Paul Stanley insists the final KISS tour is the "end" of the band.
The 66-year-old singer-and-guitarist admits that though they previously went out on a farewell tour in 2000, the forthcoming shows will be their last shows ever as they feel the time has come to draw a close to their career spanning more than four decades.
Paul told Rolling Stone: "Let’s put it into perspective and try to at least get a sense of what’s different.
"The farewell tour took place 19 years ago.
"The farewell tour was at the end of the time that we had brought back the two original members [guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss] and it was such drudgery and so difficult and so unhappy that it just seemed like ‘let’s put the horse down.’
"And after the tour was over, it didn’t take me very long to realise I didn’t want to say goodbye to the band; I wanted to say goodbye to two members.
"So that was the differences.
"We’ve had 19 years of the band. The band has never been better, happier … But with all that in mind, it’s time to think about an end."
The dates for the ‘Crazy Nights’ hitmaker’s upcoming ‘End of the Road World Tour’ are yet to be announced, but they claim the run of gigs will be the "most explosive, biggest shows we’ve ever done".
They said: "This is going to be our last tour.
"It will be the most explosive, biggest shows we’ve ever done. People who love us, come to see us. If you’ve never seen us, this is the time. This will be the show."
They added in a statement on their website: "All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years.
"This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t.
"KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable. (sic)"
KISS – completed by Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer – were all set on bowing out at the end of the 2000/2001 tour, and while they made a comeback, it proved to be the last time they performed with fellow original members Ace and Peter.
Gene said at the time: "There just aren’t any more mountains to climb. We want to go out in style with the people that put us here, the fans."
Paul Stanley: This is the end for KISS
