Rock Icons KISS Start Their 2010 North American Tour, The Hottest Show on Earth, With Record-Breaking Ticket and Merchandise Sales

LOS ANGELES, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Planning to see rock icons KISS (www.KISSonline.com) this summer during their 2010 North American tour, The Hottest Show on Earth?  Plan on buying tickets in advance.  This weekend, the legendary rockers started their 32-city tour with record-breaking crowds in Cheyenne, WY, and Minot (Bismarck area), ND.  KISS is also the first rock act to completely sellout the grandstands in Minot (more than 15,000 people), they broke Taylor Swift's 2009 gross merchandise sales record in both cities and KISS gave back by donating more than $30,000 from their ticket sales to Wounded Warrior Care Project, a non-profit veterans organization.

"We know that times are tough for The KISS Army of fans and that's why we're giving back," said KISS bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons.  "We're committed to giving our fans the biggest, baddest, most over-the-top show for their hard-earned money."

"While we give our fans the greatest show ever, we also want to help guarantee that our country's brave men and women who return from fighting overseas receive the medical care that they have sacrificed for and is owed to them. While our government is tied up in bureaucracy, the KISS Army has taken up the cause. We're donating $1 from every ticket sold, to the Wounded Warrior Care Project," added KISS rhythm guitarist and co-founder Paul Stanley.

Throughout their 37-year career, KISS has sold 80 million albums, played for millions of people and become an integral part of American culture.  KISS will perform such classics as "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Nite" as well as hits that they haven't played in the US in years.

The Hottest Show on Earth tour, produced by Live Nation, will trek through a mix of arenas and amphitheaters throughout North America.  Tickets for shows produced by Live Nation are now on sale and, in order to help fans in a tough economy, the band is offering a special ticket promotion.  For Live Nation amphitheatres that have a lawn, up to four kids aged fourteen or under can get in free with the purchase of one adult ticket. **

There is no other band in the vast history of rock music that has mesmerized generations of music fans in the same way as this revolutionary and iconic quartet that continues to acquire generations of new fans year after year. 

For complete ticket and tour information visit www.KISSonline.com and www.LiveNation.com.

About KISS

KISS, the legendary American rock band formed in New York City in 1972, is one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS is one of America's top gold-record champions who recorded 37 albums over 36 years and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Over thirty years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, most recently, the 2009 finale of American Idol that boasted 30 million viewers.

The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with their fans. In 2009, KISS was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sonic Boom, KISS' first album in 11 years and produced by Paul Stanley, is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club.   For additional information about KISS, visit www.KISSonline.com.

**Kids under 14 get in free on the lawn with the purchase of an adult lawn ticket. Up to four children per valid adult (21 and over) lawn ticket. Valid for Live Nation amphitheatres with lawns only. Subject to availability and capacity restrictions.

SOURCE LCO Communications