Tommy Thayer Says About KISS Avatar: It Takes Time To Get The Image As We Want

JAKARTA - In a new interview with Guitar World magazine, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer commented on his band's plans to continue his career as a virtual band.

This technology, which was originally developed for the ABBA "Voyage" event in London, will allow KISS to keep running in retirement.

"So far it's very interesting to make an avatar; it takes time to get the image to our liking," said Tommy.

"I haven't really thought about what all this means in the big picture, but with technology developing so fast, there's no doubt that this is the direction for a lot of entertainment."

Last month, KISS revealed that fans seemed to have had to wait more than three years to see the band's first avatar look.

On December 22, KISS released a short video announcing that "appointments" featuring KISS avatars will come in 2027.

The band captioned the clip: "50 years is a long time, and the future is in process."

The KISS avatar was created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and financed and manufactured by Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind "ABBA Voyage".

Earlier last month, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said about $200 million was invested in the KISS avatar show.

Unlike the "ABBA Voyage" show, which re-created the 1970s-era ABBA concert at a specially built arena in London, the KISS avatar that appeared at the band's last concert in New York in early December will not be based on reality like ABBA's digital replica.

According to BBC News, KISS avatars will feature the band appearing as fantasy-based superheroes who are eight feet tall, emitting flames and firing electricity from their fingers, while floating over the audience.

No further details have been announced regarding the KISS plan with the band's avatar.

"We'll find out after the tour," said Pophouse CEO Per Sundin before the final show at Madison Square Garden.

"Is this a future KISS concert? Is this an opera rock? Is this a musical? A story, an adventure? These four individuals already have super powers. We want to be as open as possible."

The avatar will now be available for live shows around the world and in digital online settings, which some people collectively refer to as the metaverse.

KISS will reportedly be the first fully virtual American band and host its own avatar show.