Bill Aucoin Dead

William Aucoin, beloved record industry executive, manager, entrepreneur, and creative visionary, passed away this morning, Monday, June 28 at 9:11 a.. EST at the Aventura Hospital and Medical Center in Aventura, Florida.

Born December 29, 1943, Bill was battling prostate cancer, and passed away from surgical complications.

The man known for masterminding the career of the world-renowned group KISS, Bill Aucoin also managed STARZ, TOBY BEAU, BILLY SQUIER, BILLY IDOL, and numerous other artists. His most recent venture is Aucoin Globe Entertainment, which he founded in 2007. In its three years, Bill and his company developed bands in the U.S. and around the world.

He leaves behind his boyfriend of fifteen years, Roman Fernandez, and two sisters Betty Britton and Janet Bankowski.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

I recognized the name but without reading that I couldn't have told you where I recognized it from. Seeing Kiss, Starz, Billy Squier and Billy Idol in the list it's no wonder I recognized the name.

RIP.

tohostudios wrote:

I recognized the name but without reading that I couldn't have told you where I recognized it from. Seeing Kiss, Starz, Billy Squier and Billy Idol in the list it's no wonder I recognized the name.

RIP.

KISS out not be who they are without Bill Aucoin

That's a shame. He was only 66? I would've thought he was older. Whatever.

I met Bill at a KISS Convention/Expo here in NJ in '93 or '94. I have a cool vintage photo of him with the KISS guys that he signed for me. In addition to a bunch of photos and stuff he had the original artwork pages from the famed Marvel Comics KISS Super Specials laid out on his booth/table so of course I geeked out looking at those. He and I chit chatted about Marvel Comics for a while as I flipped through them. He seemed like a very nice guy. R.I.P. Bill.


KISS' statement about Aucoin's passing from Kissonline.com:

Bill Aucoin, our irreplaceable original manager, mentor and dear friend has died of complications arising from his ongoing battle with prostate cancer. He was instrumental in guiding us from the beginning and without his vision, leadership and unending dedication, we could never have scaled the heights we have reached.

Bill loved life and lived it to the fullest. Words can never convey his impact on us or those close to him.

Over all the years, he never missed an opportunity to be with us at our shows near his home or fly in for special concerts, including our most recent Madison Square Garden show. He had hoped to attend our London show earlier this month but his illness prevented it. He still planned to visit us upon the start of our upcoming US tour.

We loved him, told him and have peace that he knew it.

We will grieve and celebrate all he was and did.

We have lost a part of us.

This guy was managerial genius who took a chance on a band nobody believed in and signed them to label that had no rock acts on their roster let alone a metal band and took them to top.

He had quite a career. Rest in peace.

Saw this this morning. Sad.

I actually saw him at the Cobo show KISS had back in September walking through the crowd. Pretty cool.

KISS would not be the band that I love today if it weren't for Bill Aucoin. Thanks sir for everything that you did and may you forever Rest in Peace.

manny wrote:

This guy was managerial genius who took a chance on a band nobody believed in and signed them to label that had no rock acts on their roster let alone a metal band and took them to top.

Yeah, he bankrolled the tour that eventually became the ALIVE! album on his American Express card. Talk about rolling the dice!

...on the other hand, "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" and MUSIC FROM THE ELDER were both his ideas.

But seriously folks: Bill's Wiki entry also sez he briefly managed Manowar (1981) and Lordi in addition to KISS and Billy Idol.



Bill (with bitchin' 'stache) is on the left here. The couple on the right are Joyce and Neil Bogart of Casablanca Records fame.

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

This guy was managerial genius who took a chance on a band nobody believed in and signed them to label that had no rock acts on their roster let alone a metal band and took them to top.

...on the other hand, "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" and MUSIC FROM THE ELDER were both his ideas.

Well genius's are known to have a touch of madness, plus maybe it takes a genius to make a movie as horrid as KISS Meets the Phantom, convience NBC network to bankroll it and more importantly get people to actually watch it.

manny wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

This guy was managerial genius who took a chance on a band nobody believed in and signed them to label that had no rock acts on their roster let alone a metal band and took them to top.

...on the other hand, "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" and MUSIC FROM THE ELDER were both his ideas.

Well genius's are known to have a touch of madness, plus maybe it takes a genius to make a movie as horrid as KISS Meets the Phantom, convience NBC network to bankroll it and more importantly get people to actually watch it.

LOL!!! Plus it was one of the most watched TV movies of the week - and back in the 70's that was a deal, as the made for TV movie of the week was a big deal in the 70's and 80's

I'm the Phantom!!!

Wow! Sad indeed! Thanks Bill, for taking a chance on a band that for many of us was a gateway to a lifetime of metal music. RIP!