Paul Stanley recently spoke about KISS’s upcoming avatar-based live show, sharing bold expectations for the project.
The KISS frontman addressed the scale and ambition of the venture. It includes a custom-built arena in Las Vegas reportedly costing $200 million and is tentatively set to launch in 2028.
“What we’re doing will absolutely blow people away,” Stanley said. “It’s as real as you and us sitting here. It’s immersive; it will be mind-boggling.”
Stanley went on to explain why the experience requires an entirely purpose-built venue, and why it goes far beyond a traditional concert setting.
“You have to build an arena to make sure everybody’s seat is the perfect viewing distance and angle,” he continued. “But quite honestly, I don’t think anybody is going to sit. It’s not going to be like, ‘Gee, that looks just like an amplifier.’ It’s not a concert in that sense; it’s an immersive experience.”
The avatar-based KISS show is currently in development. Las Vegas is the planned home for the custom venue designed specifically to host the production.
The project represents a significant leap forward in live entertainment technology, building directly on the framework established by ABBA’s acclaimed avatar show. Unlike that production, the KISS experience requires its technology to be installed into a building constructed around it from the ground up. This makes a purpose-built structure not just preferable but essential, underscoring the sheer scale of what the band is attempting to deliver.
The setlist is expected to span the full breadth of KISS’s legendary catalog. Stanley confirmed the show will feature “all the classics through the years and some surprises,” while Gene Simmons added that fans can also expect new music. This signals that the avatar format will not simply be a nostalgia exercise but a platform for fresh creative output.
The venue’s design has been engineered with the audience experience at its core. Every seat is positioned to ensure the optimal viewing distance and angle — a technical requirement that made a purpose-built structure essential. Stanley suggested that audiences may end up standing throughout, further reinforcing the event’s identity as something closer to a theatrical spectacle than a conventional rock concert.
The $200 million investment reflects the unprecedented nature of the undertaking. No comparable avatar-based rock show of this scale has been attempted before. The financial commitment signals that KISS and its partners are positioning the Las Vegas production as a long-term destination experience rather than a limited run.
With a tentative 2028 launch on the horizon, KISS is setting the stage for what could redefine the boundaries of live music. If the technology delivers on Stanley’s promises, the production may well establish a new benchmark for immersive entertainment that extends far beyond the rock world.
