KISS, Def Leppard To Hire Veterans For Tour

Whatever you think about the guys in KISS or Def Leppard, this is a pretty classy move. I received this press release yeserday from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Rock Bands KISS and Def Leppard Commit to Hire Two Veterans as Roadies as Part of U.S. Chamber Hiring 500,000 Heroes Program

NEW YORK, NY—Rock bands KISS and Def Leppard today announced their commitment to hire two veterans as roadies for their 2014 summer tour as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Capital One’s Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign. The bands made their hiring announcement live on the NBC Today Show in New York after deciding jointly to dedicate their upcoming summer tour to the military community. Following a nationwide search, two veterans will be chosen to support the bands’ production team on the 42-city North American tour. 

This will be the second time KISS has carried out a nationwide search for a veteran roadie. Two years ago, Army veteran and longtime KISS fan Paul Jordan was chosen to join a summer tour after a review of 1,900 applications sent in from coast to coast. He went on to tour 44 cities with the band, helping with the set up and breakdown at each stop. Looking back after the tour closed, Jordan said, “I know now that life exists after military service. You just have to find something you’re passionate about and go get it. There is a world of opportunity out there.”

"It is our privilege to draw attention to the obligation we all have to the brave men and women who volunteer to risk their own lives to protect the liberties and freedom that we all take for granted. We should all jump at any opportunity to provide any assistance needed by our warriors. Heroes deserve jobs!" said Paul Stanley, lead vocalist/guitarist of KISS.

“Having our own wounded warrior in Rick Allen, we’ve always had a close tie with the military,” said Joe Elliott, lead vocalist of Def Leppard. “To carry on and further our contribution by giving a little back, and hopefully helping fulfill a dream or two, we’re more than happy to show our support.”

KISS and Def Leppard announced the 2014 summer tour last month during a press conference at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Both groups have agreed to donate $2 of every ticket sold to various military nonprofits, including Hiring Our Heroes, the USO, Project Resiliency/The Raven Drum Foundation, Augusta Warrior Project, and Wounded Warrior Project.

“We are thrilled to work with KISS, Def Leppard, and all of the great partners teaming up to find two veterans for this amazing opportunity,” said Eric Eversole, executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “Our team saw firsthand how much Paul Jordan’s life changed when he toured with KISS. We applaud both bands for their continued dedication to the military community, and we hope others are inspired to follow their lead and hire military members and their spouses.”

Veterans who wish to apply for the positions can go to Military.com/Heroes for more information. All applications must be received by Friday, May 9th at 11:59 p.m. Military.com will work with KISS and Def Leppard to select the final two veterans.

 

Hiring Our Heroes launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Hiring Our Heroes has helped hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The goal of the Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign with Capital One is to engage the business community in committing to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy and the global business environment.

Comments

[Ace Steele]

Good to see KISS continuing this policy. For the last 15 years, they've been incredibly supportive of our armed forces, by doing all sorts of things from Free gigs for our military, donating a dollar from every ticket Since the "Rock The Nation" tour, to just visiting our injured soldiers in the hospital. Just one of the things that makes KISS an American Institution.

[Dj]

I hate how KISS is a brand now. But this is an amazing story. Showing support for military veterans is an amazing thing.

[Him]

Largely symbolic, but a wonderful thing to do to draw attention to a worthwhile cause.

It would be nice if other bands took this up as well.

[Kixchix]

Your correct HIM. It is symbolic. However if only 5 small business owners at each show are educated and motivated by this project to hire 2 veterans of their own "full time"; now your potentially affecting 500 vets plus their families.

Great news. Peace.

[Kixchix]

Also HIM, my bad I didn't process your line about drawing attention to a worthwhile cause, which my previous post elaborated on. It's 6:30 am here and I'm a bit groggy :)

[Metalboy!]

Agreed, it's a worthy cause. I just wish these vets never had to go over in the first place, especially when you consider the wars they fought in were manufactured AND unecessary, all just to make The Bushies, their Gopher, Dick Cheney and "The Corporation" zillions off the backs of the American taxpayer. What's worse, off the lives and limbs of unknowing young people who joined the military to fight those "wars".

AND, I wish The United States Chamber of Commerce would help ALL Americans in need of a job by lobbying Congress more aggressively to do so!

[Ace Steele]

MB...

SOME things are worth fighting for.

[Him]

Agree with you 100% Kixchix. Anything that helps people who stood up for me--regardless my politics, religion, what have you--deserve support back home.

A great cause, regardless how anyone feels--and people are entitled to feel how they want--about war or the motivations that underlie it.

[fletch]

Great posts everyone. And, please remember, too, the many service men and women who fight for good causes in your/our homelands. ptsd is just one disorder that our heros struggle with daily. Kudos to KISS for this worthy mission.

[Metalboy!]

Ace, SOME things ARE worth fighting for. However, what you believe are the reasons and what the actual reasons are to have these wars are VERY different.