Kiss celebrates history of 'Alive!' albums

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Kiss is celebrating its extensive history of live albums with a new box set.

"Kiss Alive! 1975-2000" includes the group's first three live albums and its unreleased millennium concert. The first "Alive!," released in 1975, was not only Kiss' first hit album but also launched a trend in the rock industry.

"The Kiss 'Alive!' album became the template for what to do," said bassist Gene Simmons. "The word 'Alive' had never been used before for live records. It became synonymous with what you do.

"So (Peter) Frampton immediately came out with 'Frampton Comes Alive.' And then Cheap Trick had their biggest success with a live record, and Bob Seger and on and on. It became the thing to do as a marketing event."

Kiss recently launched a planned 10-volume DVD series with "Kissology Vol. 1 1974-1977" and has also started marketing a line of fragrances for men and women.