Kiss retire, will perform as digital avatars
Listen to the story (New Zealand accent)
Kiss, one of the most famous glam rock bands, just finished a long farewell tour called “End of the Road.” The tour lasted four years, and the final concert was in New York City.
Kiss has done other farewell tours in the past, but this might be their last one.
At the end of the concert, Kiss played “Rock and Roll All Nite" as their last song. After that, they disappeared into smoke and fire on the stage. When the smoke went away, the lights turned off. Then, on a big screen behind the stage, four people appeared. They were the new digital avatars of Kiss.
Paul Stanley, a singer in the band, shouted that the fans’ love and power made Kiss “immortal” and a new era “starts now.” Soon after, the avatars on the screen performed a song.
This "new era" means they want to make money with the avatars. The company in charge, Pophouse Entertainment, said it will organize concerts with Kiss' avatars. The company has been doing something similar with a younger version of ABBA for more than a year.
Kiss has been selling lots of merchandise for about 50 years and their image is very famous. They seem like a good match for this type of entertainment.
Reports say that the ABBA avatar shows make $2 million every week. Also, a film in cinemas showing Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” made over $250 million worldwide. Kiss and its avatars could earn a lot of money.
Vocabulary24 words
- Glam rock band
- A band with big, fancy clothes and makeup
- Farewell
- to say good-bye, especially when ending or finishing something; good-bye forever
- Tour
- A series of performances or visits to different places (e.g., concert tour)
- Concert
- A live show where musicians play music
- Past
- previous; former; prior; the last; recent
- Disappear
- can’t be found; vanish; not able to be seen
- Stage
- A raised platform or area where performances take place; e.g., a singer stands on a stage; a place to perform where many people can see the performer
- Appear
- to become visible; come into sight; suddenly noticeable; emerge
- Digital avatar
- A computer-made character that represents a real person; A computer-created version of someone
- Singer
- Someone who sings songs
- Shout
- yell; scream; say something loudly
- Fan
- a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Immortal
- to live forever and never die
- Era
- A long period of time
- Perform
- to entertain people by dancing, singing, acting, or playing music
- Make money
- earn money; make a profit; gain or acquire money
- In charge
- To be responsible for or in control of something; to be the “boss” of something
- Organize
- Plan and arrange something
- Merchandise
- Things that are for sale, like toys or clothes; products connected with a popular film, event, famous person, etc.
- Image
- a picture in your mind or an idea of how someone or something is; the idea that other people have of that person/company, esp. an idea created by media
- Report
- a written description of an event; story; article; the results of a study or project
- Million
- 1,000,000 = one-million
- Film
- movie;
- Worldwide
- all around the world; everywhere in the world
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Kiss, one of the _____ famous glam rock bands, just finished a long farewell tour _____ “End of the Road.” The tour lasted four _____, and the final concert was in New York City.
Kiss has _____ other farewell tours in the past, but this might be their _____ one.
At the end of the _____, Kiss played “Rock and Roll All Nite" as their last _____. After that, they disappeared into smoke and fire on the _____. When the smoke went away, the lights _____ off. Then, on a big screen behind the stage, four people _____. They were the new digital avatars of Kiss.
Paul Stanley, a _____ in the band, shouted that the fans’ love and _____ made Kiss “immortal” and a new era “starts now.” _____ after, the avatars on the screen performed a song.
This "new era" _____ they want to make money with the avatars. The _____ in charge, Pophouse Entertainment, said it will _____ concerts with Kiss' avatars. The company has been doing _____ similar with a younger version of ABBA for more than _____ year.
Kiss has been selling lots of _____ for about 50 years and their image is very famous. They seem _____ a good match for this type of entertainment.
_____ say that the ABBA avatar shows make $_____ million every week. Also, a film in cinemas showing Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” _____ over $250 million worldwide. Kiss and its _____ could earn a lot of money.
Discussion questions
- Do you think digital avatars can replace real performers in concerts? Why or why not?
- Would you want to attend a concert where the performers are digital avatars? Why or why not?
- Do you think it's a good idea for bands to continue making money with their image even after they stop performing live? Why or why not?
- Can you think of other ways technology might change live music and concerts in the future?
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