KISS legend Gene Simmons recently spoke highly of the upcoming KISS avatar show and called it a “jaw-dropping, never-before-seen thing”.
The technology being used for the KISS avatars, originally developed for ABBA’s “Voyage” show in London, will allow KISS to stay “on the road” in retirement. The KISS avatars were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and were financed and produced by the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind “ABBA Voyage”.
Using the new age technology, Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, will create digital versions of KISS. The project was previewed at the final KISS concert in New York in December last year.
During an appearance on “The Adam Carolla Show”, Simmons talked about his vision for the KISS avatar show and said:
“This thing that we’re doing with Pophouse is a jaw-dropping, never-before-seen thing. And I can’t get too specific except to let you know the following, ’cause it’s out there. We flew up to George Lucas’s ILM and we did motion capture, just to make sure that it feels and moves like us, ’cause it is us. The experience is gonna be beyond anything you can imagine. Because imagine a caveman goes to IMAX and beholds, experiences a 3D event. They just wouldn’t understand. So, the only way I can describe what’s gonna happen in the next two years or so… Most of us know what virtual glasses are. And all of a sudden, the room and the world you’re in disappears. And if you look down, the floor that you’re standing on is no longer the floor. You could be floating in space or on another planet. So no matter where you look, in back of you, forward, up, down, you’re in this alternative universe. Now imagine that experience with sound and heat and all that kind of stuff without glasses.
“If you go to the [Las Vegas] Sphere or if you go to the ABBA show, and millions of folks have gone, you’ll swear to God they’re live on stage,” Gene continued.
“But if you look down, you can see your hand and some person next to you. So it’s reality crossed with you can’t believe your eyes. The technology has improved so much that reality will disappear. You’re gonna be in an alternate… It’s tough to describe it.”
He was asked if the KISS avatar show could be played at almost any venue or if it needs a special venue. Simmons explained:
“Initially, we’re controlling every square foot of these huge places in the same way that IMAX 3D, they need special cameras, special lighting and all that. You can’t take IMAX and go to an outdoor property… It’s not linear. You’re not looking at a screen. It’s all around you. So if you pick your head up, your chair disappears. It’s difficult to describe it because nobody has seen this.”
