There are more amazing O2 photos like these over on our Facebook page. Big thank you to Nige Adie for letting us use them!
https://www.facebook.com/kissinuk/posts/1282562411863897

Here's another couple of Birmingham photos from a fellow KISS fan & colleague of mine Eric Gibbon. Eric has a long history of attending KISS shows starting with Bingley Hall in 1980!

Last night was another Crazy Crazy Night in Birmingham, this the 2nd show on the UK leg of the KISSWORLD tour. The Dives were the openers (featuring Paul's son Evan), and while they were playing I was busy with a great surprise for a young fan but more on that later. It's great to see Deuce is back as the opener, in my opinion there is no better song to open a KISS show (sorry DRC..). Another highlight for me was hearing Flaming Youth live for the first time ever, featuring a nice round-up of photos from the 70's and early 80's.

There's a great (positive!) review over on the Birmingham Mail site along with a video of some short fan interviews.

There's some photos below (first 3 from me and the great close-ups from Rik Byatt) and also a copy of the setlist.

Set list:
Deuce
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
I Love It Loud
Firehouse
Shock Me
Flaming Youth
God of Thunder
Crazy Crazy Nights
War Machine
Say Yeah
Psycho Circus
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Nite
I Was Made for Lovin’ You
Detroit Rock City

Photo by Rik Byatt

Photo by Rik Byatt

Photo by Rik Byatt

Photo by Rik Byatt

Photo by Rik Byatt

From Manchester Arena:

Tommy Thayer has cancelled his Glasgow GuitarGuitar appearance on Friday 26th due to a change in travel plans. The London appearance is still going ahead.

Full article can be read here.

Lots of respect for this picture from the Frankfurt show tonight. If anyone knows who took it please let me know so I can credit them (possibly by Jens Maier).

Ralph Stranger on Twitter has also posted the following video:

Silence!
We stand with #Manchester#Kiss #Frankfurt #Festhalle pic.twitter.com/yvEmUSiJND

— Ralph Stanger (@RalphStanger) May 23, 2017

Hard Rock Café in Glasgow are having a free warm up party on the 27th May, you can get your tickets over on their website!

There's a new greatest hits compilation coming our way on June 2nd - KISSWorld The Best Of KISS.

1. Crazy Crazy Nights
2. Rock And Roll All Nite
3. I Was Made For Lovin' You
4. God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II
5. Detroit Rock City
6. Beth
7. Lick It Up
8. Heaven's On Fire
9. Tears Are Falling
10. Unholy
11. Hard Luck Woman
12. Psycho Circus
13. Shout It Out Loud
14. Calling Dr. Love
15. Christine Sixteen
16. Love Gun
17. Shandi
18. I'm A Legend Tonight
19. Modern Day Delilah
20. Hell Or Hallelujah

The Water Rats, London
Monday 29th May 2017

KISS UK Tour Support May 2017

With the four members of USA act The Dives hailing from both sides of the country and the middle, it might seem unlikely that these musicians would ever even meet, let alone form a band – until you hear them play. Featuring tight harmonies and infectious hooks, The Dives’ music sounds fresh and familiar at the same time.

Based in NYC, the new band – still under a year old – wasted no time writing original material, rehearsing and leaping onto the club circuit. When asked to describe The Dives’ sound, Evan Stanley, lead guitarist and vocalist, says “Power Pop”. Sergio Ortega, bass and vocals, explains, “It’s a rock band playing pop music. Big hooks, but rattier than Top 40.”

The band is comprised of guitarist and lead singer Evan Stanley, guitarist and lead singer Mike Lefton, bassist and singer Sergio Ortega and drummer and singer Jimmy Meier. When Stanley moved to NYC to attend college at NYU/Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, he was determined to start a band. After a little trial and error, he was introduced to New Jersey native, Mike Lefton. A brotherhood was formed instantly as the two found musical commonalities beginning with their influences and work ethic. And the beginning of a band was formed. Mike reached out to fellow New Jersey native, Jimmy Meier to give the band a beat. With a gig booked, they scrambled to find a bass player. A friend recommended an unlikely fit, Sergio Ortega. Unlikely because Ortega is an incredibly talented musician best known for guitar, banjo and mandolin and has toured the world with Broadway phenomenon Ramin Karimloo, as his guitarist and musical director. The group asked Sergio to sit in for that show and never let him leave.

2017 is lining up to be a very exciting year for The Dives. Currently putting the finishing touches to their debut EP, due out later in 2017. The band will be touring throughout the year, and kick this off with their debut UK headline show as well as supporting KISS across the UK in May 2017. Please see dates below:

UK Dates
Saturday 27th    The SSE Hydro  Glasgow support to KISS
Sunday 28th    Barclaycard Arena Birmingham support to KISS
Monday 29th    The Water Rats  London headline

Tuesday 30th    Manchester Arena  Manchester support to KISS
Wednesday 31st    The 02   London support to KISS

For The Water Rats headline show tickets are priced £7 (subject to booking fee) and are on general sale 9am GMT Friday 21st April 2017 through www.livenation.co.uk. The Dives will be onstage at 8.30pm

KISS tickets are available now through www.livenation.co.uk