KIX Calling It Quits

M3 Rock Festival happened over the weekend. The biggest piece of news out of the event happened during the KIX set, when singer Steve Whiteman announced the band was calling it quits.

KIX will play its final live show together on September 17 at Merriweather Post Pavilion near Baltimore, Maryland.

During his announcement, Whiteman said that his health is starting to fail. We already know drummer Jimmy Chalfant is having issues and of course guitarist Ronnie Younkins has been fighting for his sobriety the last couple of years.

The news is sad but not unexpected. Our favorite bands have been around for decades now and we can’t expect them to perform live forever. KIX still has a lot of dates booked over the summer before that final show. If you haven’t seen them live, this is literally your last shot.

The band is choosing to make this decision as a group and on their own terms. Good for them and I wish them well. I will miss them on the live scene.

Comments

[Steverox]

This genuinely made me sad but good for them! Going out on top. I named one of my 2 boys Kix and it’s a kick ass name! They will be missed!!!

[Kixchix]

I hear ya Steve. I named myself Kixchix. Their comeback run in the last 15 years or so has been a treat.

[bkallday]

I saw the boys back in 92 or 93 on their Hot Wire tour. One of the best hard rock bands i've ever seen live and they were also awesome dudes, I met them all after the show. Still have my pics with the band!

[Todd]

Allyson if you remember me (KixRules) hearing Steve announce Kix's retirement hit home. Emotions for sure...Kix has been my favorite band for nearly my entire life and it all ends in a few short months. I'm happy they are going out while still on top, but sad a part of all of our lives closes its books on September 17th. One thing for sure, we will enjoy every moment of that final concert and how fitting it will be in front of 10,000+ fans who are there to see Kix and Kix only! Cheers and Rock on!

[Him]

Twilight, as I have mentioned. And I am bummed too. Never got to see them. And won't get to see them on this tour. But a band I like. And I am glad they are doing things on their terms.

[Bob]

This is sad news, but not unexpected, (If I may be so bold as to use a double negative.) Only a few days earlier, they did an interview with Eddie trunk on the Monsters of Rock cruise where they told the incredible moment-by-moment story of when Jimmy Chalfant's heart stopped in the middle of a show and two people performed CPR on him to save his life. During the interview, they said they might hang things up after their live commitments, but it would depend on Chalfant's health. M3 was only a few days later, so they must have made that decision right after they got off the cruise. Btw, I am thrilled to see that BBG is alive and kicking, and that some of the oldschool folks are still here flying the flag. I lost track of BBG for a few years when we were working on moving from San Diego to Tennessee, but I am so happy to be back in the BBG groove.

[Bob]

OH, and forgot to mention that i saw Kix somewhere around 1989 or 1990 on a double bill with the Brian Howe version of Bad Company. It was probably at the Meadowlands in NJ. Kix were fantastic. Bad company was pretty good as well, but Howe never sounded comfortable singing the Paul Rodgers stuff.

[Him]

Welcome back, Bob. I know you weren't talking about me. But I am always glad when we get some posters back in the fold, sharing memories and adding content.

[Bob]

Him, you are definitely one of the people I am talking about. We had some epic exchanges of stories and ideas back in the day. I miss conversing with seriously passionate music fans, and I am glad that I finally am settled enough to do it again.