In a newly uploaded video on band’s YouTube channel, KISS‘s Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons reflected on their past, present, and future as they embark on a new era for the legendary rock band.
After touring for 50 years, KISS played their final show in Madison Square Garden on December 2nd, 2023. However, this doesn’t mean the end for the band. KISS will be transforming into digital avatars, created by Industrial Light & Magic, allowing them to continue performing and pushing the boundaries of rock and roll. This new era is a partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group and will include immersive avatar-powered music concerts.
The band members are excited about the opportunity to immortalize KISS and take their brand to new heights. Alongside the avatar shows, KISS will also continue with other ventures such as a KISS museum, cruises, a movie, and a cartoon show.
Simmons said about the collaboration “We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamed of before. The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he’s ever done before.”
Stanley added: “What we’ve accomplished has been amazing, but it’s not enough. The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are.” He later adds: “It’s exciting for us to go the next step and see KISS immortalized. I mean, we’ve spent 50 years building it to this point. And by working with ILM and working with Pophouse, we’re all sharing this vision of taking KISS to a completely different level beyond being just a music band. And we’ve always thought of ourselves as more than just a music band.”
According to Gene Simmons, KISS is done performing after their final farewell tour show. During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the KISS bassist/vocalist insisted that the band’s final show on the “End Of The Road” tour marks the end of their performing career.
“My hand on the Bible,” he said. “And I should know because my people wrote that book. In fact, my people also wrote the follow-up book, the New Testament. And so I’ll say right here, right now, my hand on the Bible, it will be the final KISS-in-makeup appearance.”
Concerning KISS‘s decision to retire at this moment, Simmons stated: “It has nothing to do with ticket sales or anything. It has to do with Mother Nature. And at a certain point, you have to understand that it’s going to be a point of diminishing returns because of the kind of band we are. I wear seven-inch platform dragon boots, each weighs as much as a light bowling ball, armor, studs, leather, all that stuff, and that weighs about 40 pounds in total. And I got to spit fire, and fly through the air, and all that, and you got to do it for two hours.”
