Paul Stanley, founding member and lead vocalist for the classic rock group KISS, has an art show at Wentworth Gallery in Short Hills, NJ on April 28. I recently interviewed Paul about his artwork, KISS, and much more.
You may not know this, but Iām the reporter that gave your son, Evan, his first cover story in the U.S. Last year, when this landmark event took place, what was that moment like for you?
Yeah, I so appreciate that. Heās onto bigger and better things. He left The Dives because the band was, essentially, him. Heās writing some amazing songs. He just needs room to grow. It just reached a point where I heard his newer material and I was just like, āDonāt compromise what youāre doing.ā Heās on to some really big stuff. Heās very thankful, as am I, for what you did. Evan is a terrific guy, and Iām a huge fan of his, as a person. Heās determined to do this his way, and I give him a lot of credit. Heās got a great, strong work ethic. I was thrilled for him. And he doesnāt take it lightly, nor do I.
With KISS taking the year off from having a full-fledged tour, youāve been showcasing your beautiful artwork at events hosted by Wentworth Gallery. How do you approach creating your paintings? Do you know what you‘re striving to accomplish before you start, or do you just start painting and see what happens?
Interestingly, earlier on, I was basically painting as a cathartic means. It was really just something to deal with, kind of, a whole lot of emotional issues that were going on in my life – relationships. It was more a sense of purging, whereas now a lot of time goes into figuring out what I want to do before I do it. So, I find myself, probably, spending more time trying to figure out how Iām going to do something than actually doing it. Iām in the studio right now working, and last night was me saying to myself, āOK, how am I going to pull this off?ā Iām in the home stretch now. Iām really having a great time. I tend to define myself by the outlets I find, and Iāve found so many. I think people need to give themself more leeway. There are plenty of people around you who are going to hinder your creativity, so why not do your own? Itās crazy. When people say to me, āI canāt paint, I canāt draw,ā I say, āNonsense.ā Just because you paint a Coke bottle and it doesnāt look like a Coke bottle doesnāt mean itās not great. Give yourself a chance. Itās amazing what youāll find over time that you can do. It doesnāt mean youāll do it all tomorrow, but you have to start somewhere.When you paint, do you set goals for yourself? If so, what kind of goals?
My only criteria in painting is color, and my artwork is all over the place. I donāt want to limit myself. Iām having too much fun, and itās too exciting to explore my creativity. The only parameters I have are bold colors. To me, bold colors I think very much affirm a love of life. It may seem corny to some people, but this attitude has gotten me to where I am. A positive attitude and an excitement with every day is what my life is all about. It doesnāt mean that every day is great. Iāve had my share of issues and things Iāve had to deal with in my life but life is a miracle, every day. You donāt dwell in where you are. You look forward, and thatās really my mantra.
On February 9 KISS filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to trademark āThe End Of The Roadā for the purposes of ālive performances by a musical band.ā Naturally, this resulted in many fans assuming that KISS, namely you and Gene, are about to embark on a final farewell tour. What are the details on why this trademark was filed?
Itās not the first trademark thatās been filed. I thought it was a terrific name, and I was surprised nobody had used it before. I wanted to make sure that when we used it, and there will be a time that we do, I imagine – I wanted to be sure that we own it and itās ours. When we wanted to go out and do the āHottest Show On Earthā tour, Ringling Bros. came to us and said, āYou canāt do that.ā It set off a light and bell for me. Weāve always had slogans or sayings that are synonymous with us, and this was another. Everything does end, in one form or another. When itās my time, I want to go out in style, and I want to go out guns blazing. So, when I came up with this idea, I thought letās make sure we tie this up.
Gene Simmons is currently traveling the world to hand-deliver his mammoth box set, The Vault, to fans. Approximately, how many unreleased demos do you have? And would you ever consider releasing them?
I might have 20 or so. Iāve always worked very differently. Iāve never written as an exercise. I write with a goal and a purpose. I self-edit. If a song doesnāt sound great or if Iām not excited by it, I donāt finish it. When you hear five or six songs on a KISS album, I wrote six or seven songs. I donāt write 30, 50, 100, 200, anything like that. It seems like a waste of time, if nothing else. I certainly have demos of songs that wound up on albums. I think on our box set, the demo for āLove Gunā was on there; and thatās virtually identical to the KISS version. Thereās a different drummer and me playing bass, like I did on the KISS recording. Theyāre not that much different. The feel is very much the same.
Speaking of demos, āSword and Stoneā is a phenomenal song that was left off of Crazy Nights. Why didnāt it make the cut?
