Townsville stop for Kiss’ End of the Road final tour canned
In a devastating blow for North Queensland music fans, it has been confirmed the veteran US rock band KISS will no longer perform in Townsville during their September farewell tour. See where the show is being moved to.
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UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 6AM: In a devastating blow for North Queensland music fans, it has been confirmed the veteran US rock band KISS will no longer perform in Townsville during their September farewell tour.
Due to a scheduling clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium where the North Queensland Cowboys are on track to host a home NRL final, the decision was made to shift the highly-anticipated concert to the Gold Coast.
The surprising news, which was first leaked to the Townsville Bulletin on Tuesday morning, was confirmed by KISS’s Gold Coast-based promoter Andrew McManus later that day.
Mr McManus was expected to officially confirm the news on Wednesday morning that the iconic band would now play their last-ever Australian show at CBus Super Stadium at Robina on September 10.
He said the success of the Cowboys NRL side had forced the decision as the team would either have a playoffs game at North Queensland Stadium on September 10 or September 17.
It is believed KISS were offered Reid Park as an alternative site, but promoters have ruled out that concert.
Gold Coast-based Kiss promoter Andrew McManus exclusively confirmed the relocation ahead of a public announcement on Wednesday morning.
He said the Cowboys’ success so far this season had forced the decision as the team would either have a playoffs game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on September 10 or September 17.
Even if the Cowboys had a September 17 playoff game at home, he had to move the September 10 concert, he said.
“By the time I chop up the field with the stage and everything, the NRL won’t allow it,’’ he said.
“We have to congratulate the Cowboys on their success but I have to shift the last ever show by KISS on Australian soil out of Townsville to CBus on the Gold Coast.”
Mr McManus said he would refund all Townsville show ticketholders. Tickets for the new Gold Coast show - with a capacity for 15,000 fans - would go on sale next week.
There would be no transfers allowed for Townsville’s KISS ticket holders, he said, adding: “It’s a brand new pre-sale, a brand new arena.”
The Townsville Bulletin understands the Cowboys tried to work with KISS promoters on alternative dates if a potential Cowboys home final clash would eventuate, which did not seem likely at the start of the season.
Gold Coast KISS tickets will start at $95. Support acts are Australian rockers Wolfmother and Tumbleweed.
KISS, one of the biggest selling rock bands of all time with more than 100 million album sales, will finish their final ever tour with shows in the US after the Australia concert leg.
Original 1973 founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are still playing with the band, famed for their elaborate costumes, face paint and shocking stage antics.
BREAKING: Rock icons KISS have been forced to abandon their plans to bring their End of the Road world tour to Townsville.
The hotly anticipated tour, which began in January 2019 before being postponed and delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, was delayed until August and September of 2022.
Townsville was eventually booked in to host the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers’ final show at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on September 10, but the Townsville Bulletin now understands the show has been cancelled entirely because of a booking clash with stadium anchor tennants the North Queensland Cowboys.
The Townsville Bulletin understands the Cowboys tried to work with KISS promoters on alternative dates if a potential Cowboys home final clash would eventuate, which did not seem likely at the start of the season.
The Cowboys currently sit second on the NRL ladder and a home final now seems assured.
It is believed KISS were offered Reid Park as an alternative site, but a Townsville concert is now all but ruled out.
There is yet to be an official announcement, and it’s not been revealed what will happen to ticketholders for the show, with tickets still being sold via Ticketek as of this morning.
The Rock stars behind hits like ‘I was made for loving you’ and ‘God gave rock and roll to you’, Kiss, originally fronted by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, were set to close out their careers with their current tour.
More information to come.
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