Earlier today (March 17th), KISS and DEF LEPPARD announced that they will team up this summer for a 42-city North American tour.

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott, speaking to Brian Mansfield of USA Today, says he and Gene Simmons first discussed the idea of the two bands touring together when he and the KISS bassist played some South American dates two years ago as part of a rock-and-roll all-stars tour. "It's finally happened, which is fantastic," Elliott says.

It'll be the first time the two bands have shared a bill, though KISS vocalist and guitarist Paul Stanley says, "We've run into each other at festivals. It just seemed to be a natural fit." Stanley also noted that one of guitarist Phil Collen's pre-Def Leppard bands, GIRL, opened for KISS in The UK during the early '80s. Further details can be found here.

Tickets for KISS & Def Leppard go on sale Friday, March 21st through the Live Nation mobile app and at LiveNation.com. Confirmed shows are as listed:

June

23 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amphitheater
25 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
27 - Ridgefield, WA - Sleep Country Amphitheater
29 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater

July

2 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion
3 - Wheatland, CA - Sacramento Valley Amphitheater
5 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
6 - Chula Vista, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
8 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
9 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
12 - Austin, TX - austin360 Amphitheater
13 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
15 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
16 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
18 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood
19 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
20 - Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheater
22 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheater
23 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
25 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
26 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center

August

1 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
2 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
3 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
5 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
8 - Virginia Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
9 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
10 - Hartford, CT - The Xfinity Theatre
12 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
13 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
15 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
16 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
17 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center**
20 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena**
22 - Noblesville, IN - Klipsch Music Center
23 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
24 - Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
26 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
28 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
29 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
31 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion