KISS has broken the Guinness World Records for highest flame projection in a music concert, as well as most flame projections launched simultaneously at a music concert. The records were broken at KISS’s New Year’s Eve performance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Announcing the new records, a Guinness World Records representative said “I can reveal that you achieved a grand total of 73” projections launched, adding that the highest flame projections was now set at “35 meters”.
The $10 million show was produced by Landmark Live, and was filmed on more than 50 4K cameras, 360 degree views, and was held on a massive 250-foot stage at The Royal Beach at Atlantis. The show also included “a million dollars’ worth of pyro” according to the bands frontman Paul Stanley. The show was streamed around the world, if you missed it you still have time to buy a ticket for “Kiss 2020 Goodbye” at the official web site.
#KISS2020Goodbye broke the #GuinessWorldRecords for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert! Watch it at https://t.co/ttra65NC7P@ATLANTIS @LandmarksLive @visitdubai @Dubai_Calendar @emirates @AHDubai pic.twitter.com/6PNf9Ioceo
— KISS (@kiss) December 31, 2020
Talking to The Oakland Press, KISS’ bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said about the band’s decision to the play the show “We get offers all the time, thank goodness, and we’ve been saying no to everybody because it’s just not safe — for us, for the fans. With this, we happened to be in the right place at the right time, and it all make sense. The folks in Dubai, which is a fascinating place, suggested something crazy and said, ‘You can do anything you want here, no restrictions.’ And we said, ‘Wait a minute. You mean we can put on the biggest pyro show of all time, since Krakatoa and the Big Bang? You mean we’re gonna be safe going over there?’ They said ‘yeah,’ so there you are.”
Daniel E. Catullo, creator, director and executive producer at Landmarks Live told KhaleejTimes.com that this wasn’t his first time collaborating with the rock legends. “I worked with KISS back in 2005 and I wanted to have a crack at doing a bigger show with them,” he said “Somehow, I developed a reputation of producing challenging shows, whether doing one with Andrea Bocelli at Palazzo Vecchio, the FOO FIGHTERS at the Acropolis or pulling off the biggest show of the year in the middle of a pandemic. Hosting the KISS show in Dubai was a logical step.”
“The United Arab Emirates is among the world leaders in mitigating the spread of COVID and continues to effectively manage the pandemic given the government’s extraordinary response measures. It [made] sense for us to bring Landmarks Live to the UAE.”
“Logistically, this was the largest undertaking I’ve ever done, and during a pandemic made it all the more challenging. Our crew is comprised of over 400 people, most of whom are based in Dubai. It has been a very complex show to put together: almost five months of planning, hundreds of working crew, coordination with the Dubai government, major coordination with the band; this show will go down in the record books. We’re also filming a documentary on how we are pulling this show off. We’re doing the biggest production in KISS’s history.”
“The most arduous task has been developing a safe COVID compliance protocol amid the pandemic to ensure no virus transmission among the crew. The crew will essentially create a bubble for the show setup, particularly the few staffers who will be in direct contact with KISS. American Hospital is conducting daily testing. We have to take beyond-extraordinary measures to keep people safe.”