KISS Bids Farewell, but Digital Doppelgängers Keep the Party Going
Legendary American rockers KISS said their final goodbyes at their "End of the Road" tour finale in New York's Madison Square Garden, marking the culmination of a 50-year touring journey.
Founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, alongside guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, took the stage and spun through classics like "I Love It Loud" and "Beth."
As the band wrapped up the show, the musicians retreated and their digital counterparts stepped in, belting out "God Gave You Rock and Roll."
The band also shared footage of the Motion Capture suits used to create their digital personas, along with the "fire-breathing" avatars themselves, on their official YouTube channel.
"This band deserves to carry on because the band is bigger than we are," frontman Paul Stanley declared in the video.
According to a press release from the venture, the digital avatars were made in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group. KISS, it was noted, is the first American band to embrace this digital technology.
"The transformation of the band into Incarnation will secure their immortality, while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of rock performance, as KISS has done throughout their career," reads the press release. Pophouse also mentioned that KISS would continue to perform "for decades to come."
The band heads into the footsteps of Swedish pop icons ABBA, who put on their own digital avatar show. Pophouse worked with ABBA, Avicii, and Swedish House Mafia on the project.
Industrial Light & Magic, the special-effects company founded by George Lucas, crafted the band's digital heads.
"We can remain young and iconic forever by visiting places we never dreamed of before," Gene Simmons stressed in the press release. "This technology will allow Paul to jump higher than ever before."
From the Press Release
KISS will continue to perform using digital avatars following their final concert, leveraging cutting-edge technology.
Key Points
- Digital Avatar Creation: The digital avatars of KISS members were produced in collaboration between George Lucas' special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, and Pophouse Entertainment Group, co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus.
- Upcoming Shows: The group is set to present their first digital avatar performance in 2027. Gene Simmons has hinted that the avatars will improve significantly, and a substantial investment ($200 million) is being directed towards the technology to elevate the shows.
- Public Reception: Not all KISS members are in agreement about the digital avatar concept. For instance, former guitarist Ace Frehley expressed skepticism, stating that the avatars do not properly encapsulate rock and roll and that he prefers traditional live performances.
- Technological Investment: The financial investment in digital avatars is significant, with Gene Simmons mentioning an immense amount of planning and development happening, even beyond his understanding, to improve digital performances.
KISS aspires to continue its legacy through groundbreaking digital performances, despite some internal reservations about the strategy.
