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
Why not? Imagine they try to use this to re-boot THE F#$KING ELDER. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I hate all of these talent shows but this I’ll watch. I gotta root for the 5″1′ Chinese guy as THE DEMON or the 400 pound STARCHILD. A girl singing LOVE GUN? THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE LAND……KISS STARRING CHRISTOPHER WALKEN AS THE DEMON, JOHN TRAVOLTA AS THE STARCHILD, ANDREW “DICE” CLAY AS THE SPACEMAN AND A GUY NOBODY EVER HEARD OF AS THE CATMAN. YEAH!
They could just hire MR. SPEED from Cleveland! They ARE KISS! Let the money grubbing begin!
No No No No No
Doc McGhee says ‘Four new members’. I guess when Gene and Paul go, Tommy and Eric go too? It will be an interesting spectacle but, I doubt it will fly for very long. I mean, all the pretty girls that don’t know the names of the songs or band members and just want to go out and shake their ass and be crazy for the night or the rich guys who can drop $2-3,000 cash for a meet and greet or a signature guitar, will always buy tickets (DIEHARDS BE DAMNED!) but, the diehards will leave and the hipsters will fade away. KISS were and band long before they were a brand. Bands are a group of guys/girls that believe in what they play and say. They put their heart and soul, sweat, blood and tears into it. Brands change constantly to make a buck. Anything to sell another unit. It’s sad. I’m not a hater but, KISS seems hollow. Gene and Paul have put the business before the music. Maybe Ace and Peter don’t deserve to wear the makeup and be in the band but, as far as I can see, neither do Gene and Paul.
That … is the perfect post. Can’t add a thing. Well written. Well said.
Agreed. I love them but enough is enough.
Amen brother. 🙂
In a nutshell!
Amen, perfectly said
Indeed. Agreed. My fear is that there will be enough people to keep “The KISS Experience” alive. I just hope people aren’t that dumb and gullible.
Just saw Paul McCartney in Albany on July 5th…72 years old, still sings all the notes great and played 40 songs in 3 hours. What’s Paul Stanley’s excuse? High heels too tight? Anyway, we all know Kiss’ latest US tour is tanking and certainly NOBODY will see a full blown tribute Kiss on tour. Bad, BAD idea…and embarrassing.
Tanking? Oh you silly uninformed child (tapping him on the head the way you condescend to a 6 year old)
So which member of KISS posted this?
joe, when we get older our bodies obviously change, the vocal chords are a muscle, muscle breaks down as we get older, in pauls case its his vocal chords breaking down with age, and really screaming it out for 40 + years- some people are luckier than others , both pauls’ have had surgery to fix vocal issues, mccartney’s procedure worked very well, stanley’s not so much- it’s not an excuse,it’s just what happens to alot of people when they hit 60- after thinking about seeing an all new kiss – i agree with your take on it – very bad idea people will see right through the dollar signs – and i also heard the tour is doing good in some markets , and not so good in others, with a couple of huge turnouts- time will tell. either way paul and gene are about physically done with touring .
Maybe these “announcements” and allusions in many interviews are only their way of trying to find out whether this idea will get the attention and credibility among the fans/promoters/sponsors that is needed to make profit/to finance the project in the first place with some prospect of (commericial) success.