"Alive!" is the fourth album overall and the first live album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on September 10, 1975. It is widely considered their breakthrough album and a landmark in the genre of live recordings. The double album features live versions of tracks from their first three studio albums—Kiss, Hotter Than Hell, and Dressed to Kill. The recordings were made during concerts in Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wildwood, New Jersey; and Davenport, Iowa on May 16, June 21, July 20, and 23, 1975. The album's title pays homage to the 1972 live album Slade Alive! by the English rock group Slade, which was a significant influence on Kiss.
From 1974 to 1975, Kiss released three albums: Kiss, Hotter Than Hell, and Dressed to Kill. While these albums helped build a cult following for the band in the Rust Belt, they did not achieve significant commercial success. Guitarist Paul Stanley attributed the low sales to the fact that the studio albums did not capture the intense energy of their live performances. He noted that many people who came to see the band live were not purchasing the albums, as they felt the recordings did not reflect the band's true performance power. Kiss was known for its elaborate stage shows, featuring kabuki-style makeup, pyrotechnics, and fake blood, which contrasted with the more subdued sound of their studio recordings. Bassist Gene Simmons mentioned that Kiss's reputation for wild performances led to the band being removed from tours with groups like Argent, Black Sabbath, and Savoy Brown, who were intimidated by the band's intense live act.
The band’s record label, Casablanca Records, was also facing financial difficulties. By 1974, Casablanca's profits were declining, prompting CEO Neil Bogart to release a double album of highlights from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The album, which was meant to capitalize on the show's large audience, was a commercial failure, leading to returns of the free copies sent out and negatively impacting other acts on the label, including Kiss. As a result, Kiss received only a $15,000 advance for their first three albums and had not yet seen any royalties. This breach of contract led Kiss to seek out new labels and eventually file a lawsuit against Bogart.
In a final attempt to salvage the situation, Bogart decided to leverage Kiss's live performance reputation to produce a live album. Kiss's manager, Bill Aucoin, supported the idea, believing it would capture the band's live energy and be less expensive than a studio recording. The band was also enthusiastic about the plan. However, due to financial constraints, Bogart could not finance the tour required for the live recording, so Aucoin personally funded the tour with his own money, totaling $300,000.F
