Gene Simmons Sued
01/10/2005 - eonline
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court on behalf of Georgeann Walsh Ward, accuses Simmons and the music network of unfairly portraying her as a 'sexually loose, immoral, unchaste woman' by showing her photo 11 times during the rockumentary When Kiss Ruled the World, while the bass player boasted about supposedly having sex with 4,600 women. According to court papers, the 53-year-old Chester, New York, native claimed to have been in an 'exclusive, monogamous, romantic relationship' with Simmons for three years when she was a 21-year-old college student and he was living with his mother in Queens--before he shot to fame as the blood-spitting monster-faced member of KISS. But pictures tell a thousand words--or in Simmons' case, a thousand groupies. 'There wasn't a girl that was off-limits, and I enjoyed every one of them,' the tongue-wagging musician, a self-confessed '24-hour whore,' is heard saying in the documentary's voiceover about those 'crazy, crazy nights.' The remarks were accompanied by pictures of Ward in various poses with Simmons. The photos, Ward claims, subjected her 'to public hatred, shame, contempt, ridicule, ostracism, degradation and/or disgrace.' Particularly painful, per court documents, was the shock and embarrassment the 'wild' photos caused her family. Apparently Ward's father, husband and 21-year-old son all caught When KISS Ruled the World on VH1 when it aired in July and August. Being seen with a rock 'n' roll playboy known for songs like 'Lick It Up' and 'Calling Dr. Love' was too much for Ward who considers herself a 'morally upright and law-abiding woman' and works at a conference center associated with Columbia University. 'The implication was that [she] was a prostitute and/or solicited prostitutes, and/or [she was] a sexually loose woman,' the complaint reads. Ward's suit also accuses Simmons, his company, Kiss Catalog, and VH1 parent Viacom of defamation and invasion of privacy and seeks unspecified damages. There was no immediate comment from Simmons' publicist. A spokeswoman for Viacom declined to comment on the pending litigation. KISS, which wrapped its Rock the Nation tour last year, is on hiatus as singer-guitarist Paul Stanley continues to recover from a second surgery to correct a hip-replacement operation that took place in October.

Gene Simmons a teacher in reality show
11/05/2004 - bignewsnetwork
The 55-year-old rocker, who claims to have slept with 4,600 women, will turn students into a rock band at Christ's Hospital in West Sussex, England, the Daily Mirror reported Friday. Simmons was a primary school teacher before he formed hard rockers KISS in New York in 1972. The culture clash will be hilarious, said Channel 4 chief Andrew Newman, who said he was thrilled to have signed Simmons for the series, Rock School.

GENE SIMMONS: 'Speaking In Tongues' Audio CD Out Now
10/19/2004 - roadrunnerrecords
'For those of you who tuned in late, the 'Speaking' DVD/CD was recorded during my Australian lecture tour about two years ago. I have a big mouth and I'm not shy about expressing myself. I realized early on in my life that the way I thought, the values I held dear and the decisions I made for myself, especially as regards my happiness, seemed to fly in the face of what was commonly accepted. I would find interviewers open mouthed when I would utter phrases like 'I love money.' They would respond with '..what do you mean by that?' I never thought twice about it. I thought everyone loved money,.. but apparently a lot of people have a problem admitting it. I always wondered why. 'So, in the DVD and the CD, I go into some of the fantasies we have all deluded ourselves with. How about 'Money is the root of all evil.' Which is nonsense and we all know it. LACK of money is the root of all evil. 'When was the last time a millionaire walked into a 7/11 and said 'Put your hands up and give me $14.95!!!' 'I also have very clear (apparently biologically sound) notions about the difference between man and woman. The male of the species, we are told, manufactures billions of sperm daily. The female of the species only makes one or two eggs PER MONTH/per cycle. The only problem females and males have with each other can be summed up with the following: The female of the species has convinced herself that all those billions of sperm are only for her. 'Can't we have a few hundred million to play around with? Now I ask you. Is that too much to ask for?'

