End of the Road World Tour


The End of the Road World Tour was the final concert tour by the American rock band Kiss. The tour began on January 31, 2019, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada and concluded on December 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, United States. This was the final concert tour to feature the final band lineup with founding members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, as well as Tommy Thayer on lead guitar and Eric Singer on drums.

Background

The tour was announced on September 19, 2018, following a performance of "Detroit Rock City" on America's Got Talent. Tour dates were officially announced for North America, Europe and Oceania on October 30, 2018. Professional painter David Garibaldi served as Kiss's opening act for the 2019 North American and European legs of the tour. David Lee Roth was later announced as the opening act for the 2020 North American leg. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the shows that were to take place in 2020 were postponed into 2021.
The band later announced on November 20, 2020 that they would perform an exclusive New Year's Eve 2020 livestream show. The Kiss New Year's Eve 2020 Goodbye livestream concert was produced by City Drive Studios and directed by Daniel Catullo. The pay-per-view concert was part of the Landmarks Live Series and was filmed with over fifty 4K cameras with 360-degree views on a 250-foot stage at The Royal Beach at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai. The performance broke two Guinness World Records: one for the highest flame projection in a music concert and another for the most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert. On June 11, 2021, following the premiere of the band's documentary Biography: Kisstory at the Tribeca Film Festival, the band performed a five-song set at Battery Park in New York City.
In an October 2021 interview, Stanley stated that Kiss' final concert together was estimated to take place in early 2023: "I believe strongly by the beginning of 2023 we will be finished, it seems only natural for the final show to be in New York. That is where the band started, and that was really the background for the band getting together and writing these songs and played loft parties and played clubs starting with an audience of probably 10 people. It seems we should go full circle." The band performed on board the 2022 edition of the Kiss Kruise in October to November 2022, which was their final time they would perform on the cruise.
In addition to adding another 100 cities on tour into 2023, Simmons stated that he would continue working with the American rock-inspired restaurant Rock & Brews, and performing with his solo band when the final tour had concluded. He later stated that the band was retiring out of self-respect and love for the fans and that he would be very emotional during the band's final performance which he presumed would take place around 2024, although the band's manager Doc McGhee insisted the band's final show would "definitely" take place in 2023. The band later confirmed the final leg of the tour on the Howard Stern Show on March 1, 2023, with the final show taking place in New York City on December 1 and 2, 2023, in which the second and final performance was streamed on Pay-per-view.
In preparation for the final performances in New York City, a number of various events in honor of the shows took place across a five day period, which included a lighting ceremony on the Empire State Building in honor of both the band's final two shows and its 50-year history, with colors of silver that represented the band logo, and the colors of red, purple, green and blue to honor the band characters. At the end of the final show in New York City, the band announced a "new era" for Kiss, in which they would live on as digital avatars for fully virtual stage show performances, which was created by Industrial Light and Magic and Pophouse, who had previously created ABBA's similar ABBAtar digital presentation.
In the tour program for the final tour, both Stanley and Simmons commented on the tour:

Reception

Vancouver Sun's Stuart Derdeyn, who had attended the tour's opening night in Vancouver, Canada, gave the show a positive review, stating: "After being treated to an opening trio of tunes that included "Detroit Rock City", "Shout It Out Loud" and "Deuce" embellish with as much pyrotechnics as other bands might use for an entire show, the crowd at the opening night of the Kiss 'End of the Road' world tour was right in the sweet spot that the New York City quartet has always been able to get them into."
Chris Jordan from the Asbury Park Press who had attended the Madison Square Garden performance on March 27, 2019, gave the concert a positive review. He noted the large amount of energy that the band had, as well as praising the amount of explosions, fire breathing and elevated risers. The reporter closed the review, stating: "By the time the band got to 'Rock and Roll All Nite', with a burst of confetti to close the show, it was apparent. You were rocked."
Nikki O'Neill from the Chicago Tribune who had attended the performance in Chicago, stated: "Saturday's show was delivered by a musically tight and drama-free band. Original member Paul Stanley especially seemed to have fun on stage, often letting a smile crack through his "Starchild" makeup, addressing the crowd in his unmistakable stage voice, which best can be described as a mix of Southern rock 'n' roll preacher and fired up drag queen. Although the show is super-scripted - because of the ample pyrotechnics, the band would argue - there's not a moment of dullness or dead air as Kiss gave the audience a live summary of its career, with 20 songs representing the classic '70s era and the makeup-free '80s, performing only one song from the '90s and one from 2009 with the current lineup."

