Two years after what they claimed what their final show, KISS will reunite onstage once more. The ’80s metal legends will celebrate 50 years of the KISS Army and the 30th anniversary of the first KISS fan convention with a three-day festival in Las Vegas this fall. Although some fans side-eyed the announcement of yet another post-farewell tour show, KISS frontman Gene Simmons says the Vegas show will be much more low key.
Gene Simmons Promises KISS Vegas Show Will Be “Much More Personal”
Although KISS rose to fame with their elaborate stage makeup and penchant for onstage pyrotechnics, Gene Simmons says fans should expect exactly none of that at the band’s Vegas show.
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“We will not do the makeup. We will hold true to the promise,” Simmons told The Las Vegas Review-Journal. “There’s no stage show. There’s no crew. We won’t have 60 people levitating drum sets and all that stuff. This is more personal gathering of the tribes, where we meet them, greet them, maybe have a Q&A.”
Set for Nov. 14-16 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, the festival will spill out into the entire property.
“There might be some Kiss tribute bands, almost like a convention, if you will,” said Simmons, 75. “So it’s much more personal. And of course, we can’t get by without playing, so we’ll get up and do some tunes. What they are, how long, I don’t know.”
KISS Avatar Show Will “Blow Away” Anything at the Sphere, Simmons Says
During KISS’ final concert in December 2023, the band announced plans to continue as digital avatars starting in 2027. The production is a collaboration with Pophouse — co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus — and George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic digital-effects company.
KISS frontman Gene Simmons hyped up the band’s futuristic next chapter, saying, “Imagine if some magic happens, and you’re thrown into another realm, another dimension, another reality, and everything that you’re aware of disappears. Oh, it’s great. It’s crazy.”
Comparing it to other artists’ residencies at the Sphere, Simmons said, “Without taking anything away from it, because it’s terrific — it looks like they’ll go broke, but I hope not, because it’s all about giving people excitement. But our KISS avatars, with the name being a placeholder, is gonna blow that away.”
Featured image by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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