KISS, I hear you calling
08/09/2004 - thestar
There are some things a dad should do for his daughter, but I began to doubt that chasing the gods of thunder through a Pennsylvania rainstorm was one of them. The gods of thunder are, of course, the '70s rock band KISS and Pennsylvania is a long drive from home. But my daughter and I were on a mission to see the iconic band. I am a 51-year-old family man with an unimpressive knowledge of rock music. Lexi is my 14-year-old daughter who is a late but fervent addition to the KISS army. She knows their history and all their songs. She reads about their shows online and was disappointed they won't play Canada on this tour. She is mostly silent and sensitive. She is centred between two extroverted sisters whose bedrooms are filled with sports trophies. Her hot-pink room is decorated with a leopard skin duvet, a feathered lampshade and her bass guitar. They don't give trophies for the things she likes ... she never asks for much. My life lacks spontaneity. I can plan my week by the shifts I work and the soccer, basketball and music lessons I drive to. A new adventure, like attending a KISS concert six hours away from home seemed like a good idea. I even agreed to paint my face like Gene. Hey, once I committed to go, I might as well go all the way. My doubts on that Friday afternoon in July, were not just about the driving conditions. The concert was to begin in four hours and the Keystone State's Endless Mountains seemed to stretch almost back to my youth. Unfortunately, my youth was pretty much KISS-free. I do know that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley wear horror makeup and super-size-me heels; everyone knows the songs 'Rock' n Roll All Nite,' 'Shout It Out Loud' and 'Beth. You don't have to live in 'Detroit Rock City' to know all that. I've never been to a KISS concert however. Do fans still paint their faces and smoke dope? Do women — now middle-aged moms, I guess — still expose their breasts like they once did or just encourage their daughters? Is there a mosh pit and how do I stay away from it? Would Lexi be embarrassed attending with me? I tried to focus on the highway ahead hoping the wipers would take these doubts along with the rain. This expedition was obviously not my idea. I didn't even think it would be my idea of fun but there are too few opportunities when a child invites a parent onto their turf. Montage Mountain is a winter ski hill and summer outdoor concert venue deep in the coal mining hills of Pennsylvania, near Scranton. The long lines of traffic were accorded lanes — left for the baseball game and right for the KISS show. No one driving near us had their faces painted. Some were riding Harleys; some were driving SUVs with baby seats and a shrieking minority popped their heads and booze through a limo sunroof, but no one else had their faces painted. I needn't have been so neurotic. There were a few other painted faces: a 70-year-old grandmother; a woman in earth-tone capri pants and a pearl necklace; and kids about 8 years old. Our makeup must have been good because an inebriated 40ish woman told us, 'Awesome makeup man! No f------ s---.' The crowd was primed first by a local band whose name I forget. Then by Poison, an '80s hair band, I'd never heard of. By the time we heard the traditional intro, 'You want the best. You got the best. The hottest band in the world ... KISS,' much of the crowd was thrusting the devil-horn salute through a pungent cloud. From the first note of 'Love Gun,' their opener, Lexi was in her own world. She sang every song, she took in everything on stage. She danced in the aisle. She was consumed — she either didn't mind or didn't remember her dad was next to her waiting for another song he recognized and searching for his earplugs. A pulley wheel hung over a platform in the centre of the audience and a rope drooped from there to the stage. Lexi figured Paul Stanley would ride the system from the stage to the platform — about 50 metres from us. She wanted to run down to it. 'Lex, we can't get through the line of security,' I said. She grabbed my hand and we ran through the security line and underneath the platform as Paul began his ascent. Others fans followed — too many to remove. Paul sang 'I Was Made For Loving You' from about 10 metres away. He seemed to be singing to us. At the song's end, my little girl turned to me and smiled — her eyes filled with tears. I turned away quickly. My makeup was starting to run. I tried to understand why she had become so emotional. This was bigger than shows she had seen; the loud music, the flashpots, the songs of love, and the still very sexy and shirtless Paul Stanley were a potent mix. Then I remembered a summer 40 years ago. Lexi would not have recognized her mother then. She was crying and screaming for the Beatles with 10,000 others at the Toronto airport. On the drive home we listened to KISS CDs and talked about the show. She said she likes them because their fun, loud and 'so unreal.' Maybe it's the kids' lives that have become so unreal. Their lives are often over-structured in a too-competitive society. They feel they have to conform to others' high expectations. Maybe three hours of over-the-top shock from KISS lets them know they are still real. Lexi thanked me as we neared the Lewiston-Queenston bridge — the border crossing to our regular life. 'Thanks you sooooo much for taking me,' she said. Sharing this with you was my privilege, I thought. 'No, thank you,' I said.

