Iconic Kiss Bids Farewell with Spectacular Live Show in New York, Unveiling Digital Avatars in Grand Finale
The iconic American band Kiss reunited for their final farewell live concert over the weekend, delivering 'End of the Road' at the renowned Madison Square Garden in New York and introducing their digital avatars in the 'new era.' This was reported by USA Today.
The explosive final performance marked the conclusion of the band's 50-year career. While fans didn't see Ace Frehley or Peter Criss, they were treated to a presentation of Kiss's new digital avatars, symbolizing the end of the group's 'physical existence.'
'The end of the road is the beginning of another road,' said Paul Stanley to the crowd before the final bows. 'We're not going anywhere. You'll always see us in different things. We'll see you in your dreams.'
Except for the unexpected announcement about avatars at the end, the show was almost indistinguishable from the other 250 End of the Road shows they've done in the last four years. This doesn't mean it was anything less than an exhilarating rock 'n' roll spectacle that Kiss perfected.
Their journey began 50 years ago when four young New Yorkers dragged their guitars, amplifiers, and drums to an attic on 23rd Street, dreaming of becoming the biggest band in the world. While whether they achieved this ambitious goal will forever linger, there is no doubt that Kiss easily became one of the most recognizable bands globally, thanks to a fantastic blend of eccentric, glamorous visual effects, and penetrating sound.
Each member adopted a specific stage identity: Simmons – The Demon, Stanley – The Star Child, guitarist Ace Frehley – The Spaceman, and drummer Peter Criss – The Catman.
The band honed its performance through small club concerts and performed on New Year's Eve with Blue Öyster Cult. That night, Simmons accidentally set his hair on fire, breathing fire. (This happened several times over the years until colleagues started hanging a wet towel nearby.)
Modern health and safety rules, as well as possibly the advancing age of the original members, may have put an end to previous performances, but the show seems set to continue in the digital realm: the metaverse or virtual world – take your pick.
During the encore, the band left the stage to reveal their digital avatars. After the transformation, the virtual Kiss began performing the song 'God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You.'