Kiss Detroit Rock City intro

The news report that fades in as the album opens. I am wondering if this is a real news report or scripted for the album: "in Detroit a Pontiac Michigan youth was reported dead..."
Did they stage it for the album or did a news story inspire the song? I always assumed the former. But just recently I was listening and heard very faintly as the sound is fading in "President Ford is said to be disappointed with congress' performance..." and I though, how cool that an album that came out in 1976 includes a reference to the current US president, kind of like a time capsule (you don't get a lot of that kind of stuff with KISS). And I started wondering about the source of that news dialogue, real or staged? Anyone know the story?

 

Supposedly, the news report and song is based on a true story. Check out this web page -- apparently some author is trying to "solve the mystery".

Author out to solve age-old 'Detroit Rock City' mystery

 

I remember as a youth when this came out and the rumor as I recall was that the song was autobiographical. The accident left their faces grossly disfigured which is why they wore the makeup. We know better now.