In a cover story for the May issue of Pollstar, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmonsdiscussed 's highly anticipated avatar show KISS. The experience, still without a defined name, is initially scheduled to premiere in Las Vegas in 2028 and will feature unreleased songs from the group.
The show will mark the first major entry into the North American market for Pophouse Entertainment, a Swedish music investment company co-founded by Björn Ulvaeusof ABBA. Created in 2004, it is responsible for producing the acclaimed ABBA Voyage. The band's agreement with the company is valued at over US$300 million, and guaranteed the company the acquisition of the group's catalog, brand, and intellectual property.
When asked by journalist Katherine Turman which phases of the group would be represented in the show, Simmons replied: “It will be the iconic personas, The Demon, the Starchild, and so on. Who you want to put in that lineup is up to you.” Regarding the setlist, Stanley commented: “We’ll have all the classics from all the years and some surprises.” Simmons added the big news: “You’ll have all that and also new songs. Exactly what that means: written by us. We have songs ready,” [transcription via Blabbermouth].
KISS avatars have undergone technological changes, says Pophouse CEO
Jessica Koravos, CEO of Pophouse, revealed to the magazine that the avatars have undergone major technological improvements. The first glimpse occurred on December 2, 2023, when KISS performed their final showat Madison Square Garden in New York.
“What the audience saw at MSG was an early prototype of the KISS avatar concept. A lot has evolved since then. Both in terms of the creative concept for the show and the avatar technology. We are now in an advanced stage of development with a cutting-edge creative team led by Thierry Coup. The team was on set last week testing pyrotechnic effects with a new generation of LED screens, to ensure KISS’s trademark flame-throwing. The show concept is an intense 4D rollercoaster that travels through KISS’s hits, comics and personas,” concluded [transcription via Pollstar Magazine].
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