First it was Tupac, hitting the stage at Coachella in 2012. Never mind that he had been killed in 1996. It was really a hologram, but it looked and sounded like him.
This year, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly returned to touring. There are plans for Whitney Houston to do the same. How long before Elvis is back in the building?
We have now hit a point where our favourites can still go on tour, no matter how long ago they passed. It’s a little creepy, but it is an interesting concept.
Holograms are hitting the road on a somewhat regular basis these days. For those of us who have never had the opportunity to see any of these legends perform, and thought we never would, it gives us that chance. But still, sitting there watching a live band backing up a performer who isn’t really there is a tad unsettling in some ways.
Those who have seen these shows day they are pretty close to the real thing. I’m still not sure. Especially since the ticket price is pretty close to if you were seeing the real thing.
There have been stories that even those who are still with us could be looking at virtual touring. Abba are said to have been looking at doing a hologram tour. And there are other acts said to be investigating it as well. I suppose using holograms does reduce the chances of those backstage fights and disputes, but in some cases, it was part of the whole mystique.
So that farewell tour you’re planning to fly halfway across the country to see? It could go on forever, at least in some computer generated form.
Nostalgia can lead us to some interesting places. I’m just not sure I want to go there.
