KISS fans are in for a treat as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons take a nostalgic journey through the making of one of rock’s most iconic live albums. In a recently released six-minute video, the legendary duo unbox the Alive! 50th-anniversary super deluxe box set, giving fans an up-close look at the extensive contents celebrating the album’s golden jubilee.
Originally released in 1975, Alive! marked a turning point for KISS, capturing the band’s raw energy and transforming how live albums were perceived in the music industry. Recognized by critics as one of the greatest live albums ever, the 50th-anniversary edition elevates the original with a meticulously curated Super Deluxe package.
The box set is a 180-gram, 8-LP + Blu-ray Audio collection featuring a staggering 120 tracks, including 88 previously unreleased recordings. LPs 1 and 2 present the original album, newly remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original stereo analog master tapes. LPs 3 through 6 capture two full-length 1975 concerts — the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Davenport, Iowa (July 20, second show) and the Wildwood Convention Hall in Wildwood, New Jersey (July 23) — newly mixed by legendary producer Eddie Kramer from the original multi-track analog tapes, with no overdubs.
LPs 7 and 8 go even deeper, offering bonus content including five rehearsal tracks from the Davenport show, featuring an impromptu jam, plus six additional songs from Cleveland Music Hall, Ohio (June 21, 1975), all newly mixed by Kramer. The Blu-ray Audio disc presents Alive! in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround, alongside newly remastered stereo versions at 192kHz 24-bit and 96kHz 24-bit PCM. Fans can also enjoy a new visualizer featuring unreleased live photos from the era.
Beyond the music, the Super Deluxe edition includes a treasure trove of collectibles. A 100-page hardcover book offers extensive liner notes by music journalist Ken Sharp, featuring fresh interviews with Stanley, Simmons, and key members of the Alive!-era team, alongside countless unreleased photos and rare imagery.
In the unboxing video, Stanley and Simmons reflect on the album’s creation, sharing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories that highlight why Alive! became a defining moment for the band and a cornerstone of rock history.
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