No Paul, No Gene, No Ace, No Peter…No Problem? Would You Go See KISS 2.0? [POLL]

Get ready music fans, KISS 2.0 is coming whether you like it or not. As far as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are concerned, they're already planning on more people liking the idea than not.

Over the last few years or so both Stanley and Simmons, the two remaining original members of the iconic band, have considered an idea that has been given a name by fans and music journalists alike: KISS 2.0. What is KISS 2.0 you ask? That would be four people wearing the classic Demon, Star Child, Spaceman and Catman makeup and costumes performing all of the classic KISS songs we've come to know and love yet none of these people will be an original member of KISS.

Here's Stanley in a recent interview with Chris Jericho talking about his and the band's inevitable replacements:

With Stanley and Simmons now in their mid to late 60s it was just a matter of time before they announced they will soon hang up the costumes and leave the face paint on the dressing room counter. Hey, no problem right? All of the other classic rock bands and artists we love have or will also be doing the same soon.

As we've seen in the past there are definitely some amazing tribute bands who give a proper salute to the band and artist they emulate. Just ask fans of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin. There are some excellent tributes out there to give you your money's worth when it comes to performing live. With KISS, however, it will be different. This won't be a KISS tribute band named after a song like "Destroyer" or "Love Gun", this will be - in Stanley's and Simmons' eyes - another extension of the KISS brand.

That concept is a hard pill for the long-time die-hard fans to swallow but it seems as if the die-hard fans are outnumbered. In fact, there are a lot of people I know that don't even care or are even aware that Ace Frehley and Peter Criss aren't in the band anymore and haven't been so in over a decade. Some even think Tommy Thayer (the current Spaceman in KISS) and Eric Singer (the current Catman) have always been in the band while others don't even care what their names are as long as they wear the makeup and play the songs the way their supposed to.

I'm among the KISS die-hards who have trouble seeing two guys wearing Peter's and Ace's makeup but, having said that, I'm going to keep an open mind on the idea of KISS 2.0. In fact, I may be more accepting of KISS 2.0 than what KISS is now.

It's never gotten easy for me to see Thayer and Singer in the classic makeup even though I can't blame those guys for taking the job. Hey, it's a sweet gig. I also have a hard time hearing Paul Stanley struggle to sing the way he is nowadays. This guy had amazing pipes for the longest time but that time has passed, unfortunately, so to see four young and hungry men or women (yes, there are some very cool all-female KISS tribute bands out there) get behind the classic makeup and costumes and deliver all the classic KISS songs live would be something I'd go see. I realize it won't be the same as seeing the original four in their prime but those days are gone, this could be the next best thing if it's done right.

One thing I'm certain of is that Paul and Gene will find the best men or women out there to carry on the KISS legacy and they'll put as much money, resources and time needed to help put on the kind of larger-than-life shows they've been known for over the last four decades. Of course, they still have some time since the current lineup of KISS is about to go on a farewell tour. This, Paul and Gene say, will be the last before they call it a career...on stage anyway.

What do you think? Would you go see KISS 2.0?

You can listen to Eric Senich live on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm on 95.1 FM. You can also listen online by clicking here or by downloading the i95 ROCK Mobile App.