Bringing shock rock to the forefront of the music industry, the iconic KISS showcased just how crazy a concert can get. For five decades, the band toured the world, offering fans a chance to see the legendary band in person. Throughout that time, KISS sold over 100 million albums and landed members like Gene Simmons in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ending their time on stage back in December 2023, Simmons promised a new avatar version of their famous concerts. And keeping his promise, the hitmaker offered an update on what fans should expect.
Videos by American Songwriter
Appearing on The Adam Carolla Show, Simmons opened up about the new concert and what the band has been doing over the last year. According to Simmons, “This thing that we’re doing with Pophouse is a jaw-dropping, never-before-seen thing. And I can’t get too specific except to let you know the following, ’cause it’s out there. We flew up to George Lucas’s ILM and we did motion capture, just to make sure that it feels and moves like us, ’cause it is us. The experience is gonna be beyond anything you can imagine. Because imagine a caveman goes to IMAX and beholds, experiences a 3D event. They just wouldn’t understand.”
KISS Avatar Concerts Need Special Venues
For any person who experienced an IMAX theater, the visuals and sound can be somewhat of a shock compared to the classic moviegoing experience. Giving just a glimpse into what the new KISS concert will look like, Simmons continued, “Most of us know what virtual glasses are. And all of a sudden, the room and the world you’re in disappears. And if you look down, the floor that you’re standing on is no longer the floor. You could be floating in space or on another planet. So no matter where you look, in back of you, forward, up, down, you’re in this alternative universe. Now imagine that experience with sound and heat and all that kind of stuff without glasses.”
While sounding downright spectacular and in line with the shock rock of KISS, Simmons admitted that the concert needed special venues. “Initially, we’re controlling every square foot of these huge places in the same way that IMAX 3D, they need special cameras, special lighting and all that. You can’t take IMAX and go to an outdoor property… It’s not linear. You’re not looking at a screen. It’s all around you. So if you pick your head up, your chair disappears. It’s difficult to describe it because nobody has seen this.”
Although still a few years away from their first concert, KISS is ready to propel the band into a new era.
(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.