Backing track accusations

During the first leg of the tour, the band, and particularly Stanley, were initially accused by fans of lip syncing and using backing tracks during their performances. In response to the accusations, Stanley did not confirm nor deny that he lip syncs on stage, saying he is taking care of his voice. Accusations were revived following the band's Belgium performance when a slip-up with the fireworks and drum cues occurred at the end of the opening song, "Detroit Rock City". McGhee later confirmed that Stanley did sing fully. He denied that Stanley was lip syncing, but stated that he will sing to tracks.

Opening acts

Set list

This set list is representative of the show in Vancouver on January 31, 2019. It does not represent all of the concerts for the duration of the tour.
  1. "Detroit Rock City"
  2. "Shout It Out Loud"
  3. "Deuce"
  4. "Say Yeah"
  5. "Heaven's on Fire"
  6. "War Machine"
  7. "Lick It Up"
  8. "100,000 Years"
  9. "God of Thunder"
  10. "Cold Gin"
  11. "Psycho Circus"
  12. "I Love It Loud"
  13. "Hide Your Heart"
  14. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"
  15. "Love Gun"
  16. "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
  17. "Black Diamond"
  18. ;Encore
  19. "Beth"
  20. "Do You Love Me"
  21. "Rock and Roll All Nite"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenue
February 1, 2020ManchesterUnited StatesSNHU Arena6,712 / 6,712 $791,430
February 4, 2020AllentownUnited StatesPPL Center6,674 / 6,674 $712,645
February 5, 2020BuffaloUnited StatesKeyBank Center6,026 / 6,026 $560,281
February 7, 2020CharlottesvilleUnited StatesJohn Paul Jones Arena6,103 / 6,103 $621,597
February 8, 2020GreensboroUnited StatesGreensboro Coliseum9,230 / 9,230 $895,713
February 11, 2020ColumbiaUnited StatesColonial Life Arena7,278 / 7,278 $732,869
February 13, 2020LexingtonUnited StatesRupp Arena at Central Bank Center7,256 / 7,256 $815,555
February 15, 2020PeoriaUnited StatesPeoria Civic Center7,414 / 7,414 $883,227
February 16, 2020Fort WayneUnited StatesAllen County War Memorial Coliseum7,403 / 7,403 $896,292
February 18, 2020SpringfieldUnited StatesJQH Arena5,399 / 5,399 $508,618
February 19, 2020WichitaUnited StatesIntrust Bank Arena5,847 / 5,847 $525,987
February 21, 2020Sioux CityUnited StatesTyson Events Center4,117 / 10,100 $360,182
February 22, 2020Grand ForksUnited StatesAlerus Center7,812 / 7,812 $634,003
February 24, 2020St. PaulUnited StatesXcel Energy Center8,207 / 8,207 $729,012
February 25, 2020LincolnUnited StatesPinnacle Bank Arena5,323 / 15,700 $465,690
February 29, 2020LaughlinUnited StatesLaughlin Events Center——
March 2, 2020BakersfieldUnited StatesMechanics Bank Arena——
March 4, 2020Los AngelesUnited StatesStaples Center11,900 / 12,262 $1,228,013
March 6, 2020OaklandUnited StatesOakland Arena——
March 9, 2020El PasoUnited StatesDon Haskins Center——
March 10, 2020LubbockUnited StatesUnited Supermarkets Arena——

DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenue
August 18, 2021MansfieldUnited StatesXfinity Center11,090 / 18,955 $873,860
August 19, 2021BangorUnited StatesDarling's Waterfront Pavilion8,186 / 11,364 $656,640
August 21, 2021Atlantic CityUnited StatesHard Rock Live at Etess Arena4,794 / 4,805 $858,360
August 25, 2021ToledoUnited StatesHuntington Center5,118 / 5,934 $616,488
September 9, 2021IrvineUnited StatesFivePoint Amphitheatre——
September 10, 2021Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre——
September 12, 2021WheatlandUnited StatesToyota Amphitheatre——
September 17, 2021RidgefieldUnited StatesRV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater——
September 18, 2021GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre——
September 22, 2021West Valley CityUnited StatesUSANA Amphitheatre16,813 / 18,304 $1,044,879
September 23, 2021SparksUnited StatesNugget Event Center——
September 25, 2021Chula VistaUnited StatesNorth Island Credit Union Amphitheatre——
September 26, 2021PhoenixUnited StatesAk-Chin Pavilion——
September 28, 2021HidalgoUnited StatesPayne Arena——
September 29, 2021Del ValleUnited StatesGermania Insurance Amphitheater8,146 / 11,881 $754,494
October 1, 2021Fort WorthUnited StatesDickies Arena9,658 / 9,937 $1,251,573
October 2, 2021TulsaUnited StatesBOK Center——
October 5, 2021BiloxiUnited StatesMississippi Coast Coliseum——
October 6, 2021LafayetteUnited StatesCajundome6,731 / 8,363 $582,185
October 9, 2021TampaUnited StatesMidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre——
October 10, 2021AtlantaUnited StatesCellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood9,453 / 17,742 $771,513
October 13, 2021BurgettstownUnited StatesThe Pavilion at Star Lake——
October 15, 2021ClarkstonUnited StatesDTE Energy Music Theatre11,006 / 11,147 $948,265
October 16, 2021Tinley ParkUnited StatesHollywood Casino Amphitheatre12,150 / 24,348 $941,371

DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenue
April 19, 2022SantiagoChileMovistar Arena27,092 / 30,152 $2,411,511
April 20, 2022-----
April 23, 2022Buenos AiresArgentinaCampo Argentino de Polo——
April 26, 2022Porto AlegreBrazilArena do Grêmio16,735 / 20,000 $1,160,643
April 28, 2022CuritibaBrazilPedreira Paulo Leminski18,188 / 20,500 $1,292,931
April 30, 2022São PauloBrazilAllianz Parque45,517 / 46,318 $3,502,480
May 1, 2022Ribeirão PretoBrazilArena Eurobike21,325 / 21,325 $1,412,831
May 4, 2022LimaPeruArena 1 Costa Verde13,096 / 15,000 $1,242,425
May 7, 2022BogotáColombiaMovistar Arena11,711 / 11,711 $1,126,543
May 11, 2022MilwaukeeUnited StatesAmerican Family Insurance Amphitheater——
May 12, 2022FairbornUnited StatesNutter Center——
May 14, 2022HartfordUnited StatesXfinity Theatre——
May 17, 2022RaleighUnited StatesCoastal Credit Union Music Park——
May 19, 2022Daytona BeachUnited StatesDaytona International Speedway
June 1, 2022DortmundGermanyWestfalenhallen——
June 3, 2022ŁódźPolandAtlas Arena——
June 6, 2022AntwerpBelgiumSportpaleis——
June 7, 2022ParisFranceAccor Arena——
June 10, 2022DoningtonEnglandDonington Park
June 13, 2022HamburgGermanyBarclaycard Arena——
June 16, 2022CopenhagenDenmarkRefshaleøen
June 18, 2022StockholmSwedenTele2 Arena——
June 20, 2022HelsinkiFinlandHelsinki Ice Hall——
June 22, 2022GothenburgSwedenScandinavium——
June 24, 2022FrankfurtGermanyFesthalle Frankfurt——
June 26, 2022ViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle——
June 28, 2022StuttgartGermanyHanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle——
July 2, 2022Santa Coloma de GramenetSpainParc de Can Zam
July 3, 2022MadridSpainWiZink Center——
July 5, 2022NîmesFranceArena of Nîmes
July 7, 2022ZurichSwitzerlandHallenstadion——
July 9, 2022ZagrebCroatiaZagreb Arena——
July 11, 2022VeronaItalyArena di Verona——
July 13, 2022PragueCzech RepublicO2 Arena——
July 14, 2022BudapestHungaryPapp László Budapest Sportaréna——
July 16, 2022BucharestRomaniaRomexpo——
July 19, 2022NyonSwitzerlandPlaine de l'Asse
July 21, 2022AmsterdamNetherlandsZiggo Dome——
August 20, 2022MelbourneAustraliaRod Laver Arena——
August 21, 2022MelbourneAustraliaRod Laver Arena——
August 23, 2022MelbourneAustraliaRod Laver Arena——
August 26, 2022SydneyAustraliaQudos Bank Arena——
August 27, 2022SydneyAustraliaQudos Bank Arena——
August 30, 2022AdelaideAustraliaAdelaide Entertainment Centre——
September 2, 2022PerthAustraliaRAC Arena——
September 6, 2022BrisbaneAustraliaBrisbane Entertainment Centre——
September 10, 2022Gold CoastAustraliaCbus Super Stadium——
September 21, 2022West Palm BeachUnited StatesiTHINK Financial Amphitheatre——
September 24, 2022LouisvilleUnited StatesHighland Festival Groundsrowspan="2" rowspan="2"
October 7, 2022SacramentoUnited StatesDiscovery Park--
November 30, 2022TokyoJapanTokyo Dome——
December 4, 2022TolucaMexicoForo Pegaso

DateCityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenue
April 12, 2023ManausBrazilArena da Amazônia——
April 15, 2023BogotáColombiaEstadio El Campín
April 18, 2023BrasíliaBrazilEstádio Nacional Mané Garrincha——
April 20, 2023Belo HorizonteBrazilMineirão——
April 22, 2023São PauloBrazilAllianz Parque
April 25, 2023FlorianópolisBrazilArena Petry——
April 28, 2023Buenos AiresArgentinaParque de la Ciudadrowspan="2" rowspan="2"
April 30, 2023SantiagoChileEstadio Santa Laura-Universidad Sek--
May 27, 2023ColumbusUnited StatesHistoric Crew Stadium
June 5, 2023BirminghamEnglandResorts World Arena——
June 6, 2023Newcastle upon TyneEnglandUtilita Arena——
June 10, 2023PragueCzech RepublicO2 Arena——
June 12, 2023AmsterdamNetherlandsZiggo Dome——
June 13, 2023BrusselsBelgiumPalais 12——
June 15, 2023ClissonFranceVal de Moine
June 17, 2023MunichGermanyKönigsplatz——
June 19, 2023KrakówPolandTauron Arena——
June 21, 2023DresdenGermanyMessehalle——
June 22, 2023BerlinGermanyMax-Schmeling-Halle——
June 25, 2023CartagenaSpainParque el Batel
June 27, 2023LyonFranceHalle Tony Garnier——
June 29, 2023LuccaItalyPiazza Napoleone
July 1, 2023MannheimGermanySAP Arena——
July 2, 2023CologneGermanyLanxess Arena——
July 5, 2023LondonEnglandThe O2 Arena——
July 7, 2023ManchesterEnglandAO Arena——
July 8, 2023GlasgowScotlandOVO Hydro——
July 12, 2023RättvikSwedenDalhalla——
July 13, 2023RättvikSwedenDalhalla——
July 15, 2023TønsbergNorwayKaldnes Vest——
September 1, 2023CrandonUnited StatesCrandon International Raceway——
October 7, 2023SydneyAustraliaAccor Stadium——
October 19, 2023CincinnatiUnited StatesHeritage Bank Arena——
October 20, 2023DetroitUnited StatesLittle Caesars Arena——
October 22, 2023ClevelandUnited StatesRocket Mortgage FieldHouse——
October 23, 2023NashvilleUnited StatesBridgestone Arena——
October 25, 2023St. LouisUnited StatesEnterprise Center——
October 27, 2023Fort WorthUnited StatesDickies Arena——
October 29, 2023AustinUnited StatesMoody Center——
November 1, 2023Thousand PalmsUnited StatesAcrisure Arena——
November 3, 2023Los AngelesUnited StatesHollywood Bowl——
November 6, 2023SeattleUnited StatesClimate Pledge Arena——
November 8, 2023VancouverCanadaRogers Arena——
November 10, 2023EdmontonCanadaRogers Place——
November 12, 2023CalgaryCanadaScotiabank Saddledome——
November 13, 2023SaskatoonCanadaSaskTel Centre——
November 15, 2023WinnipegCanadaCanada Life Centre——
November 18, 2023MontrealCanadaCentre Bell——
November 19, 2023Quebec CityCanadaVideotron Centre——
November 25, 2023IndianapolisUnited StatesGainbridge Fieldhouse——
November 27, 2023RosemontUnited StatesAllstate Arena——
November 29, 2023BaltimoreUnited StatesCFG Bank Arena——
December 1, 2023New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square Garden——
December 2, 2023New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square Garden——

  • At this show, the band performed for 45 minutes until a storm resulted in them stopping the rest of the show.
  • For this show, the band and the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to Gene Simmons, as he turned 70 the following day.
  • The band and the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to the band's manager Doc McGhee who turned 69.
  • Yoshiki made an appearance to perform "Beth" and "Rock and Roll All Nite" with the band.
  • Yoshiki joined the band again for this show.
  • There was no opening act for this show, as David Lee Roth's Las Vegas residency legally prevented him from performing elsewhere in Nevada.
  • The band dedicated "Do You Love Me" to Kobe Bryant and the victims of the 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash at this show.
  • Simmons celebrated his birthday at this show with the band and audience singing "Happy Birthday", as he had turned 72.
  • At this show, Simmons' platform malfunctioned during the opening song, tilting to one side. Simmons was able to maintain his balance until his platform was carefully lowered while the band performed an extended introduction.
  • On the first of two performances in Sydney, Simmons celebrated his birthday with the band and audience singing "Happy Birthday" while being given a cake by the band's manager McGhee, as he turned 73 the day before.
  • Kiss' final Japan performance.
  • Kiss' final Mexico performance.
  • Simmons performed part of the set in a chair, following the performance being paused when he felt unwell due to the high temperatures.
  • Kiss' final South American performance.
  • Kiss' final Europe performance.
  • Kiss' final Australia performance.
  • Kiss' final Canada performance.
  • Kiss' final performance.

Personnel

Kiss

Guest appearances

  • Yoshiki – piano on "Beth", drums on "Rock and Roll All Nite"