KISS will live on as a virtual rock band after they played their final live gig in New York on Saturday.
Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer, performed for one final time at Madison Square Garden, before revealing new digital alter egos who will appear at future KISS gigs.
The avatars are named Demon, the Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman after the stage personas created by founder members Simmons, Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley.
KISS's new iteration has been created using special effects firm Industrial Light & Magic's motion capture technology. Pophouse Entertainment, the firm behind the digital doppelgangers used for ABBA's Voyage shows, partnered with them on the project.
In a press release, frontman Paul Stanley said: "What we've accomplished has been amazing, but it's not enough. The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are. It's exciting for us to go the next step and see KISS immortalized. I mean, we've spent 50 years building it to this point."
Bassist Gene Simmons added: "We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we've never dreamed of before. The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he's ever done before."?
The virtual KISS's first performance at the MSG show was the group's version of God Gave Rock and Roll To You. The avatars will now be available for live shows around the world and in digital online settings.
