The lead guitarist of KISS reveals his thoughts on life after the ‘End of the Road’ tour and the future of the KISS brand.
Tommy Thayer, who has been the lead guitarist of KISS since 2002, is not ready to hang up his guitar just yet. In an interview with Guitar World, Thayer said that he is not "completely ready to retire yet" and that he has "ideas and certainly options on the table" for his post-KISS career.
The 63-year-old musician, who replaced Ace Frehley as the Spaceman in the band, said that he is not interested in joining another band or pursuing a solo project. "That doesn't appeal to me," he said. "But I look forward to an exciting future, working hard and being a part of good things going forward."
One of those good things is the KISS avatars, which are digital versions of the band members that will perform live shows in 2027, as part of the KISS 2020 Goodbye project. The project, which was announced in 2019, aims to create a virtual reality experience that will allow fans to interact with the band and their music in a new way.
Thayer said he was involved in the creation of the avatars, which he described as "interesting" but also "challenging". "It'll take some time to get the imagery where we want it to be," he said. "I haven't really thought about what it all means in the big picture, but with technology evolving as quickly as it is, there's no doubt that this is the direction a lot of entertainment is going."
Thayer's comments come after KISS wrapped up their End of the Road tour, which was their final world tour that lasted for three years and was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thayer, who has been a fan of KISS since he was a teenager, said that he is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the band and to share the stage with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Eric Singer. He also thanked the fans for their support and loyalty over the years. "It's been an amazing ride," he said. "I'm proud of what we've done and what we've accomplished. It's been a dream come true."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]