Ken Anderson was a production manager who worked in television for more than 40 years, but was perhaps best known for his work on live events — most notably for overseeing and managing the elaborate concert stage productions for the legendary rock group KISS.
From 1976 to 1982, Anderson was vice president of production at Aucoin Management in New York, where he helped to launch KISS to international stardom. Although the band did not receive regular radio airplay and was often dismissed by critics, its extravagant live shows attracted a global fan base so dedicated and loyal that it became known as the “KISS Army.”
Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, Anderson attended Boston University from 1956 to1960. Upon graduation he began work as lighting director at Boston public television station WGBH on what would become one of its signature series, The French Chef, starring Julia Child. During his tenure at WGBH he also worked on the acclaimed children's programs Sesame Street and The Electric Company, before moving on to produce commercials.
WGBH was also where he first meet Bill Aucoin, the man credited for discovering and managing KISS.
Anderson shifted to live production with the stage musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Oh, Calcutta!, on which he again teamed up with Aucoin. In 1976 Aucoin hired Anderson to oversee production of the sprawling KISS stage show, which included full makeup, fire-breathing, levitating drum kits, confetti storms, explosions, band members lifted about the stage and much more. He also worked as a production coordinator on the 1978 telefilm KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.
In the years that followed, Anderson balanced large-scale live events with television work. His credits included the the Olympic Games, productions at Universal Studios in Los Angeles and HBO and Showtime boxing specials, including the notorious 1997 heavyweight bout in which Mike Tyson bit the ear of Evander Holyfield.
Anderson died December 15, 2013, in Hallandale Beach, Florida. He was 75.
In a statement on in its website, KISS said that Anderson “was dedicated to our cause, and his skill was in evidence to anyone who saw our stages during those years.”
