Associated Press (12/02/23) Sherman, Maria

Kiss recently closed out the final performance of the fabled rock group's “The End of the Road” farewell tour at New York's Madison Square Garden in high-tech style. During their encore, the band’s current lineup — founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, guitarist Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer — exited the stage and were succeeded by digital avatars of themselves. Following the transformation, the virtual Kiss performed "God Gave Rock and Roll to You." The avatars were created by Industrial Light & Magic, filmmaker George Lucas’ special-effects company, in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group. Pophouse Entertainment CEO Per Sundin says the technology will enable Kiss to continue their legacy "for eternity. Kiss could have a concert in three cities in the same night across three different continents. That’s what you could do with this." To create their digital avatars, Kiss performed in motion capture suits. "The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are,” Stanley remarks. “It's exciting for us to go the next step and see Kiss immortalized."

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