Alive III is a live album by the American rock community best known as a hard rock and heavy metal act, Kiss. Issued on May 18, 1993, the release captures the band performing a set of established hits and songs from their more recent output, offered to document their live sound during the early 1990s.

The album is commonly presented as the third entry in Kiss's long-running "Alive" series, following the influential Alive! (1975) and Alive II (1977) records. Unlike the original Alive albums, which showcased the group's 1970s lineups and stage personas, this edition represents a later phase: the band performed without their 1970s makeup and featured a different touring personnel while retaining core founders on vocals and songwriting.

Production of a live album in this era typically combined multi‑mic stage recording with post‑production mixing; Alive III follows that approach, aiming for a balance between the immediacy of a concert and the sonic polish expected on a commercial release. The track selection emphasizes concert staples alongside selections from the band's catalog that translated to stadium and arena performances.

Context and reception

Critically and among fans the record has been read as a snapshot of Kiss in a transitional decade: a veteran act presenting familiar material with updated arrangements and modern concert production. Responses noted the album's value as documentation of the band's live show at that time, while some listeners preferred the raw energy of earlier live records in the series.

  • Third official live album in the band's "Alive" chronology — see discography.
  • Released on May 18, 1993, reflecting early 1990s touring activity.
  • Highlights differences between Kiss's 1970s era and their 1990s presentation, both musically and visually.
  • Serves as a reference point for the band's live arrangements and stagecraft during this period.

For listeners exploring Kiss's live catalog, Alive III provides a concise portrait of how the group adapted its legacy material for arenas after two decades of evolution. The album is often consulted alongside the earlier Alive records to compare set lists, production approaches, and the band's evolving stage identity.