DETROIT – Kiss is alive. Again.

More than 30 years after their seminal live album ‘Alive!’ was recorded in part during a show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, the face painting rockers are back with a new CD and North American tour, which kicks off today – in Detroit Rock City, of course.

‘I expect the reception of homecoming heroes, but the truth is, it’s really us sharing … an intimate moment with a city and the people who were pivotal in helping to make Kiss what it is,’ lead singer Paul Stanley said of the show and another tomorrow – both at Cobo.

Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss put out a few studio albums in the early 1970s without a great deal of success.

It wasn’t until 1975’s ‘Alive!’ hit record-store shelves that Kiss blew up.

Stalwarts Stanley and Simmons are joined these days by Tommy Thayer on guitar and Eric Singer on drums.

Stanley said the band will play the songs from ‘Alive!’ as well as a few choice favorites during the Detroit gigs.