A “live” album recorded in 1975 saved both KISS and their label from bankruptcy, transforming a struggling cult band into a merchandising juggernaut—even though most of it wasn’t actually live.
It’s hard to fathom now, but there was once a time when KISS wasn’t a merchandising and live spectacle juggernaut. In 1975, KISS had three failed albums and no hit singles. They were just another band toiling away on the road. However, they did have three things working in their favour: an unrivalled work ethic, an energetic stage show, and a cult following in Detroit, America’s rock and roll capital. With their elaborate make-up and costumes and their fire, blood, and explosions, KISS gave the audience something more than your standard rock concert on a shoestring budget. Yet, KISS’s studio albums failed to capture their energetic live performances. In a last-ditch effort to turn KISS into stars, the band’s label, Casablanca Records, and their manager, Bill Aucoin, decided to bring their bombastic concerts to the masses by releasing a live album. Well, it was sort of live. Not that it mattered. Alive! (1975) made KISS the hottest band in the world at a time when bands were beginning to morph into commercial enterprises.
Casablanca Records was named after the famous 1942 film. Founder Neil Bogart had a special affinity for his namesake Humphrey Bogart, although the two men weren’t related. Neil wasn’t interested in popular music as an artform. What he wanted was to churn out novelty hits with which he could make a quick buck. But this strategy failed. By the end of 1974, Casablanca Records was facing bankruptcy, while Bogart himself was in the throes of a divorce. The company’s finances were being speedily drained by the never-ending partying in which Neil Bogart and his staff indulged, consuming a seemingly infinite supply of booze, cocaine, and quaaludes. Occasionally, they would also produce some records. This is something to keep in mind when reading this article: most of the decisions made by the employees of Casablanca Records were likely influenced by herculean amounts of drug abuse and sleep deprivation.
Neil Bogart’s grand plan to save Casablanca Records and keep the party going was to release a compilation of recordings from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1962–92). The show drew over ten million viewers an episode and Bogart figured that at least half a million of them would want to buy the compilation album. So, Casablanca Records shipped over 500,000 copies of Here’s Johnny …. Magic Moments From the Tonight Show (1974) to record stores. The album flopped—to the surprise of nobody who was sober—and Casablanca Records became the butt of a record industry joke: that the Here’s Johnny …. Magic Moments From the Tonight Show album shipped gold and was returned platinum. Neil Bogart wasn’t laughing though. Casablanca Records spent US$1.2 million promoting the album and made none of it back.
Since even Johnny Carson, the king of television, couldn’t save Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart realised that the label would have to save itself. He turned his attention to the first act he had ever signed: a make-up-wearing rock band from New York City called KISS. They had the best live show in rock and roll. They just couldn’t sell any albums.
1997 makeup kits. Red border along the bottom. The contents in the kits are in Mint condition. These are close mint condition.