On December 2, 2023, KISS played what the band says will be its final concert ever at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The hometown show brought to a close the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ End of the Road farewell tour.
Videos by American Songwriter
Now, KISS co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have shared a video message marking the one-year anniversary of the event, and promising fans more excitement to come.
Simmons appears first in the clip, which has been posted on KISS’ YouTube channel. “Hey kids, it’s Gene Simmons,” he says. “We are fast approaching the end of 2024, and 2025 is right around the corner.”
In a separate video segment, Stanley then introduces himself, and comments, “Thanks to all of you. It’s a year since the end of the End of the Road [tour].”
Simmons then notes, “And while it’s true we stopped touring, this is not the end. No siree Bob. I wish I could tell you the amazing things that are brewing, but you will soon be able to experience it beyond anything you’ve experienced.”
Stanley adds, “You’re not forgotten, the 50 years aren’t forgotten, and the years to come will not be forgotten either.”
Simmons then finishes the message, telling fans, “Hang in there. KISS is forever.”
KISS Also Shared a Video Recap of the Final Concert
Meanwhile, KISS also posted a 20-minute video featuring highlights from the band’s December 2, 2023, concert at Madison Square Garden. The video included edited segments of rockers playing “Detroit Rock City,” “Heaven’s on Fire,” “Cold Gin,” “God of Thunder,” “Love Gun,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” and “Beth,” leading into a confetti-filled finale performance of “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
As KISS played “Rock and Roll All Nite,” footage showed that band’s logo and image were being projected onto the Empire State Building. The recap also included some of the video presentation at the end of the show that gave a preview of KISS’ planned virtual avatar concert that’s being developed.
Simmons’ New Comments About the KISS Avatar Show
Simmons’ comment in his and Stanley’s video message about the “amazing things” that are brewing clearly is at least partly in reference to the upcoming KISS concert experience that will feature digital avatars of the band members.
Gene shared more details about the virtual show during a recent phone interview on The Zak Kuhn Show YouTube program. Simmons began by pointing out that the presentation is being developed in partnership with the Swedish company Pophouse, which also created the popular ABBA Voyage show that currently be seen exclusively in London.
“I don’t know how to describe it, but so far we’re just calling it KISS avatars,” Simmons noted. “It’ll be seen around the world. And I’ll try to describe it. When you put on virtual glasses, you get a 360-degree experience. Wherever you turn your head, you’re … in a parallel universe, if you will. You could be in the land of dinosaurs or falling off a cliff or you pick your head up to the sky and you see the sky. … Now imagine not wearing glasses and having that experience.”
Gene was asked if the KISS experience will “totally blow away” the current ABBA show, and he responded, “It already does.” Simmons also pointed out that the technology “has advanced by leaps and bounds even [from] where the ABBA show was.”
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.