Over 40 years ago, Kiss crashed the 70’s rock party with eerie face paint, flamboyant costumes, and the release of its first, selfishly-titled album. Since its debut, the veteran hard rock band has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and labeled one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. Now, the legendary group is gearing up to play a nine-show residency in Sin City.
Vegas Hard Rock has spent more than a year trying to book a Kiss residency, and the venue has finally scored. “Kiss Rocks Vegas” is coming to The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino this fall and it’s expected to be wild. “Whatever you’re used to with Kiss, this will pump it up that much more,” says guitarist Paul Stanley. “If Kiss is on steroids, this is a double dose.”
For the upcoming Vegas shows, Kiss will have a stage production “that’s different from what they’re touring with,” says hotel Vice President Chas Smith, who is in discussions with the Kiss production team. “They’ve got some crazy ideas for what they want to do in this venue. In a smaller environment, doing some of those elements will almost make it like a 3D atmosphere.”
The set for the residency will incorporate elements of the “spider stage” the group is using on its current co-headlining tour with Def Leppard, but “it’s not going to be that show,” says Stanley. “Usually, going into a smaller venue means eliminating things. The great thing about going into The Joint, it gives us the opportunity to add. Much in the same way as a Broadway show, when you have a permanent installation, you’re not breaking down every night to travel. So we can do things we wouldn’t normally do.”
Hard Rock will witness a full-scale Kiss Army invasion beginning November 5. “The activation will encompass the entire property for the month they’re out here — from the performances onstage to wrapping the hotel with Kiss stuff to having team members wearing Kiss shirts,” says Smith.
Tickets for the Las Vegas shows go on sale Friday for $49.50. Each performance will seat about 3,200. The “Kiss Rocks Vegas” dates are Nov. 5, Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 12, Nov. 14, Nov. 15, Nov. 19, Nov. 22, and Nov. 23.
