Supergroup KISS to sign off with epic Queensland shows

One of the world’s original supergroups will play their final Australian shows in Queensland in a major windfall for the state. FIND OUT WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN SEE THEM

Rock gods KISS will play their final Australian concerts in Queensland in a multimillion-dollar coup for the state’s besieged events industry.

KISS, one of rock and roll’s first supergroups, will play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on November 30 and Townsville’s new Queensland Country Bank Stadium on December 4, in a move expected to inject about $4.5 million into the state’s economy.

The Australian leg of the End of the Road Tour was originally scheduled for last November, until the pandemic lockdown forced a delay.

The rescheduled dates will mark only the second time the band have played a regional Queensland city, after performing in Mackay in 2013.

And they come 20 years after the Gold Coast’s then Carrara Stadium hosted the final global date of what was supposed to be the band’s Farewell Tour.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the concerts were a real coup for Queensland.

“Major events are vital when it comes to rebuilding our economy,” she said.

“These concerts will generate millions of dollars for local businesses and support local jobs which is exactly what we need in 2021.

“We’re only able to secure world class acts like this thanks to the way Queenslanders have managed our health response to COVID-19.

“While other jurisdictions continue to battle lockdowns and harsh restrictions, we’ve proven we’re able to deliver major events that will help to drive our economic recovery.”

KISS will farewell Aussie fans at blockbuster Queensland concerts later this year.

Geoff Jones, CEO of promoter TEG, said he was thrilled to bring Kiss to Townsville for the band’s final Australian show of their epic touring career.

“Thank you to the Queensland Government for their support in making this historic show happen,” he said.

“We hope to bring many more great live events to the people of Townsville soon.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the concerts would be a unique opportunity for fans to farewell the world-famous rockers.

“For Queenslanders of a certain vintage, KISS, with all the mythology around their trademark makeup, helped influence the music of a generation,” he said.

Taxpayers will help foot the bill for KISS to perform at Queensland’s stadiums, but the government is remaining tight-lipped about how much it will cost.

Mr Hinchliffe said the deal was commercial in confidence, but described it as a “modest investment”.

“These are things we know make a difference to the Queensland economy,” he said.

The Tourism Minister said hoped the venues would be at full capacity in November and December, and revealed “no special arrangements” were made with the state to allow KISS to skip quarantine.

Promoter Andrew McManus said Australia had become the “place to be” for international music acts for the way the nation has handled COVID-19, and tipped more big names would travel down under.