The original face painters KISS are alive and well, preparing to blanket North America with their 40-date mega tour which is set to launch in Detroit on September 25 & 26. Dubbed “Alive 35″ commorating the band?s 35-year anniversary, the 2009 tour will feature all the old KISS favorites and a bit of a rarity — new songs. The forthcoming “Sonic Boom” will mark the band?s first studio album to be released since “Psycho Circus” hit the streets in 1998. ?Sonic Boom? will be exclusively sold via Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club on October 6.

In an unorthodox move, the band allowed its fans to decide on their North American destinations by tracking “demands” through the website Eventful. The band said they’d suit up wherever the demand was greatest whether it be “stadiums to cornfields.” Not too many cornfields are representing, but the major markets all have their slot as well as a few off the beaten path locales. For those who don’t see their city amongst those lucky few (view the full tour schedule below), the band hinted that more dates would be released for 2010.

2009 KISS Tour Dates
September 2009
25, 26 – Detroit, MI – Cobo Arena
28 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
29 – London, Ontario – John Labatt Centre

October 2009
1 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre
2 – Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre
3 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
5 – Boston, MA – TD Banknorth Garden
9 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Coliseum
10 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
12 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center
13 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
16 – Hampton, VA – Hampton Coliseum
17 – Greenville, SC – Bi-Lo Center
19 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Civic Center
21 – Tampa, FL – St. Pete Times Forum
22 – Sunrise, FL – Bank Atlantic Centre
24 – Birmingham, AL – Birmingham Jefferson Arena
26 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
28 – Nashville, TN – Sommet Center
29 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena
31 – New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Experience

November 2009
6 – Chicago, IL – United Center
7 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
9 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – MTS Centre
10 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Credit Union Centre
12 – Calgary, Alberta – Pengrowth Saddledome
14 – Vancouver, British Columbia – General Motors Place
15 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena
17 – Portland, OR – Rose Garden
20 – Sacramento, CA – ARCO Arena
21 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
24 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
25 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
27 – San Diego, CA – Sports Arena

December 2009
1 – Glendale, AZ – Jobing.com Arena
2 – El Paso, TX – UTEP Special Events Center
4 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
5 – Houston, TX – Toyota Centre
6 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Centre

Further Reading: