May 30, 2002 — Ripping into "By My Side," INXS took to the stage in Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago (5/15), kicking off the group's first multi-continent tour in more than five years. The "Just For Kicks" 2002 tour will take the multi-platinum funksters to more than 38 cities in eight countries before wrapping up July 12 in China. The North American leg began yesterday (5/29) in California, bringing INXS into Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and New York, with five of these shows as co-headlining gigs with Simple Minds.

Because of the band's enormous fan base in South America -- they were regulars at the annual Rock In Rio festival -- the group decided to begin the tour there. Some of these shows saw the band performing to audiences not accustomed to tours from international artists; in fact, INXS are the first international band to play in Brazil and Argentina this year and only the third band in a decade to perform in Peru. Not surprisingly, the response from the crowds was incredible.

For the "Just For Kicks" tour, the group's original members -- Garry Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly -- have teamed up with longtime friend, singer Jon Stevens, on vocals. The set list is rife with one smash hit after another, plus a few new songs that are unrecorded thus far.

"We were given an awesome welcome all through South America -- we were blown away," said INXS in a joint statement. "The crowds were huge and the exchange of energy between us and our fans made the gigs really special. It was a fantastic way to being the tour."

Meanwhile the release of The Best of INXS and three reissues albums -- originally due out in June -- has been delayed to coincide with the records' worldwide release through Universal later in the year. The definitive greatest hits collection, plus the expanded and remastered versions of Kick, X and Welcome to Wherever You Are now are scheduled for a September 17 worldwide street date.

The in-progress tour dates are as follows:

DATE	CITY	VENUE
Wed 5/29	Sacramento, CA	Radisson Hotel Sacramento
Thu 5/30	Anaheim, CA	The Grove of Anaheim
Fri 5/31	San Diego, CA	Humphrey's
Sat 6/1	Las Vegas, NV	House Of Blues
Sun 6/2	Agoura Hills, CA	The Canyon Theater
Tue 6/4	Los Angeles, CA	El Rey Theater
Thu 6/6	Reno, NV	Reno Hilton
Fri 6/7	Saratoga, CA	Mountain View Winery
Sat 6/8	Kelseyville, CA	Konocti Field Amphitheater
Sun 6/9	Medford, OR	Britt Festivals
Tue 6/11	Orem, UT	McKay Center
Thu 6/13	Phoenix, AZ	Celebrity Theater
Fri 6/14	Albuquerque, NM	Santa Ana Star Casino
Sat 6/15	Denver, CO	City Lights Pavilion
Sun 6/16	Omaha, NE	Anchor Inn
Tue 6/18	Chicago, IL	The Metro
Wed 6/19	Clio, MI	Clio Amphitheater
Fri 6/21	Sauget, IL	Pop's
Sat 6/22	Robinsonville, MS	"Bluesville" Horseshoe Casino
*+Mon 6/24	New York, NY	The Beacon Theater
Wed 6/26	Boston, MA	Avalon
+Thu 6/27	Wantagh, NY	Jones Beach Amphitheater
+Fri 6/28	Holmdel, NJ	PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat 6/29	Hampton Beach, NH	Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Mon 7/1	Milwaukee, WI	Summerfest-Harley Stage
+Wed 7/3	Detroit, MI	Freedom Hill Amphitheater
+Thu 7/4	Toronto, ONT	Molson Amphitheater
Fri 7/5	Akron, OH	Akron Music Festival
Sat 7/6	Ledyard, CT	Fox Theater/Foxwoods Resort & Casino
Fri 7/12	Hong Kong, China	TBA

* Indicates venue change.
+Indicates show is with Simple Minds