The manager of KISS has confirmed the group are in talks to launch a TV talent show to find replacements for frontman Paul Stanley and guitarist Gene Simmons – when the duo eventually retire.
It has long been rumored that founding members Stanley and Simmons hope to keep the band running when they decide to quit – but both men have been evasive when asked about whether any new members have been signed up and if the takeover will happen after their current world tour.
The rock veterans are the only original members left in the band, which was marred by the departure of Ace Frehely and Peter Criss and the death of Eric Carr in 1991 – the group now includes replacements Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.
However their longtime manager Doc McGhee insists that there are indeed plans to replace all four band members and keep KISS alive for a new generation – they are close to signing a deal to find their replacements through an American Idol-style TV show.
McGhee says in a new TV documentary about the band, “I believe that KISS can go on forever. I believe that there is a way – and we are talking to people and we’re pretty close to getting it done – about finding the four new members of KISS.”
As our own Eddie Trunk reports in his Trunk Report, despite the fact that this article is dated 2008, Eddie writes, “the plan and closer than ever to happening…maybe two years away from launching.”
source: starpulse.com
192 Responses
Yes, it’s called getting old. No one can avoid it. Not even you, Bill.
It is rather a poor attempt at not getting old, trying to prolong one’s image and relevance in public by all the means available.
Who would pay money to see 4 people who had nothing to do with the legacy or formation of KISS sing their music. Paul and Gene started it, Eric has been in a respectable amount of time, and Tommy has worked both on and off stage for quite some time. With 4 new guys, it will be a KISS tribute band, and it would be much cheaper to catch a KISS tribute band at a local theater for 20 bucks rather than pay an arm and a leg for these tickets. And I’m sure Paul and Gene want this to happen so they can keep making money and royalties. Just call it quits.
Given that the Beatles, Led Zep, and Pink Floyd tribute bands are able to do well selling tickets in theater-size venues (2,000-3,000 halls [or smaller]) across the U.S., I assume that this future version of KISS (albeit, an official tribute band as opposed to an organically formed one) would probably be able to find the same level of success. However, if Gene and Paul believe that such a version of KISS would be able to headline arenas or amphitheaters or co-headline them with such bands as Def Leppard (2014), Poison (2004), and Aerosmith (2003), they’re dreaming. I don’t believe the KISS fan base would show up in anything like the numbers they do now for the current version of KISS. Maybe today’s KISS fans might take their kids to see a tribute version of KISS just to let their kids see the live show and hear the songs live, but if such a future fan base was anything more than that needed to fill theater-size venues, I’d be truly shocked. I think Paul and Gene are delusional to expect an official tribute version of KISS to be treated anything like the current “official” version. Moreover, if Paul and Gene would be OK with their created version of KISS being treated as a tribute band, then they’re attempt at keeping the band’s legacy alive would be pathetic and sad.
I completely agree with you. There’s no way you can headline a major tour without any original members at all. Large clubs, sure, but never a major tour.
Somehow I think that the main goal might be the actual casting show that will make a ton of money, so that the later success or failure of the tribute band that comes as a result will not really matter. They are clever guys, they probably know that such a new band willl never make profit anywhere near the lineup stilll touring today, for many good reasons explain by posts on this website, but the TV show will be an opportunity to cash in one last time, and big time.
Rag on it all you want, I think this is cool. Kiss always was bigger than any one member. When I was 12 and first getting into the band, the members were larger than life. This is just an extension of that.
think you got that one wrong. Date on the article is back in 08
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/06/06/kiss_manager_confirms_new_members_rumors
True, but it is still happening and closer than ever now.