KISS reveals digital avatars at farewell live performance: ‘We may be eternally younger’ – Nationwide

Rock and roll by no means dies, and neither does the band KISS.

On the conclusion of their farewell live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York on Saturday night time, the rock band debuted their new digital avatars — ones that can guarantee KISS can proceed to tour, lengthy after the celebrities have retired.

The avatars, made by the identical individuals who designed the digitized ABBA live performance collection, took over the band’s encore efficiency of God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You. After the precise KISS band members exited the stage, their large, better-than-holographic counterparts continued to rock on, flying on demon wings, respiratory hearth and taking pictures lightning bolts from their fingers.

KISS’ present line-up options unique members Gene Simmons, 74, and Paul Stanley, 71, in addition to late joiners Eric Singer, 65, and Tommy Thayer, 63.

The KISS avatars had been created utilizing information from motion-capture fits worn by the band members earlier this yr.

The avatars are three-dimensional and roughly eight ft tall. Utilizing pyrotechnics, lasers and different particular results, the avatars are dramatic and made to resemble the rockers of their youthful years. Regardless of being digital, the avatars play devices and sing, in addition to dance a little bit extra nimbly than the real-life members.

In a promotional video shared after the band’s remaining live performance Saturday night time, Gene Simmons stated the avatars would enable KISS to be “eternally younger and eternally iconic.”

For Simmons, KISS transcends age. He stated three totally different generations of followers can typically be noticed on the band’s concert events.

Frontman Paul Stanley championed the avatars as a “fruits of fifty years” of the band’s historical past. He stated the avatars will fuse “actuality and a created actuality to play with individuals’s notion of what’s actual and what’s not actual.”

“I feel we’ve transcended over time being human beings, and right here we have gotten immortal,” Stanley stated of KISS. “It couldn’t be extra thrilling.”

Stanley famous that he and his bandmates can’t keep their success on stage indefinitely, however their avatars can. The band members hoped, with their avatars, they might proceed to convey KISS to new generations of rock and roll followers.

“The expertise goes to make Paul soar increased than he’s ever completed earlier than,” Simmons described.

“And it received’t damage!” Stanley quipped.

“What we’ve achieved has been superb, however it’s not sufficient,” Stanley continued. “The band deserves to reside on as a result of the band is greater than we’re.”

The avatars had been designed by George Lucas’ particular results firm Industrial Gentle & Magic in partnership with the Swedish group Pophouse Leisure. Their digitized live performance collection starring ABBA’s avatars in London earlier this yr reportedly made greater than US$2 million (about C$2.7 million) per week.

It’s not but clear how the KISS avatars can be used, or if like ABBA, they are going to have their very own live performance collection. The BBC reported it isn’t but recognized if former KISS members like Peter Criss and Ace Frehley can be included among the many avatars.

KISS’ remaining tour started 4 years in the past, however solely concluded final week after delays to do with COVID-19 restrictions and Stanley’s well being. This was KISS’ second farewell tour, with the primary in 2001.

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Highlights from the Vancouver Kiss live performance

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