In a surprising turn of events, iconic rock band KISS has declared plans for a revolutionary “avatar tour” set to take place in 2027. This announcement follows the band’s farewell performance, ‘End Of The Road,’ at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 2. Closing their legendary chapter with a bang, KISS astonished fans by unveiling digital versions of themselves using cutting-edge technology from the creators of the highly successful ‘ABBA Voyage’ hologram show.
The band released a teaser clip with a caption that read, “50 years is a long time, and what the future holds is in the making.” The video also explicitly stated, “2027 a show is coming.”
Bassist and co-vocalist Gene Simmons, 74, revealed during a Q+A session at Electric Lady Studios in New York that substantial investments, totaling millions of dollars, are being poured into enhancing the avatars. Assuring fans that the avatars will “get better,” Simmons expressed excitement about the elaborate plans in progress. He stated, “There’s so much being planned, even beyond my comprehension. But they’re spending, oh, about 200 million [dollars] to take it to the next level.”
Comparing it to ABBA’s groundbreaking hologram show, Simmons remarked, “You can’t tell if they’re there, right there, like that.”
However, not all former members of KISS are on board with the avatar concept. Ace Frehley, the 72-year-old guitarist, criticized the band’s direction in a recent interview with Rock Antenne. He expressed skepticism, saying, “I don’t get this avatar thing that they’re gonna do.” Frehley went on to comment on a video he saw on YouTube, noting, “It kind of looked like it, you know, was geared towards children. And it’s not rock and roll.”
Despite the varied opinions, KISS, in a video posted online after their final concert, declared the avatars as the commencement of a “new era.” Simmons confidently stated, “We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamt of before. The technology is going to make [rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist] Paul [Stanley] jump higher than he’s ever done before … If you think you are going to get rid of us, then that’s not going to happen.” The band seems poised to redefine the concert experience with their innovative foray into avatar technology.
