Another Kiss for the road

NEW YORK, April 16 (UPI) -- Kiss will hit the road again this summer when the makeup-clad rock band tours North America with '80s hair band Poison in tow.

The tour -- beginning June 10 in San Antonio -- will play outdoor amphitheaters through Aug. 4, Billboard.com reported Friday.

Kiss remains a concert powerhouse, with their 2003 co-headlining stint with Aerosmith grossing more than $50 million. The group's newly reconfigured lineup features guitarist Tommy Thayer and one-time drummer Eric Singer.

Original drummer Peter Criss claims he was not contacted by other members of the band to participate in the new dates. He denounces claims by Kiss bassist Gene Simmons that he is too addicted to drugs and alcohol to tour.

"The original band is over," Criss said. "And as a founding member I am not shocked at Gene and Paul (Stanley) turning a legendary band into a cover act for just plain profit. How very sad. But the crazy thing is? The fans will still follow because they are the real heart of Kiss. I was proud to be a part of something that was once great."

Kiss will reportedly begin work on a new studio album this fall, and Simmons will release a solo album, "A**hole," May 18.