KISS Announces Immortality As Virtual Avatars At Final Performance
Video screenshot via KISS
It’s not a kiss goodbye, but a kiss hello. During the encore at their last live performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden, rock legends KISS promised “to rock forever” by stepping into the digital realm as avatars.
Partnering with the visual effects wizards at George Lucas’ motion picture visual effects studio Industrial Light & Magic and entertainment company Pophouse, KISS has crafted avatars digital doubles with a theatrical flair. Instead of merely cloning themselves, however, the band members transformed into fantastical superheroes.
Video screenshot via KISS
To achieve a lifelike performance, the members worked on their digital counterparts in motion-capture suits, injecting their timeless stage presence into them.
Video screenshot via KISS
The introduction of the avatars coincides with the band’s retirement from physical shows, marking a digital rebirth.
Video screenshot via KISS
While the specifics of how these avatars will prolong the band’s longevity are still under wraps, their potential is exciting. Industrial Light & Magic previously created similar avatars for ABBA’s ABBA Voyage show in London, showing that this could be the future for legendary bands looking to cement their presence for generations to come.
Think of KISS concerts happening simultaneously around the world, or interactive digital experiences that push the boundaries of what one can expect from a rock show. This technology paves the way for innovative fan experiences previously unimaginable.
Video screenshot via KISS
Video screenshot via KISS
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the driving forces behind KISS, are thrilled about this evolution. For Simmons, it's about keeping KISS eternally youthful and iconic. He adds that the virtual immortalization will make Stanley “jump higher than he’s ever done before.”
Stanley notes that while KISS has come this far, it still has the potential to reach new heights. “The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are,” the co-lead vocalist proclaims.
Video screenshot via KISS
For KISS, the show goes on—not just on a stage, but in the limitless digital universe.
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[via Pitchfork, Billboard, Fortune, Engadget, video and screenshots via KISS]