The Hottest Band in the Land, KISS
07/29/2004 - thesentinel
It was 1972—the year after the Beatles split—and rock was transitioning away from a political vehicle of protest, and farther away from its African-American roots—toward the post Vietnam generation of the mid-1970s. Gene Simmons, born in Israel as Chaim Witz, was a 6th grade teacher in Spanish Harlem at the time, and when he wasn't reading comic books or watching Dracula movies, he was practicing his bass guitar—hoping to someday become a rock star. After meeting Stanley Harvey Eisen, now Paul Stanley the other co-founder of Kiss, Simmons' mother pleaded with him to plan his career conservatively—and not leave his teaching job—in the event that his rock idea failed. Thirty-two years later, and many millions of dollars later, Gene Simmons' rock idea is still thriving as his band has been indelibly etched into American culture, even affording the group an encyclopedia entry. With all its fire and smoke—and very loud Marshall amplifiers—Kiss came to the Nissan Pavilion this past Saturday with its basic rock power chords and theatrical show. Although the band's energy and soul is not what it was at its height in 1976—when the band toured the world over with its mysterious Japanese influenced kabuki makeup—the group still delivered an amazing set list spanning their over 30 years in rock and roll. The band opened with Love Gun, a track from its smash platinum 1977 album, and then launched into Deuce, one of their earliest songs from the first 1974 album simply titled Kiss, an album cover influenced by the Beatles. Simmons' bass playing was flawlessly smooth, as was Tommy Thayer's guitar work. Thayer replaced original lead guitarist Ace Frehley in 2003 after Frehley struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, an affliction that has unfortunately plagued the gifted guitarist's adult life. After one more mid-seventies hit, Makin' Love—and a fairly flat mid-eighties hit titled Lick It Up—the band brought the crowd to its feet with All The Way, a tight hard rock track from the 1974 vinyl release Hotter Than Hell. Stanley and Thayer's guitar work was perfectly timed during the song, with Simmons stalking around the stage fingering his bass, and drummer Eric Singer surgically pounding his drum kit. Singer replaced drum legend Peter Criss for the 2004 tour, a move that has now left the band with only two original members, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The replacement of Frehley and Criss has been a source of controversy for some, with many die-hard Kiss fans arguing that the band's energy has waned without the original lineup. But Singer's and Thayer's contributions to the band have been phenomenal, as both have proved their musical ability to be professional and clean, with Thayer following Frehley's original cord changes and lead guitar solos perfectly. On Deuce and Got To Choose, Thayer—who dons Ace Frehley's original makeup and costume from the 1975 era—appeared to never miss a single note during Saturday's performance. For those who have never witnessed a Kiss concert—and witness is the perfect word for the experience—the theatrical surreal rock opera paired with its hard-hitting sound is an unforgettable memory. It would be wise, young or old, rocker or not, to go to a Kiss concert at least once. Timed intermittently throughout the act, the band releases huge plumes of yellow and orange explosions of fire, warming the faces of the first 100 rows of audience members. The band seems oblivious to the loud interruptions of heat and fire, never missing a bass note, or guitar chord, or the beat of a drum. Toward the middle of the show, Simmons blew fire from his mouth on the darkly lit center stage, making the feat look as though he was breathing fire. Simmons too drooled and spit fake blood during the band's Unholy performance, a stunt that has aroused the ire of fundamental Christians for three decades, who say Simmons is an agent of Satan—an allegation he finds amusing and silly. Simmons, who once seriously considered rabbinical studies to become a full-fledged Rabbi, wrote in his autobiography in response to the charge; 'Have you ever seen the devil? Do you know what he looks like?' Regardless, the fire and blood troupe is an interesting window into Simmons' complex psyche as his mother is a Holocaust survivor, a period of her life that Simmons says she rarely discusses. The band closed Saturday night's performance with its 1975 theme song, Rock and Roll All Night, from its Dressed to Kill studio album, a performance that energized the crowd. The genius and energy of Stanley and Simmons—even for rock stars in their 50s—appears to be ready for another 20 years, maybe even with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley by their side.

KISS bring their blood-and-fire show to Hershey
07/22/2004 - zwire
Poison played a tight, energetic set highlighting hits from throughout their extensive career. Kicking off with the title track from 1986's Look What the Cat Dragged In, the band played hit after hit, including 'Nothing But a Good Time,' 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn,' 'Your Mama Don't Dance,' and of course, 'Talk Dirty to Me.' Poison has always been known for its extensive stage show, featuring pyrotechnics and a dazzling light show. There was none of that here, though, which actually turned out to be quite refreshing. The band played with a rawness possibly not seen in years, visibly having a good time in the toned-down setting. The Brett Michaels-fronted group did its job well - warming the crowd up for the evening's main attraction: veteran rockers KISS. Hitting the stage with a spray of sparks, KISS kicked off their set with 70's hit 'Love Gun.' The band - once again playing with only two original members after the recent Farewell Tour - performed a variety of songs from their self-titled debut through to 1998's Psycho Circus. Overall, the group provided the over-the-top rock show the KISS Army has come to expect - flames, explosions, fireworks, confetti, fire-breathing, and blood spitting were all included. Gene Simmons (a.k.a. 'The Demon') and Paul Stanley (a.k.a. 'Starchild') even flew, to the delight of the crowd. KISS was enjoyable - especially while playing such heavier tracks as 'War Machine,' 'I Want You,' 'Lick it Up' and 'Detroit Rock City.' But something just didn't seem right. It felt as if the band has become caricatures of the personas they created so brilliantly in the '70s. And to be blunt, the Demon's blood spitting wasn't anywhere near as scary as it should have been, and Paul Stanley's voice showed signs of wear, especially when he reached for some high notes. But in the end, who cares? As the final notes of 'Rock 'N' Roll All Night' were driven home with a storm of confetti, it was a reminder of what makes KISS a good band: catchy, memorable songs and a killer stage show. And KISS always manages to deliver that.

Paul Stanley of KISS says the legendary band has never been better
07/21/2004 - timesleader
Take a look at the devoted fans coming out in droves to catch the current tour, vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley says. Feel the love. And the wisdom of the decision. The band-fan covenant is sealed. Sealed with a KISS, in fact. 'Interestingly, the only people that seem to want to know why you've come back are the people that wish you wouldn't,' Stanley says with a chuckle. 'It's been an amazing response, and the turnouts have been incredible. I couldn't have wished for anything this good. Not only big crowds, but huge, boisterous approval of the show. The only thing louder than the band is the audience.' KISS, formed in New York City in 1973, has earned more gold albums than any American rock band. The original line-up of Stanley, vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons, vocalist/guitarist Ace Frehley and vocalist/drummer Peter Criss stayed intact throughout the '70s, but by 1982, only Stanley and Simmons remained. In 1996, however, the original four men reunited, and despite some recurring inner turmoil, they stayed together five years to again become one of rock's top-grossing concert acts. Now, Frehley and Criss are out again, replaced by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. Stanley, who acknowledges Criss and Frehley can be tough to work with, says keeping the re-formed original line-up together for just five years was challenging. 'I don't think a lot of people know the half of it,' he says. 'It was very difficult. Ace and Peter ... sometimes the problems that are there from the beginning don't really go away. They may recede into the background, and then they rear their ugly head again.' Stanley says KISS has regained its focus. No member is bigger than the band, he says. 'Ultimately, the most important thing has always been KISS, and KISS is a tradition, a legend and something that the public wants on no uncertain terms,' he says. 'The band has never been better. ... The set that we're playing and the flexibility we have now is amazing, and the crowd response - and I mean, to the diehards - is fanatically positive. People are coming over after the show and saying 'This is by far the best I've ever seen the band and by far the best show I've ever seen.'' KISS has again attracted large crowds on its current tour, indicating its fans are happy the group has gone back on its 'farewell' words of four years ago. (The are donning the famous 'Spaceman' and 'Catman' costumes of Frehley and Criss. Stanley, the 'Starchild,' had always said those personas were direct extensions of their individual personalities, and when new members joined the group in the early 80s, they were given a new costume and new makeup character. The move was similar to sports, in which certain jersey numbers are respectfully retired. Now, however, those numbers, or costumes, have been passed out again. 'The fact is that those original notions - ours or anyone else's - were a mistake,' Stanley says. 