Legendary rock band Kiss is set to close out their "The End of the Road" farewell tour with a groundbreaking performance at New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. While this may seem like the end of an era, Kiss is embracing a new chapter by introducing digital avatars of themselves during their encore.

The band's current lineup, consisting of founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, as well as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, will step off the stage, allowing their virtual counterparts to take over. Created by George Lucas' special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in collaboration with Pophouse Entertainment Group, co-founded by ABBA's Bj?¶rn Ulvaeus, these avatars will perform the band's hit song "God Gave Rock and Roll to You."

This cutting-edge technology marks a significant turning point for Kiss, as they explore a form of digital immortality after five decades of rock domination. The partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group follows their successful collaboration on the "ABBA Voyage" show in London, where fans were treated to a full concert by the Swedish band performed by their digital avatars.

Per Sundin, CEO of Pophouse Entertainment, emphasizes that this technology allows Kiss to continue their legacy indefinitely. Sundin envisions a future where the band can perform concerts simultaneously in multiple cities across different continents, thanks to their virtual counterparts. The band members intentionally won't be on stage during the virtual performance, as that is the essence of this futuristic endeavor.

To bring their digital avatars to life, Kiss underwent a motion capture process, wearing suits that captured their movements. This experimentation with technology aligns with the growing trend in the music industry. K-pop star Mark Tuan recently partnered with Soul Machines to create a "digital twin" named "Digital Mark," powered by OpenAI's GPT integration. Aespa, a K-pop girl group, frequently performs alongside their virtual avatars, designed to expand their group to an octet. Meanwhile, girl group Eternity is composed entirely of virtual characters, eliminating the need for human members.

Paul Stanley, the frontman of Kiss, expressed his excitement about immortality for the band during a roundtable interview. He believes that the band's accomplishments thus far have been incredible but insufficient. Stanley believes that Kiss deserves to live on because it signifies more than just the individual members. Gene Simmons, the bassist of the band, echoed Stanley's sentiments, stating that the technology will allow them to reach new heights never seen before.

Despite the farewell tour, dedicated fans were not fooled into thinking Kiss would call it quits for good. In fact, there are hints that a Kiss avatar concert might be in the works, ensuring that the band's music and legacy will live on for years to come. As Kiss prepares to bid adieu to their physical performances, their digital avatars promise to revolutionize the boundaries of live music entertainment.