Thursday, February 2, 2012

Crazy Nights, It's 25 Years Strong: Interview W/ Ron Nevison

Ron Nevison: The KissFAQ Interview


By Tim McPhate

Just months after the "Asylum" tour, in summer 1986, Paul Stanley was already mulling the direction of the next KISS album.

Though the in-house produced "Asylum" crept past gold status, Stanley was taking note of bands such as Bon Jovi, Poison, Heart, and Ozzy Osbourne, who were all racing up the charts with hit singles and multi-platinum albums. He wanted KISS to get in on the action. He knew he needed a hot producer to help him toward this goal. He wanted Ron Nevison.

Nevison's discography reads like a who's who of classic rock royalty, including work with the Who, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy, and the Rolling Stones, among others. By the time the calendar turned to 1987, he was fresh from resuscitating the career of Heart, who sold millions on the strength of four hit singles from their 1985 Nevison-produced self-titled album. Nevison was in such high demand throughout late 1986 and early 1987, KISS (read: Paul Stanley) chose to hold their new album until his schedule was clear.

The resulting fruit of Nevison/KISS' labor was "Crazy Nights." True to 1987-style rock, there are big guitars, shout-along choruses, shredding solos, ample keyboards, well-crafted songs, and polished production. The album finds Stanley's powerful voice in fine form, particularly on the singles "Crazy Nights," "Reason To Live" and "Turn On The Night."

Continue reading at KISSFaq

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