'We spent 30 years building KISS into the icon that those images are. You could take a picture of KISS arguably anywhere in the world, and people would know that it is in fact KISS, but they wouldn't necessarily be able to name all of the members. That's the point. To dilute what KISS has built with a lot of hard work - and not always from the same people, mind you - by having to come up with 'giraffe-boy' or 'ant-man' is ridiculous. It ultimately compromises the fan, and the fan - and I mean the vast, vast majority of fans - want KISS and want KISS as those four iconic images.' KISS also has changed its set list, sprinkling nuggets such as 'Got To Choose,' 'She' and 'All The Way' among the classics. Though Stanley chooses not to comment on the musical abilities of Frehley and Criss, he does say playing with the new band has been liberating. 'I would rather talk about all of the positives over the years and let the live band, and everything that we are and everything that encompasses us, speak for itself,' he says. 'We virtually became prisoners of our own set list, and that was also because of some of the internal problems. To now be able to celebrate all that we are and all that we've accomplished is glorious, and it's what we should be doing.' This Saturday at 9 p.m. VH1 will debut a new KISS special, 'When KISS Ruled the World,' which will focus on the band's incredible success in the 70s when a Gallup Poll revealed it was America's favorite group. And a new CD, 'The Best of KISS Vol. II,' celebrates the group's success in the 80s, when without makeup, it earned a string of platinum albums and scored hits such as 'Heaven's On Fire,' 'Tears Are Falling' and 'Forever.' Stanley says he's glad to see some of those tunes get their due. 'There's no way that the 80s - although those albums sold millions of copies - can compete, impact-wise, with the makeup persona,' he says. 'So as great as those songs are, they sometimes get a bit overlooked. I always find it funny when people say they grew up in the 80s, and almost have to apologize, because there are other people saying, Yeah, but the 70s was the real deal.' It's like going to a party and having somebody say, 'You think this party is good? You missed the real party.' It's nonsense. Whenever you show up is the beginning of the party for you.' Although KISS' most famous tune, 'Rock and Roll All Nite,' talks about 'partying every day,' many 80s-era KISS songs spoke about individuality, self-worth and self-confidence. Stanley, who was in his mid-30s at the time, says he wasn't trying to be a role model but simply singing about what he believed in. 'Independence and standing your ground knows no age,' he says. 'What I celebrate and sing in song are the same things that I celebrated and sang in songs on the first album. It's believing in yourself, reaping the rewards and enjoying them to fullest. It's playing by your own rules and winning.' In 1978, KISS' members all released solo albums on the same day. Stanley's is often considered the best. He says he plans to unveil another early next year but won't reveal any details. 'Talk is cheap, and the last thing I want to do is sell sizzle,' he says. 'I'm more about selling steak. It's very easy to razzle-dazzle people with a tap dance and all kinds of stuff, and then afterwards they kind of wonder what they actually got. I'm spending time making sure it's a great album with great songs, and I'll let it speak for itself.' Bravado has never been a problem for The Starchild, and when talking about the future of KISS, he stays true to form. 'You ain't seen nothing yet,' Stanley says. 'The band is on steroids, and the only thing that matches it is audience. The response, nightly, is overwhelming, but I gotta say it's justified.'

Kiss Bassist Comments Anger Australians
05/14/2004 - yahoo
'This is a vile culture and if you think for a second that it's willing to just live in the sands of God's armpit you've got another thing coming,' Simmons said during an interview on Melbourne's 3AW radio Thursday. 'They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil.' The Western world was under threat from extremists and a culture that treated women worse than dogs, he claimed in a segment of the interview that touched on the war in Iraq. 'You can send your dog to school to learn tricks, sit, beg, do all that stuff — none of the women have that advantage,' the 54-year-old said. Angry Muslims flooded the radio station with calls, furious over Simmons' comments. Susan Carland, Australian Muslim of the Year, rejected what she saw as Simmons' stereotype of Muslim women. She has two university degrees, she said, and 'I certainly do not walk behind my husband.' 'Mixing the entertainment world with the political and religious world is a minefield,' said Yasser Soliman, the chairman of Victoria state's Islamic Council. 'I think it would be good for overseas speakers and commentators to be given some sort of advice in regards to our vilification laws here,' Soliman said. 'They leave and go back to where they arrived from, but they leave behind a big mess that we have to live with.' Chrissie Camp, who is in charge of publicity for Kiss' Australian tour, said Simmons was unavailable for comment Friday. The band was due to perform in Melbourne on Friday night and Saturday before shows in Sydney and Brisbane.

