US rock legends Kiss have confirmed that they are playing a special charity show in London this summer to benefit Help for Heroes.
The band play the Forum on the fourth of July.
The iconic rockers, who have been one of the biggest acts in the world since the 1970s, have previously supported US troops over the years. This year they’re playing on US Independence Day in London to support wounded, sick and injured British service personnel.
Paul Stanley said: “The greatest national treasure of any free country is the army that defends it at all cost. Bringing attention to the obligation we all share to those returning heroes has been our mission in the US and now the UK.
“We pay tribute to those brave men and women and urge everyone to show their thanks with donations”.
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley formed the band in the early 1970s, and with albums like Destroyer and Alive! defining an era in American rock music.
While their reputation for spectacular live shows established a huge and loyal audience and their make up made them instantly recognisable, it was their portfolio of classic rock songs like Rock and Roll All Nite, Detroit Rock City and I Was Made for Lovin’ You that led to their longevity.
Their influence led to a generation of melodic rock acts dominating the American music scene in the 1980s. Kiss themselves went through line-up changes, came out from behind their instantly-recognisable masks, and re-established their reputation.
Subsequent years saw Kiss become one of the world’s most famous rock acts. A short-lived reunion with original members led to thePsycho Circus album, touring won them a loyal following and merchandise and reality TV shows made them recognisable to an audience well beyond the ranks of the Kiss Army.
The band – with their current line-up of Simmons, Stanley and guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer – released their first album in over a decade with 2009’s Sonic Boom, which was met with critical and commercial success. The tour following the album brought them to Glasgow’s SECC in May 2010, their first show in the city since they played the legendary Glasgow Apollo in the 1980s.
While they were in Glasgow in 2010, the band spoke to STV’s John Kilbride shortly before they took to the stage.
Kiss had been due to headline the Sonisphere festival in July before the event was cancelled. Following the London date they are touring the US over the Autumn with Motley Crue.
Their new album Monster is scheduled for release this autumn, with a single expected to be released in July.