Originally published in Guitar World, Holiday 2009
Paul Stanley talks about Kiss' success as a live act and how he and Gene Simmons once again found their old chemistry and made Sonic Boom pure dynamite.
On a recent autumn afternoon, Paul Stanley was relaxing at his L.A. home prior to hitting the road for another leg of Kiss' Alive 35 tour. He took the occasion to talk with Guitar World about the long and winding road that has brought him and the band from Alive! to Sonic Boom, Kiss' latest album.
GUITAR WORLD Is it significant that Kiss were propelled to the top of the charts in 1975 by a live album?
PAUL STANLEY Definitely. I think we've always been a live animal. What we found back then was that our first three studio albums weren't selling particularly well, yet we were quickly becoming a band that was selling out live venues everywhere. There was no correlation between our ticket sales and our album sales. It became clear that what was needed was an audio souvenir of the Kiss experience. But I don't think we could ever have predicted that Alive! would become as big or as important as it did. As soon as it came out, they couldn't keep it in the stores, because it was the album that everybody who loved the band had been waiting for.
Paul Stanley of KISS rings the NYSE closing bell at New York Stock Exchange on January 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Check out these cool Paul Stanley caricature by Kevin Bolick. Some of his earlier artwork currently hangs on the walls of the KISS Coffehouse in Myrtle Beach, SC!
The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival 2010 Proudly presents Paul Stanley 'One Live KISS' on the big screen!
Hailed as an stunning classic by audiences & critics alike upon it's release in 2008 by Universal Pictures/Ume/New Door Records - 'One Live KISS' is a unique, personal, and intimate concert film featuring the legendary Paul Stanley of super group KISS & directed by acclaimed filmmaker Louis Antonelli is back as it was meant to be experienced - Larger than life on the big screen!! - in shattering multi-channel digital theater concert sound!!
One show only on Saturday, March 6th @ 3:00 pm (doors open @ 2:00 pm - arrive early * special audience prize giveaways planned!)
After the screening of 'One Live KISS' CIMM fest '10 will host an in person Q&A with producer/director Louis Antonelli, and other special guests!
Lincoln Hall (across from the historic biograph theater)
2424 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614 usa
Tickets are limited - online pre- purchase recommended
Visit the CIMM FEST 2010 website for advance tickets and further information about 'One Live KISS' plus all of the exciting events scheduled for this year's festival - March 4th - 7th , 2010 in Chicago!
Paul Stanley of Kiss has donated one of his latest paintings titled Miami Sunset to benefit Arts for Learning. The painting was unveiled
Friday at the W South Beach during a cocktail reception for the 36th annual Miami Beach Festival of the Arts. All proceeds generated from the online auction will benefit the after-school arts programs of Arts for Learning. The auction winner will also receive an invitation for two to an exclusive private dinner event with Stanley at the Diplomat Hotel in March, courtesy of the Wentworth Gallery. Bidding on Miami Sunset, which is valued at $50,000, will begin at $15,000.
KISS' Paul Stanley (L) and wife Erin Sutton attend The City Of Hope's Spirit Of Life Award Gala as part of the festivities surrounding lighting ceremonies for downtown Los Angeles' new 54-story JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Tower on January 13, 2010 at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles, California.
