Stadium show, a circus style show was performed with all kind of circus acts. These circus performers were to perform before every show during the Psycho Circus tour, but they could not come to a agreement with KISS's management and only performed before the Dodger Stadium Halloween show. In 2015 KISS World would became a animated KISS theme park in the animated movie "Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery."
The oddest part in this tour was, is that they returned to the Creatures era with the costumes, but not a single additional song was added from the "Creatures Of The Night" album. Only the ever played 'I Love It Loud' and 'War Machine'. Even weirder was how 'Say Yeah' returned in the set list even though they knew the audience would use songs from the last two albums as a bathroom break. 'Beth' was also dropped from the setlist, making Eric Singer's only vocal contribution to the show 'Black Diamond'.
"You've heard people getting ready for a game like a football player how they get themselves amped up. That's kind of what we do. Sometimes people will be very quiet and focus and keep to themselves but most of the time I'm jumping around and acting crazy." – Eric Singer
The KISSworld Tour Stage
The show was almost identical to the previous two tours, but some changes were made to the stage:
The KISSworld Tour Stage:
Riser Table- The riser table was now placed to the front center of the stage but no more fire was used below it as it was closer to the audience. It was also no longer used for the opening of the show but still during the Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again' section during 'Lick It Up' and for the end of 'Black Diamond'.
Lighting Rig Platform- The lighting rig platform returned this tour to be used at the start of the show to descend down to the stage. Gene also used the platform when he flew to the lighting rig after spitting blood.
Drum Riser - Just like during the Farewell Tour, the drum riser was no longer a real drum riser but was hooked to the lighting rig and would go up with the help of motors.
Lighting Rig Video Screens - The lighting rig video screens that flowed up in the lighting rig were now replaced with several smaller video screens who were now placed horizontally.
Video screens - More video screens were placed in front of Eric's drum riser and left and right of him surrounded by square lighting trusses.
KISS Army Banners -The KISS Army banners once again were flat against the back of the stage/venue, (except for festivals as their staging did not allow this) this created a far more open stage, so a small hanging square lighting rig tower was added in front of them that kinda made you think of the pylon lighting rig towers from the Destroyer Tour. As the KISS road crew now was more visible with the more open stage, two black tents resembling black squares left and right of the stage were added so they were still out sight.
Paul's Guitars - It seemed Paul Stanley liked having a patriotic guitar during the 'Freedom To Rock' tour so much, that during the European leg of the tour, he would have a guitar painted with a flag from the country they would be playing in! These guitars could be purchased and came with a Meet & Greet experience, it would only cost you about 10.500 dollars!
Flamethrowers - The four directional flamethrowers were now completely replaced with normal flamethrowers.
Fire Engine Siren/Lights -As 'Firehouse' was now back on the setlist, the fire engine lights returned, but only digitally on the video screens and flat horizontal stage lights simulated fire engine lights as well.
Lighting Rig Riser Cranes - The riser cranes no longer were part of the stage but now connected to the lighting rig! This meant that Tommy and Gene could go higher and further over the crowd than ever before! To make sure the cranes would blend in with the lighting rig, they were even fitted with lights!
Paul's New Mini Stage - Paul's platform in the crowd, now had received a upgrade, as it now had a riser and it would spin around again!
Production designs of the 2017 KISSworld stage
Stage Props:
Pre-Show "hum"
Fire Engine Siren
Digital Fire Engine Lights
Giant KISS Logo Curtain Before Show
Video Screens
Video Lighting Rig Screens
Lighting Rig Platform
Gene Spitting Blood
Gene Breathing Fire
Flash Pots
Gene Flying
Paul Flying
Tommy's Guitar Solo
Tommy's Shooting Rocket Guitar
Eric's LED Light Drum Kit
Paul's Patriotic Guitars
Lighting Rig Riser Cranes
Riser Table
Dry Ice Smoke
KISS Army Banners
Flamethrowers
Laser Show
Bombs
Fireworks
Pyrotechnics
Drum Riser
Flamethrowers
Confetti
Paul Smashing Guitar
Tommy Thayer during his guitar solo in London.
Typical Setlist:
01.'Deuce'
02. 'Love Gun'
03. 'Shout It Out Loud'
04. 'I Love It Loud'
05. 'Crazy Crazy Nights'
06. 'Firehouse'
08. 'Cold Gin'
09. 'Shock Me'
10. 'War Machine'
11. 'Say Yeah'
12. 'Hide Your Heart'
13. 'Psycho Circus'
14. 'Creatures Of The Night'
15. 'Black Diamond'
Encore:
16. 'Detroit Rock City'
17. 'I Was Made For Lovin' You'
Tour Book:
The KISSworld Tour Book
Special Shows / Happenings:
- CASA Arena Horsens, Horsens, Denmark, May 9, 2017 -
As Gene was under the weather, the setlist was cut short with two songs.
- Manchester Arena, Manchester, England, May 30, 2017 -
The show was cancelled as the venue was closed after the May 22, 2017 terrorist attack during the Ariana Grande concert.
- Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater, Hinckley, MN, July 15, 2017 -
For unknown reasons, the show was delayed for as long as 10:30 p.m.
- Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land, TX, September 26, 2017 -
During 'Rock And Roll All Nite' students from Kingwood High joined the band onstage to get attention for a fundraising campaign
so they could replace the school band's musical instruments and theater instruments that were destroyed during Hurricane Harvey's flooding.
Stardust Theater, Norwegian Pearl @ Sea, November 7, 2017
The KISS Navy sets sail for KISS Kruise VII! The band played some rare songs, including debuting or the first time were 'Tomorrow And Tonight', and 'Hot And Cold'. Also rare songs like 'Sweet Pain' and 'Is That You?' were performed for the first time in many decades. And for the first time since 1981, KISS performed a full version of 'I' live!
KISS live on the KISSworld tour stage