I canāt tell you. I probably had enough songs on a particular album and, quite honestly, we used to work on quotas, which I wonāt do anymore and havenāt done for quite a while. The idea that anybody should have a particular amount of songs on an album, as though itās a birthright, is ridiculous. At that point, I think we were still dealing with somewhat of a parity. I came to realize we compromised the band and we compromised the fans, when we have an obligatory amount of songs members have to have and how many songs people have to sing. Thatās ridiculous. So, why wasnāt it on the album? It was probably the lesser of some songs.Before he recorded his immensely popular Great American Songbook albums, Rod Stewart had to have surgery to remove cancer from his throat. As a result, he had to learn how to sing again. Thankfully, after a year or so, he regained that trademark sound we all know and love. You encountered voice issues of your own years ago and underwent vocal cord surgery. Considering youāre known for having a powerful and versatile voice, what kind of effect did these voice issues have on you psychologically?
Itās always interesting to me if somebody says, āYou donāt sing like you used to.ā Thatās like saying to Kobe Bryant or to any athlete, āYou donāt play like you used to.ā Thatās a natural progression of life and biomechanics. Beyond surgeries, over time your voice…your muscles, and your voice is a muscle – your muscles donāt respond the same as they did. Ask Robert Plant. Ask Coverdale. Ask Don Henley. It just, thatās the way it goes. You always go for being your best. You canāt compete against yourself. But you can compete against whatever the standard is at any given time. Regardless of surgeries, time is something that no doctor can alter. Thatās just reality. You do things in your 20s that you donāt plan on doing in your 60s. I can count on one hand and a few fingers singers who donāt come to me when weāre in social situations and go, āAre you finding it impossible to do what you did?ā Weāre all in the same boat.
You have great style, and in 2015 it was announced that, through a licensing deal with Epic Rights, you were going to launch a lifestyle brand called Royals and Rebels. Whatās the latest on this project?
Itās always easier to announce things than to see them to fruition. Thatās why Iām always reluctant to constantly announce what Iām going to do because, most of the time, nothing comes of a lot of it. A lifestyle brand is a great thing but to really see it elevate to the level that one would want it to, is very very difficult because you need other people who are as excited as you and who are willing to put up money. So, that has really been an issue. I just designed some, just, killer shoes for Puma that come out in the fall. Itās great to think big, but Iāve learned not to get up to bat and point to the bleachers. Youāre better off swinging and surprising everybody than telling them what youāre going to do and then it doesnāt happen.
You have a solo group called Paul Stanleyās Soul Station, where you perform Motown and Philly soul music. So, I have to ask you, when are you bringing the show to my hometown, Philly?
Good question. I am not only a fan of the music, but thatās music that I grew up with and was so important to me. Your Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Your Thom Bell and your Philly soul. Soul Station really came about because of my love for the music and my wanting to hear it live. Itās such a tragedy that all that great music has been reduced to a sample on a rap song when those songs are brilliant and were really groundbreaking for me. I saw Otis Redding as a kid. Those are my roots just as much as hard rock and blues. Being able to get together with 12 really top-notch believers – much like me – people whoāve all played with Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, and Whitney Houston, and on and on. We all want to deliver these songs as they were recorded, as opposed to some Vegas version of them. Anyway, Soul Station has a lot of things in the works and weāll see how it works out. Iām thrilled everybody in the band says that, āFor everything else we do, weād all rather be doing this.ā Japan was awesome. We did 12 shows in six days. Itās a great thing. And we all want to come to the East Coast, and we certainly want to be in Detroit and we want to be in Philly. Itās just a matter of making it work financially because when you have 13 people on the road, there are a lot of mouths back home to feed for everybody and thatās a consideration.Are there any plans for you to record a studio or live album with Soul Station?
Yes, thatās the plan. The plan is to record an album that combines some great standards and some new tracks from my friends who are some of the top writers and producers.
Fans go back and forth about who calls the shots in KISS, you or Gene. So, who has more influence on whether or not KISS decides to do something, you or Gene? Iām inclined to believe itās you.
(Laughs) Iāll leave that to smart people like you to figure out.
Last year, on stage, you announced that KISS is going to record a new studio album. Whatās the latest on this project?
I donāt think I said we were going to. It was more a possibility. I tend to, when we finish an album, at this point, not see much reason to do it again, as much as I enjoy it. I really donāt know at this point what our plans are. Itās clear that you donāt sell anywhere near what you once did. Itās a completely different climate, and on top of it, as much as people want you to do a new album, as soon as you go on tour, they want to hear the classics. It doesnāt matter if itās us or the Stones or McCartney. If you watch a live concert video, I will tell you every time the band on stage is playing a new song because the audience sits down. You may say why doesnāt this band or that band do a new album? Well, frankly, there is a certain amount of disappointment when songs, understandably, are not embraced the same way that songs that are 20 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old are. Itās not surprising to me. Now āLick It Upā is a classic. Thatās really interesting to me. Now we have songs like āHell or Hallelujahā or āModern Day Delilahā – those songs go over well but, understandably, theyāre not emotionally connected to people like the songs that they listened to initially. Thereās a part of me that goes, itās fun to be in the studio. But, ultimately, Iām not sure if itās not a letdown for everybody.Iām friends with Neal Schon of Journey, and he famously got into a public spat with his bandmate Jonathan Cain about keeping their band free of political and religious affiliations. In December 2016 you posted on social media that KISS declined to play President Trumpās inauguration. Like Neal Schon, is it important to you that KISS be solely about music, not politics or religion?
