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
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The concept of letting the KISS characters have a life of their own has been hinted at publicly since at least 1980.
Watch the 1980 Australian 60 Minutes segment on KISS and you’ll see Bill Aucoin (at around 4:43) discussing this idea.
While on the surface, Aucoin is speaking in the context of merchandising the band, it doesn’t take much to apply his words to what was going on within the band at the time.
This was at the point where Peter was just about to or had already left the band (although it hadn’t been announced yet), so I’m sure they were faced with dilemma of how to replace Peter and his Catman persona.
There’s footage of Gene doing a photo session in a recording studio while singing along to Naked City, so Unmasked had already been recorded (either partially or entirely) and may have already been released. Also, at the beginning of the segment, the host mentions that KISS would be touring Australia in the near future, which they eventually did: in November of that year, with the late, great Eric Carr (R.I.P. ), so this segment probably would have aired around mid 1980 or so.
So this “no originals” KISS is actually much older news than we imagine, but, as Eddie stated several times, it is truer today than ever before because the band is that much closer to making it happen. I’m surprised more KISS fans didn’t see it coming.
Paul, Gene, and Doc may be thinking of pulling a “Blue Man Group.” BMG was originally 3 guys. They licensed their show out all over the world (NY, LA, Vegas, Chicago, Berlin, and more + 2 touring productions). Eventually, the 3 original guys stopped performing and “retired,” and to this day are collecting a very nice percentage of the profits. BMG shows still continue to sell out because they are visually entertaining and musically very proficient. (KISS is good at one of those things…)
Still love the idea of Ace and Peter replacing Gene and Paul tho…LOL.
I doubt very much that taking a rock band like Kiss , and “franchising it ” essentially , like a McDonalds and thinking thats gonna be a success will work . Kiss is Paul Gene Ace & Peter , and thats it …… everyone else dressing up as those 4 characters and going on stage under lit logo the name Kiss , is really only a tribute band ……. and that includes the current line-up they keep trotting out there and embarrass & humiliate themselves with on a weekly basis
That is such a stupid idea for them to be considering. Come on guys don’t do this. They should let the group end normally. It would no longer be KISS without Paul and Gene. They should be pleased with the legacy they have left to music and the fans.
Blackfoot already does this with all new members put together by Rickey Medlocke. And foreigner, especially when Mick Jones is sick, is the ultimate cover band.