There is digital processing of an acoustic bass drum sound, which is different than a full blown digital sample. You can hear the difference in Alex's sound on 1984 (acoustic bass drum) to the next album, 5150, which was pure Simmons sample on all the drums (I always thought he stepped back in sound on 5150- they sound artificial).
I think the intro to Hot For Teacher is played with hands on electronic pads (you can actually hear the sticks click right at the very beginning)- then overdubbed acoustic drums, then into the sickest double bass drum rock into of all time, which is just Alex on the kit).
It's even harder to play than it sounds, because its kind of a shuffle and not a straight hammering 16 note bass drum pattern like a lot of metal drummers play.
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