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
So Tommy and Eric will be replaced too?
The only Gene and Paul impersonators I will accept are the ones that keep bad mouthing Ace and Peter 🙂
That’s a good one>
Noooooo…. They will never find another band that will
b as awesome as they where/are. Ive been listenin to Kiss for yrs the
only time i would move in my mothers stomuck was to my fav song
Heavens on Fire…….(Gene does it for me mmmmmmm ;).
You guys are totally missing the point! It’s all a publicity stunt to create a buzz about the band again! When (or rather if) this show becomes a hit, the band can sell tickets, merchandise and albums to an entirely new audience – it’s really a clever ploy if you Think about it!
Would I buy a ticket to see “new and improved KISS”? Ah I don’t think so – but I do think there’s an audience for it!
Imagine Singer & Thayer getting replaced. Doc calls them into his office.
Singer might knock on Alice’s office door and Tommy might go make coffee for the new members again. This image might please the haters. If that is the future of the band, I’d rather come to terms with the 50% tribute band still existing.