Private equity and the music business

[Midnight Toker]

I saw them in '77 at the height of their early fame. The "Destroyer" tour. I was 17. As a fan of comic books, I thought the show was a blast! And yes, I liked the music, too! I bought "Kiss Alive" and "Destroyer" and played them loud...

I think I eventually outgrew their music, and/or my tastes simply changed. Never bought an album after "Destroyer". But if I hear "Detroit Rock City" or "God of Thunder" on the radio, I will definitely turn it up!

The make-up, characters, etc., was/is marketing genius. Period. As @Boneman said they would not have lasted this long without talent, but the whole marketing "universe" they created around the characters, etc., was a brilliant business strategy. They took the whole Beatlemania merchandise phenomenon and multiplied it times 10. And it is paying off for them once again.

Did Rush open?

 

[walrus]

Ha! Your question is making me hope I have the year right. Was it the Love Gun tour the followng year that I saw? I'll be honest, I have no idea who opened! I'm lucky I have a few memories of Kiss!

 

[FNG]

I saw KISS several times in the 70s. They were awesome!

 

[tonepoet]

I am jealous of anyone that was alive and in their prime to enjoy the 70's, regardless of tastes (I am born 77)

@mavuser I graduated high school in 1974 and I am a firm believer that the best 10 years of Rock music was between 1964 and 1974 (give or take a few years on either side). It was the best soundtrack to have for your childhood and teenage years IMHO.

It was so innovative during those years and each group had their own sound, I think largely because they were writing their own material. This individualistic sound of everyone "doing their own thing".

During that period, you also had all the great stuff that was coming out of Motown.

 

[mavuser]

@mavuser I graduated high school in 1974 and I am a firm believer that the best 10 years of Rock music was between 1964 and 1974 (give or take a few years on either side). It was the best soundtrack to have for your childhood and teenage years IMHO.

It was so innovative during those years and each group had their own sound, I think largely because they were writing their own material. This individualistic sound of everyone "doing their own thing".

During that period, you also had all the great stuff that was coming out of Motown.

I'm a huge fan of all genres and time periods, that is a pretty deep well. Something about 69 or 70 thru 83 or so just seems like a magical, magical time to me. Born in the late 50's/early 60's was the last of the best days.

 

[tonepoet]

Something about 69 or 70 thru 83 or so just seems like a magical, magical time to me. Born in the late 50's/early 60's was the last of the best days.

I agree with you that it was magical on some levels.... and it wasn't just the "mind altering" substances making it so.

I think what also made it magical was that you had to seek it out, in some ways. Radio wasn't 24/7, nor was the TV that only had 3 channels. You mainly heard it through your friends and older siblings. Hanging out at each others houses after school playing record albums.

I definitely recall moments where one of my brothers would come walking through the front door with a record album under their arm and say "Wow, you have to hear this, man!!" and it would be Jimi Hendrix's first album, etc.

Or my neighbor Mike calling me on the phone when we were teenagers saying "You gotta get over here now, man. I got something for you to hear" and it was Led Zeppelin's first album.

That's how you got "turned on" to a lot of the music back then. Hendrix and Zeppelin were not on TV or radio... yet.

 

[KeithKeb]

From the NYT.
Same Old Song: Private Equity is Destroying our Music Ecosystem.

PE is doing a number on healthcare practices too.

 

[Midnight Toker]

PE is doing a number on healthcare practices too.

Agree. My ex has worked for a private practice (which was great) that was sold to a statewide practice (not as good but ok) that eventually became part of the statewide healthcare "system". Her work's offered health coverage was worse than any I've heard of. Their PTO system sucked as well. In 15 yrs, I could never lock down a proper vacation w/ her. I hated it. To hell w/ any business that doesn't take care of their own first and foremost. How do they expect them in turn to take care of patients/customers?