Bill Aucoin Born on this Date, December 29, 1943

In 1943, band manager Bill Aucoin was born. He discovered the rock group "KISS" in New York City in 1973 and helped launch the makeup-wearing, fire-breathing quartet into a musical and merchandising juggernaut. He financed the band's first tour on his personal American Express credit card when money was tight, but he was well rewarded when the band's popularity exploded in 1975 with the hit "Rock And Roll All Nite." After parting with "KISS" in the early 1980's, he managed Billy Squier and Billy Idol. He died June 28, 2010 of surgical complications from prostate cancer.