Larry Harris, THE INSIDE STORY OF CASABLANCA RECORDS author, executive: Mr. Media Radio Interview

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By BOB ANDELMAN

Everybody thinks their life story would make a good book.

I’m here to tell you that’s not true.

But Larry Harris is not everybody. He’s 1970s records mogul Neil Bogart’s cousin—and a co-founder of legendary Casablanca Records—for heaven’s sake, and boy, does he have a great story to tell.

Reading his new book, And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records, is to be transported back to the wild early days of the rock band KISS and the origins of disco with Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "KISS was anything but a slam-dunk. The makeup turned everybody off. It made people cringe. We had to find ways around that." 

There are insider stories, anecdotes and revelations about how the music business—and the radio industry—work that will curl your hair. It seems like every page has something fresh, fascinating and sensational, from the mountains of cocaine and payola to who slept with whom. There are mafia implications, too.

Read this book and then decide whether your life story holds up.


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You can LISTEN to this interview with LARRY HARRIS, former Casablanca Records executive and author of AND PARTY EVERY DAY: THE INSIDE STORY OF CASABLANCA RECORDS, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

LISTEN TO THIS! Mr. Media's  January 7, 1985 interview with Gene Simmons of KISS


 
Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Gene Simmons, KISS musician: Mr. Media Lost Tapes Audio Interview

Gene Simmons (via last.fm)

I met Gene Simmons once.

His band, KISS, was touring without the makeup for the first time and we were backstage before a show at the Lakeland Civic Center. Simmons was an imposing figure, even making casual conversation, but we didn’t talk long.

Pretty soon, the late concert promoter John Stoll of Fantasma Productions walked up to Simmons. Each of his arms was around the waist of a beautiful, glammed out young lady whom he introduced to Simmons.

The chit-chat was officially over.

“Sorry, Bob. Gotta go,” Simmons said, trading places with Stoll between the girls. “Maybe we can talk later.”

Never happened.

Anyway, this telephone interview with Simmons from January 7, 1985, is one of my all-time favorites. This captures a moment in time when Simmons was funny, direct and fascinating, talking about KISS, of course, but also making a movie with Michael Crichton, Tom Selleck and Kirstie Allie called Runaway, and why he's not likely to be marriage material. I hope you’ll enjoy this Mr. Media “Lost Tape.”

You can LISTEN to this Mr. Media LOST TAPES interview with Gene Simmons, founder of the legendary rock band KISS, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!