KISS [ tickets ] has announced the first batch of 2001 tour dates for its farewell tour, according to a group spokesperson. The new dates will take the masked foursome to Japan and Australia in March and April of next year.

In mid-March, KISS plans to head to Japan for a run that was originally set to take place last month, but was subsequently postponed. Six make-up dates spanning from March 13-22 were announced on Wednesday (12/20), but the Japanese promoter was making slight changes to that itinerary at press time, according to a spokesperson.

Following the Japanese dates, KISS is scheduled to begin a six-date Australian outing in Perth on March 29. Early-April stops in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney follow, including a two-night stand at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. A final Australian date is set for April 13 in Gold Coast.

On Friday night (12/22), KISS will be the subject of VH1’s debut episode of “FanClub,” a documentary-style program that will feature an in-depth look at some of the band’s fans, footage of the band’s current tour and new interviews with the group’s members, according to a VH1 press release.

KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is slated to serve as co-host on Saturday night (12/23) at New York City radio station WNEW during the station’s weekly Saturday Night Rocks program. Frehley will spend four hours spinning KISS records and telling stories about the songs and the band during the show’s annual Merry Kissmass special, according to show host Eddie Trunk’s official website.

The farewell tour began in March. KISS has not yet announced when and where it will end.