# Animalize World Tour

The Animalize World Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Kiss in support of their twelfth studio album, Animalize.

## Background

This was the first tour with Bruce Kulick on lead guitar, replacing Mark St. John who couldn't play due to his arthritic condition. Originally Kulick was a temporary replacement, but after St. John's condition improved and he returned to the group, the other members decided Kulick was a better fit musically, resulting in Kulick being named an official member on December 2, 1984 after the band had played three shows with St. John.
According to Pete Bishop, a reporter from The Pittsburgh Press, the design of the stage featured a leopard-zebra appearance taken from the cover of the album Animalize. The lighted band logo was hung over the upstage portion with specials effects also featuring blasting caps and sparkler jets. There was also colored lights on trusses and beneath meshwork ramps. A truss would lift downwards to lift up the guitarists and lift them to a catwalk, descending down later on a smoke spewing platform.
The Animalize period was the band's most successful of the decade with the crossover success of "Heaven's on Fire" onto CHR/Top 40 radio, a very well-attended concert trek, and with Animalize selling nearly 2 million copies by the end of the tour. The live video Animalize Live Uncensored was recorded at Cobo Hall on December 8, 1984 during this tour, later airing on MTV. On April 7, 2023, Kiss officially released the only known soundboard recording of a live show with Mark St. John, as part of their Off the Soundboard series. The concert was recorded on November 28, 1984 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
In the tour program for the band's final tour, Simmons reflected on the tour:
   You can't help but have a good time at one of our shows when everybody is going nuts onstage. That kind of good time is infectious. You can't fake it. You can't fool the audience. The people will see right through you if you put on a fake smile or you're not putting out your best. The band are alive and well and playing better than we ever have.

## Reception

Linda Moleski, a reporter from Billboard, who had attended the performance in Uniondale began her review by noting that the theatrics had not been toned down, but had toned down in appearance. She praised the concert as a 'powerful metal fury', but said she was disappointed from the performance of "Heaven's on Fire" as it was delivered more weakly and harshly. She pointed out the strong connection with both the audience and the players, even praising the uncluttered stage.
Jeff Bunch, a correspondent from The Spokesman-Review was not impressed from the band's performance in Spokane, stating that they were nothing more than a 'play-it-loud-and-say-it-crude' band and suggested that 'if the rumors that rock 'n roll died, it was true. He criticized that the band were strutting around on stage in a graphic matter while Stanley spent more time telling stories than singing - while noting the band having the audience on their feet throughout the whole performance. He concluded his review by stating that the band's success was relied on playing music loud and throwing in many theatrics as possible. He however, claimed that the opening act played to a better-than-average reception.

## Setlist

These are example setlists of what was performed during the tour on each leg, but may not represent the majority of the tour.

