Welcome to a new series here that I’m calling Back Covers. It’s a simple concept really as we all have our favourite Album Cover’s right? Well how about some albums and their Back Covers which no one ever talks about! Well that’s changing now as were gonna give some acknowledgement to some of these real slick-looking Back Cover’s!
Fellow Blogging Pal steveforthedeaf left a comment saying he was hoping I would tackle and post something in regards to KISS-Alive!
Here ya Go Buddy! Enjoy the read!
KISS Alive is a classic album period! Whether it’s live or not it does not matter to me. So much so that I would have Alive listed as both in my all time Top 3 KISS studio and live release’s. That’s how good it is!
What always was impressive was the back cover photo taken at Cobo Hall in Detroit by Fin Costello back in 1975!
Talk about an Impact Pic if there was one! Amazing to see thousands of the KISS Army with two dudes holding up a sign showing their dedication to KISS! Kind of a smart marketing move to feature these two chaps as it shows everyone out there that KISS at the time was a band of the people!
What a thrill for those two guys to have us still talking about “THAT” photo 43 years later! The two fella’s in question are named Bruce Redoute and Lee Neaves. Here’s an updated pic of them below holding the exact same poster that they drew decades earlier at the exact same spot in Cobo Hall!
So the question has to be asked what about a picture of the front of the stage from the exact same show that the photo on the back cover was taken? Here’s a shot at the show that features the front of the stage! Check it out below..
If you look real close at the pic posted above on you left you see what appears to be someone holding a shiny object. A couple of KISS chat forums figure that it’s one of the two dudes holding their homemade KISS banner. Wild huh?
The front cover pic of KISS that graces the cover of Alive is not from the Cobo Hall show but instead it was shot at an empty rehearsal hall in Detroit.(Michigan Palace)
This is an iconic Back Cover photo as it shows how KISS was becoming a huge touring act back in 1975 even though their record sales weren’t quite there yet! After the release of KISS Alive that all changed!
deKe's Vinyl Reviews & More... 
One of the best back covers! That shot of the stage view is great, never seen that.
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Ahh when I can surprise a Die Hard KISS fanatic my day is made!
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Great choice. Love the updated version.
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Thanks John! Its fun investigating these album covers! More to come …
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Hah that copy is as beat up as mine! Those guys have re-done the back cover many many times over the years.
My sister and I used to say, “Oh look there’s me” in the crowd shot.
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Actually a buddy give me that copy as I have a mint copy that I bought 2 years ago. The beat up cover is the way to go!
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Nice! I can’t tell you how many times I peered into that image as Firehouse blared through my speakers. Great idea for posts. Looking forward to others. Rock on!
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Thanks Mr Japp!
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This is so great. You really did your homework man. Thanks for the shout out too. That other photo from the gig is like a behind the scenes documentary on a movie you’ve always loved. I’m fascinated with it. Such a great post. Today you win the internet. Hands down best thing I’ve seen all day.
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WOW DUDE!
Thanks so much for the kind words! It makes this blogging thing real fun when I read stuff like that!
Thanks a bunch!
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That’s another great back cover, man… and it looks great worn, huh? I always reckon the sign of great artwork is how well it wears ringwear and the likes.
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My buddy when he gave me this copy said “I think this album has seen a few parties!”
hahaha…
My Answer was “YUP!”
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I like the then/now photo comparison – and I believe the Hip’s live album was recorded at Cobo Hall, so they’re in good company!
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You are correct that the Hip recorded that one at the Cobo Hall. My friend was at that show and he said the Rheostatics(I think it was them) got a rough ride from the crowd thats why Downie namedrop em at the beginning of Grace Too…
I think it was the Rheostatics…I need to listen to that album again…
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It definitely was – the line was something like, For the Rheostatics, we are all richer for having seen them!
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I think that was Gords way of lecturing the crowd in a Gord kind of way….Man I miss that guy!
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He was one of a kind!
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Holy cow those are dudes.
The 70’s
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Great post! I hope that updated photo wasn’t taken on one of the farewell tours hahahahahaHA! I’m kidding.
I’m enjoying this series of you checking out albums’ asses. Keep it up, Dekester!
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Hahaha…
Nope that photo was taken on a tour where they were trying to crack the American Market…
They were still hunger for success at that point…
Now they are Greedy Bastards…haha
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Good write up Deke. Nice research on the two dudes
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Thanks Man! What a great back cover picture!
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I bet that poster would go for quite a bit if they ever sold it. A one of a kind thing, in a way.
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Perhaps Tons…I wonder if Money Bag Simmons ever tried to purchase it…
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lol, probably.
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My guess is that it was a bob segar crowd. Notice the country clothes and how he looks annoyed about the kiss kids
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There’s no apostrophe in the words “covers” and “fellas.”
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Thank God we have Steve with the deep, meaningful comments.
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I wonder if his band is called ‘Wordsmith’
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No. It’s “Anal Retentive”.
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Ha! No kidding!
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Deke how many things do you still have from the seventies that made it til now? How the hell did that poster not get bent, cut, eaten by mice, or something spilled on it?
Great post! I like things like this just as much or more than music.
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Not much from the 70s made it Max. Being young I wish I had better looked after my stuff more.
The early 80s a bit better by the time I started buying CDs in 88 I was anal about keeping them pristine! Discs were not cheap so it was hands off except for my grubby hands!! lol
The poster your referring to I found on the internet and did the old copy and paste. I cannot take credit for that. lol
If I did have that poster today it would have been demolished by now. haha
Have a good day dude.
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Whoa, wait !!! My whole entire life I thought those two were chicks! Now you’re telling me they were guys? No way !!!! Okay, maybe the one on the right is a guy but there’s no way the blonde on the left is a guy!!!!!
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Well they both are dudes! Thanks for reading!
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Maybe the blonde is actually CC Deville who I thought was a hot chick for several uncomfortable minutes.
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hard to find any other KISS fans in that crowd — looks like a gathering Ramones fans whove just discovered weed!
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This is my favourite KISS album and one of the first that I bought on my own that wasn’t a hand me down from my parents. I love that massive drum solo and the sounds of the crowd. Even though it may have been “Live in the Studio”, this record release saved theIr career. Great pics of those two guys now forty + years later. They look exactly like the stoner kids I was hanging out with at the time. Awesome!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how Alive impacted you. Such a great live/studio recording. lol
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I just put that record on my turntable just now and started looking at the back cover again. So I decided to Google “who are the two people holding up the KISS banner on the back of Alive record?” Haha! And now, I find a whole ass blog about it! What? Chad Smith of (RHCP)is in the photo as well? Right on!
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Good eye and crazy thing is a buddy yesterday told me that Chad Smith is in the pic as well. Good eye and thanks for joining up! Cheers!
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