Earlier this month, KISS wrapped up their “End Of The Road” farewell tour and announced that a virtual version of the band will continue. KISS avatars were created by Industrial Light & Magic and were financed and produced by the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, the same company behind the ABBA Voyage” show in London.
Bassist/singer Gene Simmons said: “We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamed of before. The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he’s ever done before.”
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was asked by Germanyh’s Rock Antenne if he was happy that KISS’ farewell tour was over. He said he was, and he also offered his thoughts on the KISS avatars.
“I’m happy it’s over, because I’m not gonna be compared to them anymore… But I don’t get this avatar thing that they’re gonna do,” he said.
“I mean, I saw some of it on a video on YouTube last night. It kind of looked like it was geared towards children. And it’s not rock and roll. I get up on stage without backing tracks, plug my amp into it, plug my guitar into a Marshall and go. That’s it. It’s always been that way and always will be.”
Frehley was also asked if he watched the final KISS show online.
“I watched (the band’s show in) Indianapolis, and I’m not impressed,” he said. “But that’s me. Tommy Thayer is not a bad guitarist. He just is more mechanical than me. Nobody can copy my solos the way I play them, because I’m sloppy and nobody can move like me. Nobody. And I’m surprised the fans bought Tommy pretty much, because I think for several years that Tommy was in the band, people didn’t even know it wasn’t me”
Frehley continued: “I used to get phone calls from people and say, ‘Hey, KISS is playing in town. Can you get me tickets?’ I go, ‘I’m not in the band anymore.’ They go, ‘You’re not?’ Because when I quit the band the second time, they did not make a big press release. They kind of buried it and just made the transition. But the last tour I did with KISS, Tommy Thayer was bringing me sandwiches and he was a tour manager and a gofer. But he’s not a bad guitar player. I’m actually friends with Tommy — just all the guys in the band. I’m good friends with Eric Singer. Me and Gene are very close. When Gene put out his ‘Vault Experience’, I went on the road with him. I went to Australia with him. Before we made it really big, me and Gene used to room together. So Gene has a soft spot in his heart for me.”
The full interview with Ace can be viewed below.
