Fifty years ago, a live double album saved a record label from bankruptcy and transformed four makeup-wearing New York musicians into global superheroes. Now, KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have reunited on camera to unveil the definitive tribute to that moment: the Alive! 50th-anniversary super deluxe box set.
In a new six-minute video released to fans, the “Starchild” and “The Demon” walk viewers through what is arguably the most comprehensive release in the band’s history. This isn’t just a reissue; it is a time capsule of the summer of 1975, the exact moment KISS exploded from a cult act into a phenomenon. You can see the video down below.
The package is a golden jubilee celebration of the record often cited by music journalists as one of the greatest live albums ever made. The Super Deluxe edition is a physical beast, boasting eight 180-gram LPs and a Blu-ray Audio disc that collectively house 120 tracks—88 of which have never been released before.
The unboxing video highlights the staggering attention to detail in the audio restoration. LPs 1 and 2 feature the original Alive! album, newly remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original 1975 stereo analog master tapes. But the real draw for diehards lies in LPs 3 through 6. These discs contain two complete concerts from the 1975 “Dressed To Kill” tour: one from the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Davenport, Iowa (July 20), and another from the Wildwood Convention Hall in New Jersey (July 23).
Crucially, these live sets have been mixed by legendary producer Eddie Kramer directly from the multi-track tapes with no overdubs—offering fans a raw, unfiltered look at KISS at the peak of their hungry, club-destroying powers.
The set also digs deep into the vault with LPs 7 and 8, which feature rare rehearsal tracks and an additional six songs from a June 1975 gig at Cleveland Music Hall. For audiophiles, the included Blu-ray Audio disc presents Alive! in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound, mixed again by Kramer, set to a visualizer of unreleased live photos.
Beyond the vinyl, Simmons and Stanley showed off the “kollectibles” that make the box set a museum piece. The collection includes a 100-page hardcover book with new liner notes by Ken Sharp, a replica of the original 1975 press kit, tour programs, posters, and even a “Gotham Rock City News” newspaper featuring track-by-track interviews.
The Alive! 50th-anniversary super deluxe box set is a testament to the album that revolutionized the music industry’s approach to live recordings.
The Alive! Super Deluxe Tracklist Highlights
Original Album (Remastered)
- “Deuce“
- “Strutter“
- “Got To Choose“
- “Hotter Than Hell“
- “Firehouse“
- “Nothin’ To Lose“
- “C’mon And Love Me“
- “Parasite“
- “She“
- “Watchin’ You“
- “100,000 Years“
- “Black Diamond“
- “Rock Bottom“
- “Cold Gin“
- “Rock And Roll All Nite“
- “Let Me Go, Rock ‘N Roll“
Unreleased Live Material
- Live In Davenport, Iowa (July 20, 1975) – Full Show
- Live In Wildwood, New Jersey (July 23, 1975) – Full Show
- Bonus Rehearsals & Cleveland Live Tracks – Including “KISS Jam,” “Room Service,” and “Strange Ways“
Blu-ray Audio
- Full Alive! album in Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Surround / High-Res Stereo
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