There must be a lot of money in farewell tours, because KISS are considering cashing in. In the last few months, we've heard everybody from Ozzy Osbourne to Slayer to Elton John announce farewell tours, and these tours bring with them really high ticket prices. KISS' wallets were burning so now they are considering calling it a day.
Blabbermouth picked up on the following trademark filing that might hint at a final tour:
“On February 8, Kiss Catalog Ltd., the owner of the intellectual property rights pertaining to the legendary rock group KISS, filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the word mark ‘The End Of The Road.’ If granted, the registration will protect the use of the standard character mark of ‘The End Of The Road’ for entertainment services, specifically ‘live performances by a musical band.’
“Word of the application has led to speculation among KISS fans that the band could be preparing to embark on its final tour.”
KISS attempted to do a farewell tour in 2000, when they were looking to end their relationship with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, until they realized they can just buy the rights to the characters and do the show without them. Both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have been teasing the end is closer than ever.
In past interviews, Stanley has alluded to the idea that KISS would continue with all new musicians taking on the characters they created, while Stanley and Simmons retire.
"Once the original [KISS lineup] was no more, it just became clear to us that, in some ways, we're much more a sports team. We don't fall into the limitations of other bands, because we're not other bands. So, yeah, at some point, I'd love to see somebody in the band in my place, and it's because I love the band."
Last month, Stanley said that he wasn't sure "about the idea of KISS coming to an end. We've built something that's so iconic, and I think it transcends any of the members so I can certainly see me not being there, seriously." He also spoke about his reasons for wanting to spend less time on the road. "I don't want to go leave home," he said. "I have a family and I have children and, honestly, I think my primary responsibility is to be a dad, and I don't want to miss out on that. And certainly, as we got older, we know that life is finite and I pick and choose what I want to do at this point."
