Kiss exists in a museum and arcade at the Rio and in various tribute acts. But the band continues to produce groundbreaking productions, with plans to launch its next phase in Las Vegas in 2028.
At a reported cost of $200 million, the “Kiss Forever” immersive avatar project is in development for our city. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley confirmed those plans this week during the Pollstar Live! music-trade conference in L.A.
During Tuesday’s panel appearance at Loews Hollywood Hotel, manager Doc McGhee joined the band’s co-founders along with Pophouse Entertainment CEO Jessica Koravos, whose company is producing the show.
The “where” of it all, and other details, are still locked away (though Simmons recited the $200 million price tag to Blabbermouth.net). The confirmation means their final, in-person concert was at Madison Square Garden in 2023 (though the current lineup reunited at the fan event Kiss Kruise at Virgin Hotels in November).
The NYC event was the launch point of the “Kiss Forever” concept.
Brazen as always, Simmons and Stanley say they are not interested in a Sphere run. They want to out-do the Bulbous Wonder, where Phish is currently blowing minds with its residency relaunch.
“People were saying, ‘Why don’t you play the Sphere?’” Stanley said during the Pollstar event, as reported by Rolling Stone. “And the truth of it is, the Sphere, at least for me, minimizes a band, it makes a band miniature. You’re not going there to see a band, you’re going there to see screens. We wanted to incorporate the highest of technology but we want to be the center of it.”
The Starchild character added: “It’s a very different experience than going to see a postage stamp with a band on it while you’re watching screens. This is the antithesis of it. It’s 180 degrees from that.”
Returning headliner Kenny Chesney, who has said he is in awe of Sphere, has said connecting directly with the crowd is a challenge because fans are gawking at the screen.
Ever self-aware, Kiss plans to present the band’s iconic characters prominently in the new show. The band has been inspired by the terrific “Abba Voyage” production in its custom-designed Abba Arena in London. Pophouse, based in Stockholm, was co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. The company is an original investor in “ABBA Voyage.”
We reported two years ago that an “ABBA Voyage” production is being developed for Las Vegas. In October, we specified the Bally’s Corp. parcel on the Athletics stadium site on the Strip as the preferred location.
Stanley said the ABBA figures, representing the band in its 1970s hit-making period, seem so authentic he wanted to meet them after the show. McGhee said the production “sparked hope for the future” for Kiss’s Vegas vision.
The band is already firmly repped in the city. Guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer in the current roster have homes in Las Vegas. Kiss is also branded at the Kiss By Monster Mini Golf and and museum at the Rio.
The band is also represented in the rotation of superstar acts in the “Ikons of Rock” tribute show at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip.
But there’s nothing better than the real thing. Or, in “Kiss Forever,” a convincing re-creation.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.