KISS [ tickets ]--a group that now features only two of its four original members--continues to forestall its retirement, and will instead hit the U.S. amphitheatre circuit this summer with hair-metal favorites Poison [ tickets ].

The outing--presented by VH1 Classic and dubbed the Rock the Nation tour--kicks off in San Antonio on June 10, and is scheduled to run until early August. Tickets will hit the box office on April 24, according to organizers.

Led by co-founders Gene Simmons (bass/vocals) and Paul Stanley (vocals/guitar), KISS plans to roll out "a new show, new stage and a set list featuring rarely heard gems from the entire KISS catalog along with more fire, more screaming guitars and more spectacle than ever," according to a press release.

Poison frontman Bret Michaels said in a statement: "Throughout our entire career, we have been headlining, but I look at the opportunity to go on the road with KISS as a complete honor. Poison's set will be nothing but hits, a balls-to-the-wall, all thriller-no filler, stage show."

In addition to Simmons and Stanley, KISS's lineup during the upcoming run will feature drummer Eric Singer--who first played with the group during the band's non-make-up years--and guitarist Tommy Thayer. Singer and Thayer will wear the makeup and costumes made famous by original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, respectively.

Thayer has been playing with the group since Frehley resumed his solo career in 2001, following what KISS had billed at the time as its farewell tour.

Last month, Criss announced that Simmons and Stanley had not renewed his contract with the group, and had not contacted him about the matter.

Simmons, in a recent interview with a German publication, said that Criss was contacted, and alleged that Criss was out of the group because of continued drug and alcohol problems.

Criss posted a message on his website last week, in which he said that Simmons' claim was a lie.

"Some people love hearing themselves talk," Criss added. "Gene Simmons is one of them. ... The original band is over. And as a founding member I am not shocked at Gene and Paul turning a legendary band into a cover act for just plain profit. How very sad. ... God Bless and Good-bye to that part of my life."