Photo credit:  NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Paul Stanley of KISS perform during the final show of KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)

On Saturday evening, Kiss concluded their “The End of the Road” farewell tour with a final performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Yet, as ardent fans are aware, the idea of the band truly calling it quits was always somewhat elusive.

In the encore, the existing lineup—comprised of founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, alongside guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer—exited the stage, revealing digital avatars bearing their likenesses. Following this transformation, these virtual manifestations of Kiss took center stage, delivering a rendition of “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.”

This state-of-the-art technology acted as a preview for a new phase in the rock band’s journey: after celebrating 50 years of Kiss, the group is delving into the realm of digital immortality.

Crafted by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in collaboration with Pophouse Entertainment Group (co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus), the avatars showcased the intersection of technology and entertainment. This collaboration, previously instrumental in the “ABBA Voyage” show, offered a complete concert experience featuring the Swedish band’s digital avatars.

Per Sundin, CEO of Pophouse Entertainment, emphasized the transformative potential of this technology, envisioning Kiss’s legacy extending into “eternity.” Sundin highlighted that the absence of the band during the virtual performance was crucial for the impactful nature of the forward-looking technology, suggesting the potential for Kiss to hold simultaneous concerts in multiple cities across different continents.

To animate the digital avatars, Kiss utilized motion capture technology with special suits. Such experimentation with technology has become increasingly prevalent in certain sectors of the music industry. In October, K-pop sensation Mark Tuan collaborated with Soul Machines to create an autonomously automated “digital twin” named “Digital Mark,” integrating OpenAI’s GPT technology for personalized interactions with fans.

Other musical acts, such as K-pop girl group Aespa, frequently share the stage with their digital avatars, providing an expanded visual experience. Additionally, the group Eternity is comprised entirely of virtual characters, eliminating the need for human performers.

Expressing their enthusiasm about the possibilities, Kiss frontman Paul Stanley conveyed, “What we’ve achieved has been remarkable, but it’s insufficient. The band deserves to endure because it’s greater than any one of us.” Bassist Gene Simmons added, “We can remain perpetually youthful and iconic by taking ourselves to places we’ve never envisioned before. The technology is going to elevate Paul to new heights.”

For those who missed the Madison Square Garden show, the prospect of a Kiss avatar concert may be on the horizon—stay tuned for further developments.