KISS Become First U.S. Band To Go Fully Virtual And Announce Avatar Show
These virtual characters performed ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’ during the band’s encore.
This past weekend, KISS wrapped up the final night of their epic “End of the Road” Tour at Madison Square Garden. The show marked the group’s last live performance, but they revealed a surprise to help continue their iconic legacy.
During their encore, the band left the stage and unveiled digital avatars of themselves. This new group of virtual KISS members then performed “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.”
The avatars were created by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. The two companies recently teamed up for the “ABBA Voyage” show in London, which also featured digital avatars.
“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,” said Paul Stanley in an interview. “It’s exciting for us to go the next step and see KISS immortalized.”
“We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamed of before,” Gene Simmons added. “The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he’s ever done before.”
The band also unveiled that their “End of the Road” finale in New York will be available on Pay Per View until January 1. The streaming event will offer behind-the-scenes footage of the band creating their digital avatars. Visit Pay Per View’s official website for more information.
Following the physical band’s final performance, Pophouse Entertainment Group will continue to champion the KISS legacy for fans old and new, and for all generations. The new KISS avatar shows will be the second immersive, avatar-powered music concert project that Pophouse Entertainment is involved in – following the success of the ABBA Voyage show in London, UK.
Back in April, KISS released the latest installment of their ‘Off The Soundboard’ official live bootleg series with KISS – Off The Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, New York, 1984. Recorded live at the Mid-Hudson Arena on November 28, 1984, during the Animalize World Tour, this is the fifth in a series of live releases by the band and is available to stream and download, with a 2-LP standard black vinyl set, CD, and a limited edition 2-LP set pressed on 180g custard yellow vinyl.
The multi-platinum band’s fifth authorized Soundboard live release features the only known soundboard recording with guitarist Mark St. John. While the tracks “Young And Wasted” and “Rock And Roll All Nite” from this historic show are incomplete due to a tape change and tape space – these recordings were originally for archival use – this live recording is of historical importance due to St. John’s appearance.
