News Archive July 2010

Fans Remember Bill Aucoin
From: KISSasylum.com
Posted: July 9, 2010

It has already been a week since the sad passing of Bill Aucoin, one of the most important and loved people in the KISS family. Fans have been sending us their stories and thoughts and here are a few of the best we would like to share with you -

BILL REMEMBERS BILL

Legendary producer, music manager, and a man with an eye for talent has passed away from cancer on Monday June 28th, 2010. There are many people out there that knew him so much better than I did, but if my words mean anything, let me share my thoughts with you.

I first met Bill through Richie Ranno, my friend that created the KISS Conventions. In 1993 Bill Aucoin was one of the featured guests. I had my museum of Ace and KISS memorabilia set up behind a bunch of tables. Bill had nowhere to set up or sit, so after we were introduced, I offered him the spot in front of my museum. He was very thankful of that and there were many pictures of him taken that day, all in front of my display. I think that he was just in awe of my collection. It really brought him back seeing all of the original costumes and guitars, as he knew each and every one of them. We shared stories about Ace and KISS that day, as well as him commenting to me about my band "Fractured Mirror" after watching us perform. He said he was very impressed with the idea. I would only run into him just a handful of times after that, but each time he knew who I was and it was always like no time had passed. Well, on July 10th of 2009 there was a small KISS event in New York City. It was held at a comedy club in Times Square. The band KISS ARMY was playing their set, and invited the guests Lydia Criss, J.R. Smalling, myself, and Bill Aucoin to add to the festivities. Sadly, only about 5 people actually showed up. Drinks for the guests were free, so as bored as we were, we all drank up and had a ball. Bill got the band to go out on the street and drag some extra people inside to watch them play, so that there would be more bodies in the room. Luckily I had brought my camera and as we were all goofing around I got some pictures. Of course I gave Bill one of my books for his collection. Once again, he knew exactly who I was and remembered everything about me. That night I got the opportunity to thank him for something.

Again, I thanked him for thinking of me and that's the kind of guy he was and that I knew. Of course I have friends that worked with him and knew him better than I did, but I'm still honored that he respected me and I fell like I've lost a friend. Thank you Bill for the memories, I will miss you!

- Bill Baker

www.theacefrehleyarchive.com

BILL TO THE RESCUE

I met Bill Aucoin several times over the years, but my first encounter with him will stay with me forever. It was the "Love Gun" tour, and my first concert at age 14. My mother and father had insisted on chaperoning my friend and me, which was embarrassing, but I was very happy to have adults along when we arrived at the show and discovered that our tickets (which we were supposed to pick up at the box office) had already been picked up by someone else. My father was trying to get it all straightened out and I was thinking that we were NEVER going to get in, when I saw Bill over by the backstage entrance. I had seen him in some rock magazine and knew him by that big mustache, and I pulled my friend away from the window and we walked over and said hello. Even though the band was probably only an hour from going onstage, Bill smiled and said hello and chatted with us as if he had all the time in the world. He asked why we weren't inside seeing the show and I pointed to my parents, who were still trying to get the ticket mess cleared up, and explained that our tickets had been somehow given away. Bill smiled and told me to go get my parents, and my hopes soared. I ran over and pulled them forcibly away from the window and tried to explain that Bill Aucoin, KISS's manager, wanted to talk to them. I could tell my father wasn't believing me but when Bill smiled and shook my dad's hand, and my father saw his backstage pass, all was well. Bill said, "Come on inside and we'll get you guys settled." He brought us through the backstage area and I could see Peter down the hallway in his costume and only half a face of makeup, which was bizarre (especially because in those days, NO ONE had any idea of what KISS looked like without makeup)! Bill told us that the guys were busy getting ready but if we wanted, we could meet them after the show. I was thrilled to the point of wondering if it was all a dream. Bill brought us out front and sat us on Gene's side, in the second row! He shook my dad's hand again and gave him passes for us to come backstage afterward and then said he had to get backstage to take care of a few things before the show. He left and the four of us looked at each other in total disbelief; fifteen minutes before that we were thinking that we weren't going to get to see the show at all, and here we were in the second row! With backstage passes!

The show was amazing, of course. Gene spit blood and my mother thought that was uproariously funny (which was hilarious, since she had only ever clucked disapprovingly about it to me when she saw magazine photos) and my father had his fist in the air for most of the concert. My friend Chip and I both caught guitar picks; I still have mine, an Ace pick with a torn-up edge.

After the show we went to the side of the stage. I was pretty sure the security guard was going to look at us and laugh, but he let us right through. We went back to a room filled with friends and family members of the band (I recognized Gene's mother from a magazine photo) and after a few minutes Gene and Peter came in. It was truly the thrill of my 14-year-old life. I talked to both of them (I'm sure I just blabbered about being their biggest fan, but they both were very nice and chatted with me for a couple of minutes) and shook their hands. In a little while, Ace and Paul came in, and then Bill. We all went right over to Bill and thanked him, and he was SUCH a nice guy. He grabbed Paul and told them that Chip and I were huge fans and that we had almost been shut out of the show, but that he had rescued us. Paul laughed and said something about Bill always being there to rescue someone. Even at 14, I could see that Bill was totally one of the family with Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace.

We stayed for another hour or so and then said goodbye to Bill, and thanked him yet again for the most amazing time. When I was in my twenties, I ran into him again in an airport. I said hello and told him who I was, and that he had once been very nice to me and my family when we had been shut out of a show. I asked if I could buy him a drink as a small thank you for the huge favor, and we had a couple at the airport bar while our delayed plane was serviced. He had some GREAT stories about life on the road in the '70s and it was clear that even though he wasn't with KISS anymore, he loved and respected the guys. I went to a couple of KISS conventions over the last 15 years or so just to catch up with Bill, who always had a warm smile and a good word, even for young KISS fans.

- Steve Schwartz

FRENCH CANADIAN FAN REMEMBERS MEETING BILL

Bill Aucoin, the Brian Epstein of the 70s, leaves behind him an impedimenta of experiences, who brought a whole generation to see entertainment from a different angle an especially, to dream a little more...

I had the privilege to meet Mr. Aucoin at a convention in Montréal. When I showed him the picture, (see below), he had a sigh of nostalgia and said to me, "Ah, those 70s !...". And then he explain to me the context of the picture which was taken when filming KISS Meets the Phantom. Very affable to have him confide that he reminisced that era very often...Bill makes me remember that when you had the chance to live, whatever your age was in the 70s, you understand what he meant.

After having Neil Bogart and Sean Delaney leave us, two other cornerstones of the marvelous rock group, I must say, "thank you, Bill Aucoin - you gave us access to this flaming youthful dream that is KISS!"

- SAM