KISS [ tickets ]'s promises of impending retirement have apparently been greatly exaggerated, as evidenced by the group's new record deal, an impending live album and DVD, and a massive summer tour with Aerosmith [ tickets ].

The face-painted foursome has cut a deal with Sanctuary Records to launch a new imprint dubbed KISS Records, and plans to christen the label with the release of a two-disc live set titled "The KISS Symphony: Alive IV," recorded during the band's Feb. 28 performance with Australia's Melbourne Orchestra, Billboard Bulletin reports. A companion live DVD and pay-per-view special are also expected.

"Alive IV" was originally slated to surface about three years ago, and at that time was due to feature the band's Dec. 31, 1999 performance in Vancouver. A set list and album art were floated before the project was put on indefinite hold due to the band's uncertainty with its now-former label, Mercury/Universal.

Gene Simmons--band co-founder and chief tongue-waving, blood-spitting, fire-breathing bassist-- last summer talked with liveDaily about the confusion.

"We've been holding off on ["Alive IV"] because--we started off on a [label] called Casablanca. Casablanca was then bought by a multi-national, as they used to call it back then: Polygram. We were the first act on Casablanca records, OK? Then, on and on and on, we went through six presidents, and finally Universal came and bought it, and then Vivendi. We didn't know if we were coming or if we were going. For a time, we were even on Def Jam Records. ... It's embarrassing. And the last thing we wanted to do was to stick out an album while we couldn't figure out what label we were supposed to be on. Don't go fight a war unless the troops are trained."

KISS hasn't announced a release date for "The KISS Symphony: Alive IV," but chances are that the album will land in stores late this summer, when the group hits the road its co-headlining run with fellow '70s-era rock juggernaut Aerosmith.

Known these days as much for their marketing prowess as for their musical performances, KISS is offering several special ticket packages for the upcoming tour, the priciest of which costs $1,000 and will give deep-pocketed fans a chance to meet the group. Details are posted at the band's website.

The outing may or may not be the last chance fans will have to see the group live; in early 2000, the band announced what it said at the time would be its final tour. Since then, the quartet has continued to tour on and off.

In addition to Simmons, the group's lineup currently features fellow founding members Paul Stanley (vocals, guitar) and Peter Criss (drums, vocals). Guitarist Tommy Thayer rounds out the roster; he has replaced original guitarist Ace Frehley, and wears Frehley's signature make-up and costumes during the band's live performances.