Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

This week, KissFAQ launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. In conjunction with the first week launch, the site has published an interview with former Aucoin Management Director of Production Stephanie Tudor.

The following are excerpts from Byrd’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate

On Bill Aucoin:

KF: When you were first hired, what were your general impressions of Bill Aucoin?

ST: Oh, he was a genius. He was a fireball, full of energy, full of creative ideas, and he loved what he did. He was a great businessman, a master at merchandising and marketing. And he was really just a joy to be around. He wore many, many hats. He was always considered, at the time, the fifth member of KISS. And he truly loved his artists and just did a fabulous job. I’ve never seen a manager quite like him, then or since then.  And he was my mentor. I was a young girl; I had worked at Columbia Records prior to working for Aucoin. I had never worked on a show or touring — I learned everything I know now basically from the 10 years I spent working under that man.

On Whether The Solo Albums Are A Success Or Not:

KF: In terms of results, Stephanie, do you quantify the KISS solo albums as a success?

ST: Oh, absolutely. I think the project was received very well. I think there was such a buzz about it, and everyone was so excited. And I don’t think there was ever a moment when anyone thought, “Oh, this could really not work.” I think everybody was extremely positive about it. The group was psyched about it. You know, as a project moves along, of course the manager hears bits and pieces of it and Bill was always super positive about what the outcome was going to be. And he was right. And I don’t think it ever took away any of the mystery of the group at all. It stayed intact. KISS went on after the solo albums as a unit and it was just a creative outlet. I mean, there was a huge buzz back then.

KF: From some of the people I’ve talked to in the industry, when you say the KISS solo albums, they joke that those are the albums that “shipped platinum and came back double platinum.” This of course speaks to the fact that Neil Bogart shipped more than 5  million of the KISS solo albums to record stores. Do you think there is an unfair stigma attached to the albums?

ST: I think so. To be honest, I remember a little bit about that but that doesn’t stick out in my mind. Again, I was very involved in it and I was all caught up in the excitement of it all, [but] not so much on the business and financial end of it. So I think that those albums, whether they sold the exact numbers that everyone predicted isn’t really the importance of them. I think it’s the stamp that they made at the time, for the group and the fans. I think it made a significant stamp and I don’t think anything negative sticks out or is attached to it, at least not on my level, knowing that group during that time and being involved in the industry during that time. I don’t know, to me it isn’t relevant how many records were sold.

Full Stephanie Tudor interview:
http://www.kissfaq.com/78/interview_stephanie_tudor.php

About Back In The Solo Album Groove:
As KISS celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2013, KissFAQ.com has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. More than 30 brand-new interviews were conducted with various individuals who either worked directly on the solo albums or have a strong connection of sorts. The interviews will offer readers fresh first-hand perspectives straight from studio musicians, producers, engineers, and collaborators, and the creative professionals working in the KISS camp at the time. Topical features will shed more light on KISS’ activity in 1978 while dissecting the albums and offering in-depth analysis and biographical information on the albums’ participants. Also featured will be a 1978 KISS calendar, a roundup of other notable album releases in the rock genre in 1978, a spotlight on “Double Platinum,” and much more. Back In The Solo Album Groove will put the four 1978 KISS solo albums center stage like never before.

Get Back In The Solo Album Groove at:
http://www.kissfaq.com/78/index.php