Former Kiss Guitarist Shot Outside Club
10/16/2003 - launch
According to Kulick, 'I felt my leg hit and my temple grazed. I shouted 'Get down,' but never saw the shooter and did not realize the gunshots were from a half block up the street at the Rainbow... It was certainly a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I was very fortunate my wounds weren't more serious.' Kulick was examined at the scene and taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment, along with a second shooting victim, and the guitarist is now home and resting. Kulick added, 'I've received many messages and phone calls wishing me well and really appreciate all the concerns and messages from my fans around the world.' The shooter was at the Rainbow Bar & Grill when he got into a fight, went out to his car to get his nine-millimeter handgun, and began firing wildly, getting off between four and seven shots. Neither Kulick nor the second victim were being targeted. After he began shooting, the gunman was wrestled to the ground by the crowd. An eyewitness told LAUNCH that the shooter was hit with several bottles and kicked in the head during a severe beating before police arrived. The gunman was treated at an area hospital for his injuries. He was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Kulick said, 'I'm very grateful for the immediate response of both the crowd and the doctors, and--obviously--the EMS crews. I'm fine and very thankful to be alive.' Kulick has been a member of Grand Funk Railroad for three years. Before that, he was the lead guitarist in Kiss from 1984 until 1995. Kulick is looking forward to getting back on the road once his doctors give him the green light. Grand Funk's next show is a benefit for the Safe Harbor Animal Rescue And Hospital in Jupiter, Florida, on November 8.

Kiss/Aerosmith Tour Sets Fall Dates
10/08/2003 - yahoo
The trek, which rolls into Phoenix tonight (Oct. 8), is now slated to wrap Dec. 20 in Fresno, Calif. Several major markets will be revisited, including Boston, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, sources say each band is prepping separate arena tours for next year. Aerosmith will also release a long-awaited collection of blues-inspired songs on Columbia in early 2004. The Kiss/Aerosmith combination has been a potent one at the box office. According to figures for 24 shows submitted to Billboard Box Score, the tour has played to 85% capacity and grossed more than $31.5 million. 'There are a lot of people who see this as the tour of the year, and a lot of people want to see it,' Kiss principal Paul Stanley told Billboard in August. 'As long as everybody's enjoying themselves, that's the key to it -- we always wind up going full-circle to 'this has to be enjoyable.' Fans know when you're having a great time, so as long as this is fun, we'll continue to do it. If it truly turned into the battle of the bands, we'd go home.' Here are Kiss/Aerosmith's tour dates: Oct. 8: Phoenix (Cricket Pavilion) Oct. 10: Mountain View, Calif. (Shoreline Amphitheater) Oct. 12: Auburn, Wash. (White River Amphitheater) Oct. 14: Marysville, Calif. (Sleep Train Amphitheater) Oct. 16: Chula Vista, Calif. (Coors Amphitheater) Oct. 18: Devore, Calif. (Hyundai Pavilion) Oct. 20: Albuquerque, N.M. (Journal Pavilion) Oct. 22: Salt Lake City (Delta Center) Oct. 24-25: Las Vegas (MGM Grand Garden Arena) Nov. 6: Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center Omaha) Nov. 8: Grand Forks, N.D. (Alerus Center) Nov. 10: Minneapolis (Target Center) Nov. 12: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena) Nov. 14: Bridgeport, Conn. (Harbor Yard) Nov. 16: New York (Madison Square Garden) Nov. 20: Washington, D.C. (MCI Center) Nov. 22: Greensboro, N.C. (Greensboro Coliseum) Nov. 24: Manchester, N.H. (Verizon Wireless Arena) Nov. 26: Boston (FleetCenter) Nov. 28: Albany, N.Y. (Pepsi Arena) Nov. 30: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills) Dec. 3: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum) Dec. 5: Jacksonville, Fla. (Veterans Memorial Arena) Dec. 8: Louisville, Ky. (Freedom Hall) Dec. 10: Knoxville, Tenn. (Thompson-Boling Arena) Dec. 12: Moline, Ill. (Mark of the Quad Cities) Dec. 14: Oklahoma City (Ford Center) Dec. 18: Inglewood, Calif. (the Forum) Dec. 20: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)