Regarding Kiss’s recently revealed aspirations for digital immortality, Ace Frehley has spoken out, calling their avatar project “not rock and roll”.
Without fellow founding members Frehley and Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons wrapped up their final physical goodbye tour this weekend. However, they teased “the new Kiss era” to Madison Square Garden crowds, offering a glimpse into the band’s future.
In the upcoming, as-yet-unconfirmed age, Stanley, Simmons, and company will be “immortalized” and “reborn as avatars.” An announcement video features the band as eight-foot-tall, fire-breathing digital superheroes.
Hard-core Kiss fans were excited to watch the band play in a new format, but others weren’t persuaded. To do this, the band was videotaped and digitalized using the same technology that helped launch the wildly popular ABBA Voyage project.
Frehley has put himself in the camp of the latter. The band’s former electric guitarist expressed his misgivings about Kiss’ new digital front in a recent interview with Rock Antenne, saying it appeared to have been designed for children.
In response to a question about whether he was delighted Kiss had finished their tour, Frehley said, “I’m happy it’s over, because I’m not gonna be compared to them anymore,” as quoted by Blabbermouth. However, I don’t understand this avatar thing they’re going to do.
I mean, I watched a YouTube video last night that had some of it. He continued, “It seemed like it was intended for younger audiences. Furthermore, it’s not rock & roll. Without any backing tracks, I onto the stage, put in my Marshall guitar, and start playing. That is all. That is how things have always been and always will be.
Frehley has made comparisons between himself and his former bandmates previously. In a recent interview with SiriusXM, the guitarist refuted rumors that he lacked originality and declared that he intended to use his upcoming album as a warning to Kiss.
“We know that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have attempted to ruin my reputation over the years,” he asserted. “And unfortunately, 10,000 Volts will turn them into complete idiots.”