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) |
| Europe |||||
| September 30, 1984 | Brighton | England | Brighton Centre | Bon Jovi |
| October 1, 1984 | Southampton | England | Gaumont Theatre | Bon Jovi |
| October 2, 1984 | St Austell | England | Cornwall Coliseum | Bon Jovi |
| October 4, 1984 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo | Bon Jovi |
| October 5, 1984 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Apollo | Bon Jovi |
| October 6, 1984 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Playhouse | Bon Jovi |
| October 7, 1984 | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | Newcastle City Hall | Bon Jovi |
| October 8, 1984 | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | Newcastle City Hall | Bon Jovi |
| October 10, 1984 | Leicester | England | De Montfort Hall | Bon Jovi |
| October 11, 1984 | Ipswich | England | Gaumont Theater | Bon Jovi |
| October 12, 1984 | Stafford | England | Bingley Hall | Bon Jovi |
| October 13, 1984 | Leeds | England | Queen's Hall | Bon Jovi |
| October 14, 1984 | London | England | Wembley Arena | Bon Jovi |
| October 15, 1984 | London | England | Wembley Arena | Bon Jovi |
| October 18, 1984 | Munich | West Germany | Circus Krone | Bon Jovi |
| October 17, 1984 | Offenbach am Main | West Germany | Stadthalle Offenbach | Bon Jovi |
| October 19, 1984 | Neunkirchen am Brand | West Germany | Hemmerleinhalle | Bon Jovi |
| October 21, 1984 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Falkoner Center | Bon Jovi |
| October 22, 1984 | Drammen | Norway | Drammenshallen | — |
| October 24, 1984 | Lund | Sweden | Olympen | — |
| October 26, 1984 | Stockholm | Sweden | Johanneshovs Isstadion | Bon Jovi |
| October 27, 1984 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Scandinavium | Bon Jovi |
| October 29, 1984 | Hanover | West Germany | Stadionsporthalle | Bon Jovi |
| October 30, 1984 | Düsseldorf | West Germany | Philipshalle | Bon Jovi |
| October 31, 1984 | Ludwigshafen | West Germany | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle | Bon Jovi |
| November 1, 1984 | Lausanne | Switzerland | Palais de Beaulieu | Bon Jovi |
| November 3, 1984 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National | Bon Jovi |
| November 4, 1984 | Zwolle | Netherlands | IJsselhallen | Bon Jovi |
| November 5, 1984 | Paris | France | Zénith de Paris | Bon Jovi |
| North America |||||
| November 15, 1984 | Bethlehem | United States | Stabler Arena | Queensrÿche |
| November 16, 1984 | Glens Falls | United States | Glens Falls Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| November 17, 1984 | Rochester | United States | Rochester Community War Memorial | Queensrÿche |
| November 18, 1984 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | Queensrÿche |
| November 20, 1984 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga County War Memorial | Queensrÿche |
| November 23, 1984 | Worcester | United States | The Centrum | Queensrÿche |
| November 24, 1984 | New Haven | United States | New Haven Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| November 25, 1984 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | Queensrÿche |
| November 26, 1984 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| November 27, 1984 | Baltimore | United States | Baltimore Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| November 28, 1984 | Poughkeepsie | United States | Mid-Hudson Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| November 29, 1984 | Binghamton | United States | Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena | Queensrÿche |
| December 2, 1984 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena | Queensrÿche |
| December 4, 1984 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Auditorium | Queensrÿche |
| December 5, 1984 | Evansville | United States | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Queensrÿche |
| December 6, 1984 | Terre Haute | United States | Hulman Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 7, 1984 | Fort Wayne | United States | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| December 8, 1984 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Arena | Queensrÿche |
| December 11, 1984 | Saginaw | United States | Saginaw Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 12, 1984 | Columbus | United States | Battelle Hall | Queensrÿche |
| December 13, 1984 | Dayton | United States | Hara Arena | Queensrÿche |
| December 14, 1984 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| December 15, 1984 | Louisville | United States | Commonwealth Convention Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 17, 1984 | Peoria | United States | Peoria Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 18, 1984 | Cedar Rapids | United States | Five Seasons Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 26, 1984 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium | Queensrÿche |
| December 27, 1984 | Lincoln | United States | Pershing Auditorium | Queensrÿche |
| December 29, 1984 | Saint Paul | United States | St. Paul Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| December 30, 1984 | Milwaukee | United States | MECCA Arena | Queensrÿche |
| January 3, 1985 | Greenville | United States | Greenville Memorial Auditorium | Krokus |
| January 4, 1985 | Johnson City | United States | Freedom Hall Civic Center | Krokus |
| January 5, 1985 | Fayetteville | United States | Cumberland County Memorial Arena | Krokus |
| January 6, 1985 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum | Krokus |
| January 8, 1985 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum | Krokus |
| January 9, 1985 | Atlanta | United States | The Omni Coliseum | Krokus |
| January 10, 1985 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Sports Stadium | Krokus |
