Paul Stanley Teases KISS Avatar Show Experience

During an April 14 appearance at the Pollstar Live! Conference in Los Angeles, KISS founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons joined longtime manager Doc McGhee to outline the band’s next chapter. The panel, moderated by Jessica Koravos of Pophouse Entertainment, focused on the group’s forthcoming avatar-based production, scheduled to debut in Las Vegas in 2028.

Stanley described the show as a bold evolution of the band’s signature theatricality—one that replaces the traditional concert format with a fully immersive experience.

“KISS has always been interactive,” he said. “As fit as we might be, we don’t get younger, but those iconic characters can last forever. What we’re creating for the avatar show depends on the audience and the personas. It’s not going to be a concert, so to speak. We’re there as travel guides as KISS moves through different worlds.”

Technology, Legacy, and Knowing When to Step Away

Simmons emphasized that the band’s transition into the digital realm was driven by a desire to preserve its legacy rather than outstay its welcome onstage.

“We did this the right way, instead of staying on stage too long,” he said. “There are some artists that should really call it quits. Get off stage while you still look good, while you can still stand up straight instead of using walkers. Quit while you’re on top. We’re fortunate to have found Pophouse. Jessica and her team are here to take KISS to levels we never imagined.”

The band also addressed why it declined to pursue a residency at the Sphere, despite widespread speculation during its farewell tour. Stanley argued that the venue’s scale can diminish the performers themselves.

“The truth is, the Sphere minimizes a band. It makes a band miniature,” he said. “You’re not going there to see a band—you’re going to see screens. We wanted to incorporate the highest level of technology, but still be the center of it. This is the opposite of that.”

Instead, KISS is developing a custom-built venue tailored to its avatar production. Stanley described it as an all-encompassing environment designed to maximize audience immersion.

“It’s more an arena where every seat is a perfect-view seat,” he explained. “The whole building will be a KISS experience—artifacts, exhibits, everything. It’s ‘KISS World,’ and the experience starts the moment you walk through the door.”

Identity, Immersion, and the Future of the Brand

While the technology behind the show is groundbreaking, both Stanley and Simmons stressed that its foundation remains rooted in the band’s identity and its relationship with fans.

“I think the most important thing about this avatar show is KISS fans will love it, but it’s not directed solely toward them,” Stanley said. “People will come because of the technology alone. It’s true to the band—it’s bombastic—but it still has the heart and soul of who we are. We’re not only the band—we’re fans of the band.”

Simmons echoed that sentiment, framing the project as both a personal and collective milestone.

“When the show opens, I want to take my kids,” he said. “There’s a sense of pride when you do something well—you want your family to experience it first. And then the fans—you want them to be in awe and tell everybody else, ‘You can’t believe it.’ That’s the best kind of publicity. It’s fan and band. It’s an electric church.”

The partnership with Pophouse has allowed the band to expand its creative reach while remaining closely involved in the process.

“You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with,” Stanley said. “We trusted Pophouse to take something we’ve built for 50 years and ask, ‘What can you do with it?’ We’re still involved every step of the way, constantly giving feedback. It’s incredibly exciting.”

As KISS prepares to enter a fully virtual era, the band appears intent on redefining what a live music experience can be—proving that even after leaving the stage, its larger-than-life presence is far from fading.