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
I have thought this was what they were planning for a long time now, I don’t know how to feel, it could be really great with the right guys, or it could be a disaster, if they do it like the old rockstar supernova tv show it would be fun to watch with paul and gene as live judges – either way something has to change soon- paul really has lost his voice and cant move like he used to – & gene just picks up his legs in that weird monster stomp thing he does , they both look kind of silly now-
Michael Zimmons = Gene
Gil Garcia = Paul
To be in a world without KISS will be a sad day for all fans. A World without Heroes! But a replacement band would keep the band alive..I could see a Las Vegas review-type residency,however. Anything to keep the band going. Why not?! I agree with with Terey,find unknowns to recapture the mystique!!!
I believe this is the first step in copyrighting and trademarking the “tribute act”. Much the same way they did with the Convention. Fans had been holding Conventions for years and suddenly Gene and Paul get involved and trademark the “Kiss Convention”. Sure, fans can still hold a Kiss “Expo”, but the band has taken over the market for “Conventions”. Look at the number of Beatles tribute bands out there. You don’t think Gene is making sure he and Paul keep their hands in the money jar after they’re too old to perform? They will trademark it and only the “official tribute” will be allowed to tour. How many of these bands will risk a lawsuit from Gene and Paul?
Gene has said recently he doesn’t think he will tour more than a year or two and then call it quits. He said he doesn’t want to tour anymore and doesn’t believe he can do it much longer Physically.
I was told by a reliable source one more after this and done.
Do you know it Ace will regain rights to his makeup?
lol more BAD / WRONG info from Ed.
Snake is not always right Ed!!!
Eddie…forgetting the whole should Tommy and Eric be wearing the makeup argument, I don’t see anything wrong with Kiss owning a Kiss tribute type of Vegas-show with four new members…it is actually smart…thoughts??
Does this source tell us anything about plans of bringing the current or maybe at least the final tour you are hinting at to Europe one last time?
In 100,000 years there will be no trace of kiss.
There will be if Vegas is still around then! LOL! 🙂