Rock legends Kiss say goodbye to live performances with a bang in NYC, embark on a digital journey like Abba
Classic rock band Kiss, renowned for hits like "Rock And Roll All Nite" and "I Was Made For Loving You", closed their five-decade-long stage career with a tear-jerking concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The band announced a new "virtual era" for Kiss, hinting at future digital pursuits.
With colorful fireworks, Kiss played their final show of the "End Of The Road" tour, where they traveled around 250 times, bidding farewell to their devoted fanbase. Paul Stanley, the 71-year-old singer-guitarist, expressed his gratitude, stating, "This is the end of the road, but tonight is an evening of joy, an occasion to celebrate what we have experienced together." Emotions ran high as Gene Simmons, 74, openly shed tears, acknowledging the difficulty of letting go.
Retracing their roots to January 1973, Kiss debuted in a New York club, with founding members Stanley, Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The original quartet later expanded to include Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. Fans held out hope that the former members might appear at the farewell concert, but it did not come to pass.
Instead, the band offered something completely fresh - avatars of their members created by Industrial Light & Magic, known for their work on "Star Wars." Kiss's virtual versions followed in the footsteps of Abba, who has carried out tours virtually since 2022. Gene Simmons, an Abba fan, suggested something similar for Kiss last year, stating, "Of course, we're working on it."
Yet, it's important to clarify that Kiss does not plan to follow the virtual concert route as Abba does. The rock icons have officially retired from live performances, concluding their final tour in 2023[5]. The digital era they've mentioned might not entail performances like Abba's but instead could involve new and innovative ways to engage with their music and legacy.
As the music industry rides the wave of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology, the future of musical events is an exciting prospect. Virtual concerts create unique experiences for fans, but Kiss has chosen to retire gracefully, leaving their fans with cherished memories and new avenues of expression to look forward to as digital technology evolves.
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- Kiss's farewell concert drew a passionate crowd of US and British fans at Madison Square Garden nonetheless.
- Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects company behind "Star Wars," also created Abba's avatars for their virtual concerts in London.
- Gene Simmons, a Kiss founding member and an Abba fan, hinted at a similar virtual project for Kiss in an interview last year.
- Although Kiss didn't reveal specific plans for their digital endeavors, they expressed their intention to carry on as a band, noting "Kiss will always be around."
- Kiss's final tour, which concluded in 2023, marked not just an ending but also the culmination of their illustrious career.
