So About Those New KISS Live Shows

First off, who could have predicted that KISS would return to live performances after their multi-year farewell tour? I, for one, am shocked.

KISS is doing a Las Vegas takeover November 14-16 at the Virgin Hotel. Bruce Kulick will be joining in the weekend as well. Pre-sale to the convention-concert weekend begins April 2 but you need to be a fan club member (of course).

This thing is crazy expensive, too. The basic package is a thousand bucks a person and the top-level, ultimate experience package is five-grand a head. Not sure who can afford this, but congrats if you can!

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Comments

[Jeff]

I'd be willing to bet this was not Gene and Paul's idea or desire. Everything about the band is now owned by a Swedish company called Pophouse who acquired the catalog, name, brand, and publishing rights. I wonder if they are the one pulling the strings here.

[Him]

I don't see a problem really. They said they would stop touring. And they did. This is a one-off apparently. And it is a one-off without make-up. Now, if they start touring again, with or without make-up, that is a different thing.

But you are correct, Jeff. As a brand, Gene and Paul have no say in things these days. All of it was sold to Pophouse EC. So there must have been some discussions (and anything that the brand derives from this will likely only go to those who own said brand). Will I go see this? Hell no. Never saw them (something I somewhat regret), and have no interest in seeing them now.

And I am certainly not looking forward to the avatar experience that is being promised. The Dio and ABBA things suggests that they tech for that is still years away to make it a compelling buy for me. And you have to consider that the ABBA experience required a site-built location to house it. The Dio thing? Well, it toured with a small(er) Dio on a screen that was just a motion capture overlay of another singer tweaked to look like Dio (even when he did decidedly non-Dio like things). I get the nostalgia thing. Just not interested in seeing it packaged in this fashion.

And this is, to be clear, the KISS event is a far different thing than the issues with MC, or even Ted Nugent. Both still own their brands. Both can say and do whatever they want to say or do, and then change their minds and do and say differently. Thing is, the former backtracked (among other things) in ways that were patently obnoxious. The latter, who I find obnoxious too, made it clear why he was doing shows now after retiring from touring . . . but is getting pretty close to also backtracking given how some of those shows are clumped together, which looks like touring and not just one-offs.

So, there you have it. Bands and brands often have their fingers crossed when they say things. Think Ozzy. Think Sabbath (and Heaven & Hell). Think the Scorpions. The reasons? Oh, I think we know. They all really love the fans, right? And, so long as we (or whoever) vote with our money, the bands and brands listen. Who among us would turn down a quick grab out of an open wallet?