Kiss bring farewell tour back to Australia in 2021, and Paul Stanley is ready to quarantine

Kiss’ Paul Stanley has had his COVID vaccine, and revealed how the band will tour Australia — even with border restrictions.

KISS’ Paul Stanley is prepared to quarantine for Kiss to get into Australia for their farewell tour in November.

The iconic US rockers announced their farewell tour, originally cancelled in 2019, is now back on for 2021.

They will play RAC Arena Perth on November 14, Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 17, Rod Laver Arena on November 20 and 21, Qudos Bank Arena on November 26, Brisbane Entertainment Centre on November 30 and Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on December 4.

Fanclub members can buy tickets from 3pm today, a Telstra presale starts 10am Tuesday and the general onsale is midday Friday March 5.

US rockers Kiss will finally bring their farewell tour to Australia in 2021. Pic: Supplied

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Paul Stanley told News Corp of salvaging the tour. 

“It really was the eleventh hour when we cancelled in 2019. I was waiting to get the green light from the doctor that I could go and it was devastating at that last minute to have to pull the plug.

“To now have this opportunity to come back to your shores, we are feeling so jubilant. The States have been decimated by COVID and pandemic as opposed to what Australia has managed to do so brilliantly and contained it. I only wish we had handled it half as well as you have. I don’t think it’s any secret of our love of Australia, this is something we’ve been waiting for.”

Stanley, 69, recently had his second dose of the COVID vaccine, which he posted on Twitter.

Kiss played a show in Dubai for New Year’s Eve, which involved a short hotel quarantine period and regular COVID test for band and crew – they performed to no audience, with the gig live streamed around the world.

KISS had to put their farewell world tour on hold last March. Picture: Jay Gilbert

However Stanley said if Australia’s 14 day quarantine period for international visitors is still in place in November, he will have no problem being locked down down under.

“Oh absolutely I’d do it. It wouldn’t be a problem, it’d be an honour to do whatever is called for. Not just because it’s the rules and the law, you do it out of respect. I certainly wouldn’t want to endanger anyone else and whatever the protocol is, and whatever the requirements are, we will meet them.”

The band’s farewell tour was derailed last March once COVID shut down the live music industry. It was originally due to finish in New York in June this year.

The rescheduled dates mean Kiss are meant to play to audiences in stadiums across the US, UK and Europe starting in Belgium in June and ending in Argentina in October before heading to Australia.

With the state of the world, Stanley is realistic about any of those international tour dates taking place.

KISS’ Gene Simmons is headed back to Australia. You’ve been warned. Picture: Jay Gilbert

“I don’t want to be a pessimist, but I believe the chances of that happening are slim and none. I believe bands will put shows up and they will at some point be taken down and postponed. With promoters not being able to get insurance, that ends it right there. When states or cities or countries have their own requirements or restrictions, the chances of music being on a large scale anytime in the foreseeable future is a fantasy.”

It means Kiss’ Australian tour could be their first shows for 2021.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case, and I couldn’t be more thrilled if that’s the case. Our love for Australia is no secret. I don’t even think the Aussies know how awesome their country is.”

Australian Kiss fans will find that COVID has changed how the usual meet and greet will look, with social distancing set to rule out the usual photo opportunities. 

“The format will be changed, but we have every plan to do meet and greets of one sort or another,” Stanley said.

“We already have it pretty much planned out. Even if it’s not quite the same as what we’ve done before it’s going to be terrific.”

Kiss are one of a handful of international rock bands to be announced for Australian tours in 2021.

Guns N’Roses will tour stadiums in November, while Under the Southern Stars is planning to bring US bands Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots for Australian shows in April and May this year.

Full Paul Stanley interview coming in SMARTDaily on Wednesday.

Originally published as Kiss bring farewell tour back to Australia in 2021, and Paul Stanley is ready to quarantine