I think that itās best to separate yourself and your band from too many causes. I understand and see a reason to use fame as somewhat of a platform but I find it embarrassing when people stand on soapboxes and talk about things they clearly know little about. Success and fame doesnāt give you knowledge. (laughs) It just gives you the ability to open your mouth. I think it may just get overused. I donāt know the dynamics of Neal and Jonathan but, thankfully, it seems to have worked out and life goes on. I donāt think that disagreements are cataclysmic, I think not resolving them is.
One of my favorite lines you ever said was during an interview. Someone asked you about the war in Iraq, I believe, and you said, āIām just a rock star. Iām not qualified to discuss that.ā I thought that was a fantastic response because you made it clear that youāre about your music and your art, not opining on hot-button social issues.
Iām fortunate enough to know people behind the scenes, in the armed forces in high-up positions. The little that I hear from them, and it is very little, because they canāt divulge much. However, what I do hear makes me realize that the general public, myself included, knows so little about what goes on behind the scenes. So, Iād rather not talk too much about things I have very little knowledge of.
Vinnie Vincent recently re-emerged from seclusion. What are your thoughts on Vinnie, and would you ever write songs with him again?
Right, I have no thoughts or comments.Barry Manilow is my all-time favorite musician. What are your thoughts on Barry and his music?
I saw Barry in Las Vegas. I think it was, probably, about six years ago. I love going to Vegas often. Usually, one night is to go to a great dinner and one night is to go to a great show. At this point, everybody plays Vegas and thereās always something terrific to go and see. On this particular night, it was Barry Manilow. A friend of mine who was there said, āDonāt have any doubts. Itās the best show here.ā That was true at that point. Heās terrific! For me, you either respect the performer or you donāt. Itās not a matter of taste. Itās not a matter of whether I like it anymore than I believe who should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, for example. What I like and who deserves to be put in can be two completely different things. Whether or not I embrace a certain type of music has nothing to do with whether or not itās done well and people love it. But in Barry Manilowās case, I have no problem saying it was terrific and heās got a bunch of terrific songs. I hope people embrace different kinds of music in the same way they should embrace different kinds of food. When I was growing up, the amazing thing about going to the Fillmore East to see a three-act bill was the diversity. It wasnāt seeing the same band three times. It was a meal. It was three different bands doing three different things but doing them great. I saw Humble Pie with Derek and the Dominos. I saw Traffic with Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly. I saw Buddy Guy with The Who. I saw Jimi Hendrix with Sly & the Family Stone. I think the more people embrace other kinds of music, the more they can bring to their own – and the more happy theyāll be. The idea that someone would say, āI love metalā or āI love opera.ā Open your ears and open your mind a little.
Yesterday, I interviewed Paul Anka and today Iām interviewing you, so you could say thatās pretty diverse.
I can say I did it my way, and he did it his way. (laughs)
One more thing about Barry Manilow. I donāt know if youāve had the opportunity to meet him, but heās one of the nicest people Iāve ever met. Him, his husband and his daughter are all the nicest people.
Oh, totally. After the show was over, I went back to Barry and I said, āIāve got to tell you, you sounded suspiciously good.ā (laughs) I donāt think he ever got a compliment quite like that. He was on point and he was great.
Some excellent questions. I think it is smart of Paul to take the high road. It becomes him.
Thanks!
Michael / great interview you got apt from paul – more than he usually gives – carol Ross
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Excellent interview. Paul Stanley is my idol, and I’m dying to interview him one day. Like you, I’m in Philly, too. This was one of the coolest things I’ve ever read, so thank you for that.
Thanks so much! I hope you get a chance to interview him someday.
Fantastic interview.
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Such a great, well thought out interview. It answered so many questions. Thank you.
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Great interview Michael !!!
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You asked Paul some great questions. Not the usual “suck up” kind. I knew he wouldn’t comment on Vinnie Vincent. Great try though!
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Again, great questions. Sadly, because of those questions, Paul won’t do an interview with you again. Just ask Eddie Trunk if you don’t believe me.
Thanks! However, I donāt agree with your assessment. KISS doesnāt like Eddie for a variety of valid reasons. Thatās why they donāt bother with him anymore. If Paul didnāt like certain questions, he and the band wouldnāt have promoted it on KISSOnline and social media. Iām sure Iāll speak with him again.
What valid reasons are there as to why KISS don’t bother with Eddie Trunk?
Beautiful interview, art and person. Thanks for sharing.
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Great interview, Paul is the member of Kiss I respect the most. I don’t like this whole trademarking phrases though, and surely Boyz II Men would have a better claim to it?
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Great interview, by the way. I discovered this on another site.
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Keep up the great work.