Rock Legends KISS to Rock On with High-Tech 3D Avatars

After fifty years of epic rock and roll, the legendary band KISS plans to take their live performances into the digital realm. As they approach their final live curtain call, KISS will hand over their performance baton to specially designed three-dimensional avatars, ensuring that their iconic music lives on beyond their physical retirement.

The creation of these avatars is entrusted to none other than the distinguished Industrial Light & Magic, the visual-effects company founded by George Lucas. These digital performers are scheduled to debut their rendition of God Gave Rock and Roll to You at their farewell event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The band's roster, including Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer, will join the ranks of the Swedish pop sensation ABBA, who have also transitioned to avatar performances. Discussions are ongoing with Pophouse Entertainment Group AB—the minds behind ABBA's digital series ABBA Voyage—to iron out the details of KISS's virtual tours.

KISS, a band revered for their electrifying live shows, boasts an impressive discography with 44 albums and over 100 million copies sold worldwide. Paul Stanley reflected on their journey and future, emphasizing the band's larger-than-life presence and legacy.

The digital avatars are not just static replicas but fantastical iterations, featuring younger versions of the band as superheroes with extraordinary abilities, such as a dragon-winged, fire-breathing Gene Simmons avatar.

Success stories like ABBA Voyage, which has sold over 1.9 million tickets, demonstrate the potential commercial success of avatar-led performances. The revenue from these digital shows, which feature ABBA's greatest hits, amounts to more than $2 million weekly.

However, assembling a KISS avatar tour could require two to three years of meticulous planning. Besides touring, these avatars may venture into other entertainment realms, including gaming and the metaverse. Per Sundin from Pophouse notes, "You need a band with a legacy and a dedicated fan base to pull off such a high-concept venture."

Furthermore, KISS's intrinsic theatrics and established personas, highlighted by their iconic makeup and Marvel comic renditions featuring their superpowers, make them an ideal choice for such a digital transformation.

KISS, avatars, legacy