KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have revealed that the legendary rock band has new songs prepared for their upcoming avatar shows, despite officially retiring from touring. The announcement was made during discussions about their virtual reality performances, as reported by Pollstar.
The band members addressed questions about their setlist and confirmed they have original material ready for the innovative shows.
When asked about classic songs like “Love Gun” and “Deuce,” Paul Stanley responded: “We will have all the classics through the years and some surprises.”
Gene Simmons expanded on this, confirming new material is in the works.
“You’re gonna get all that stuff, and also new songs,” Simmons said. “Exactly what that means, written by us. We have songs done.”
Simmons also described the immersive nature of their planned avatar performances, explaining how the technology will engage multiple senses.
“It’ll be less of a show and more of an experience, because as fantastic as virtual reality is – it fools your eyes – but your ears can hear what’s going on around you,” he continued. “So if, hypothetically, you see a dragon that breathes fire into your face, the visuals will give you that, but you won’t feel the heat, so imagine all your senses are being attacked right along with the visuals.”
This announcement marks a significant development in KISS’s post-touring career. The band transitions into an entirely new phase of entertainment through cutting-edge technology.
Blabbermouth revealed that the KISS Forever avatar show is scheduled to launch in Las Vegas in 2028 through Pophouse Entertainment, the Sweden-based music investment firm co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. The project represents approximately $200 million in investment, making it one of the most ambitious virtual entertainment ventures to date.
The avatars will take on a dramatically different approach compared to other virtual performances. Reports indicated that the digital versions will appear as fantasy-based superheroes standing eight feet tall, breathing fire and shooting electricity from their fingers while floating above the audience. This stylized approach differs significantly from ABBA’s more realistic digital replicas in their “ABBA Voyage” show.
Paul Stanley emphasized that the experience will extend beyond traditional concert boundaries. Blabbermouth noted that Stanley described how “the experience will start when you come through the door,” with the band members serving as “travel guides through KISS world.” The avatars will reportedly be interactive and responsive to the audience, though specific details about this interactivity remain undisclosed.
KISS will become the first American band to go fully virtual and stage its own avatar show, setting a precedent for other major rock acts. Pophouse Entertainment confirmed plans to eventually tour the avatar show to arenas after the Las Vegas launch, potentially bringing this immersive experience to fans worldwide.
The avatar shows represent KISS’s transition into a new phase following their farewell tour, allowing the band to continue performing virtually while introducing fresh material to their catalog.
