KISS wrapped up their End Of The Road farewell tour with a surprising twist at Madison Square Garden. Founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, along with guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, announced KISS will be immortalized by becoming digital avatars. During Saturday’s (2nd) encore, the group went into a virtual encore with avatars of the band performing “God Gave Rock And Roll To You.”
Stanley assured fans that this wasn’t the end, stating, “The end of the road is the beginning of another road. We’re not going anywhere.” The KISS avatars, created by Industrial Light & Magic and financed by Pophouse Entertainment, open the door for virtual sets with avatars performing simultaneously in different parts of the world. The avatar versions, portraying the band as “superheroes,” mark a new chapter. The immortalization goes beyond avatar characters as KISS’s post-tour plans include a Las Vegas museum, cruises, a movie, and a cartoon show, ensuring the band’s enduring legacy. Simmons emphasized, “The band will end, but the KISS experience… it’s immortal.”
