“Let’s put it into perspective and try to at least get a sense of what’s different [this time around],” Stanley told Rolling Stone. “The farewell tour took place 19 years ago. The farewell tour was at the end of the time that we had brought back the two original members [guitarist Ace Frehley and Peter Criss] and it was such drudgery and so difficult and so unhappy that it just seemed, like, ‘Let’s put the horse down.’ And after the tour was over, it didn’t take me very long to realize I didn’t want to say goodbye to the band; I wanted to say goodbye to two members. So that was the differences. We’ve had 19 years of the band. The band has never been better, happier… But with all that in mind, it’s time to think about an end.”

Although Stanley doesn’t rule out the possibility of guest appearances by former members, he doesn’t promise anything either. “I really can’t say,” Stanley said. “This will be a celebration of KISS and not any individual lineup or any individual members. I wouldn’t rule anything out, but it’s not the crux of what we’re doing… and I’m not being coy either. I don’t want to mislead anybody, really that’s not something that’s been given a lot of thought at this point, the majority of our time has gone into what is the stage going to be, what is the show going to be, and we’re actually in the midst of toying with setlists now.”

Stanley also responded to the swipe Simmons took at him onstage in Australia late last month. (I’ll sing everything,” Simmons said. “Because my voice always works! I don’t lose my voice. I don’t lose my voice… Paul Stanley.”) “Look,” Stanley said, “Gene and I have been together, I think, 47 years or something around that. He’s out having a great time. He’s doing these — most of them are free concerts, and when he charges tickets they don’t sell a lot of tickets — and I’m sure he’s trying to keep it light for the couple hundred people or whatever, and that’s great! I was just with Gene, obviously, day before yesterday and we have a bond that is enviable.”

Stanley does acknowledge that it’s not easy to match his 1970s vocals at the age of 66. “You do come to terms over time with your own mortality, and every singer that I know, probably the first thing we all say to each other is, you know, ‘Is this becoming tougher for you?’… I’ve been doing a lot recently to make sure that my voice is in great form. [But] if you want to hear me sound like I did on ‘Kiss Alive!’, then put on ‘Kiss Alive!’”

Rumors of KISS‘s final run of live shows gained strength several months ago following the news that the band was attempting to trademark the phrase “The End Of The Road.” An application from KISS was filed in February to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which means that the band could use it in connection with “live performances by a musical band.”

Simmons recently told Sweden’s Expressen newspaper that KISS‘s next tour will last three years. Calling it the band’s “most spectacular tour ever,” the bassist/vocalist added that the trek will make stops on “all continents.”