| January 11, 1985 | Fort Lauderdale | United States | Sunrise Musical Theater | Krokus |
| January 12, 1985 | Fort Lauderdale | United States | Sunrise Musical Theater | Krokus |
| January 13, 1985 | St. Petersburg | United States | Bayfront Center | Krokus |
| January 15, 1985 | New Orleans | United States | Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena | Krokus |
| January 16, 1985 | Biloxi | United States | Mississippi Coast Coliseum | Krokus |
| January 17, 1985 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center | Krokus |
| January 18, 1985 | Birmingham | United States | Boutwell Memorial Auditorium | Krokus |
| January 19, 1985 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | Krokus |
| January 21, 1985 | Pensacola | United States | Pensacola Civic Center | Krokus |
| January 22, 1985 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum | Krokus |
| January 24, 1985 | Lubbock | United States | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| January 25, 1985 | Abilene | United States | Taylor County Expo Center | Queensrÿche |
| January 26, 1985 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center | Queensrÿche |
| January 27, 1985 | Corpus Christi | United States | Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| January 29, 1985 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | Queensrÿche |
| January 30, 1985 | San Antonio | United States | HemisFair Arena | Queensrÿche |
| January 31, 1985 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 1, 1985 | Waco | United States | Waco Convention Center | Queensrÿche |
| February 3, 1985 | Odessa | United States | Ector County Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 4, 1985 | Amarillo | United States | Amarillo Civic Center | Queensrÿche |
| February 5, 1985 | El Paso | United States | El Paso County Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 6, 1985 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 7, 1985 | Las Vegas | United States | Aladdin Theatre | Queensrÿche |
| February 9, 1985 | Oakland | United States | Kaiser Convention Center | Queensrÿche |
| February 11, 1985 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace | Queensrÿche |
| February 13, 1985 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Arena | Queensrÿche |
| February 14, 1985 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 17, 1985 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | Queensrÿche |
| February 18, 1985 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | Queensrÿche |
| February 20, 1985 | San Bernardino | United States | Orange Pavilion | Queensrÿche |
| February 21, 1985 | Bakersfield | United States | Bakersfield Convention Center | Queensrÿche |
| February 22, 1985 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | Queensrÿche |
| February 24, 1985 | Sacramento | United States | Sacramento Memorial Auditorium | Queensrÿche |
| February 26, 1985 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| February 27, 1985 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | Queensrÿche |
| March 1, 1985 | Edmonton | Canada | Kinsmen Field House | Sentinel |
| March 2, 1985 | Lethbridge | Canada | Sportplex | Queensrÿche |
| March 3, 1985 | Calgary | Canada | Stampede Corral | Queensrÿche |
| March 7, 1985 | Regina | Canada | Regina Agridome | Dokken |
| March 9, 1985 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena | Dokken |
| March 10, 1985 | Grand Forks | United States | Hyslop Sports Center | Dokken |
| March 11, 1985 | Bismarck | United States | Bismarck Civic Center | Dokken |
| March 13, 1985 | Duluth | United States | Duluth Arena | Dokken |
| March 14, 1985 | Green Bay | United States | Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena | Dokken |
| March 15, 1985 | La Crosse | United States | La Crosse Center | Dokken |
| March 16, 1985 | Dubuque | United States | Five Flags Center | Dokken |
| March 17, 1985 | Des Moines | United States | Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Dokken |
| March 19, 1985 | Madison | United States | Dane County Expo Coliseum | W.A.S.P. |
| March 20, 1985 | Marquette | United States | Lakeview Arena | W.A.S.P. |
| March 22, 1985 | Lansing | United States | Lansing Civic Center | W.A.S.P. |
| March 23, 1985 | South Bend | United States | Athletic & Convocation Center | W.A.S.P. |
| March 24, 1985 | Cincinnati | United States | Cincinnati Gardens | W.A.S.P. |
| March 25, 1985 | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena | W.A.S.P. |
| March 26, 1985 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | W.A.S.P. |
| March 28, 1985 | Springfield | United States | Springfield Civic Center | W.A.S.P. |
| March 29, 1985 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena | W.A.S.P. |
* ^Note 1 Bruce Kulick performed the first half of this show and Mark St. John performed the second half.
* ^Note 2 Mark St. John performed the entirety of these shows.
* ^Note 3 This was Bruce Kulick's first show as a permanent member of the group.
* ^Note 4 This show was professionally recorded and shown on MTV, then later released as Animalize Live Uncensored.

### Box office score data

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references :
| Date (1984) | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross |
| November 15 | Bethlehem | Stabler Arena | 4,472 / 6,000 | $49,346 |
| December 2 | Indianapolis | Market Square Arena | 10,393 / 10,500 | $111,865 |
| December 4 | St. Louis | Kiel Auditorium | 4,380 / 5,700 | $54,533 |

## Personnel

* Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar
* Gene Simmons – vocals, bass
* Eric Carr – drums, vocals
* Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals (all but November 28 and 29 dates)
* Mark St. John – lead guitar, backing vocals (only November 27, 28, and 29 dates)