Born Stanley Eisen on Jan. 20, 1952, Paul Stanley was a shy, reserved child who grew into the brashest, most flamboyant, and possibly the best front man in rock ‘n’ roll. As the ringleader of KISS – the self-proclaimed “Hottest Band in the World” – he has rocked arena and stadium audiences the world over, earning fame, fortune and all the other accouterments of stardom.
Between KISS’ heyday in the ‘70s and their reanimation in makeup in the ‘90s, there were the ‘80s – a decade many believe to be a creatively fallow time for the band. It might be time for a reassessment, though – a close listen to KISS’ music of the decade reveals more high points than some might remember, and certainly a significant number of great moments for Paul Stanley as a singer, songwriter and performer. Let’s revisit a few:
“Creatures of the Night”: After years of getting complacent and lazy, KISS roared back with a new drummer (Eric Carr) who sounded like a Panzer division laying waste to a village, and a new attitude, aiming to reclaim their status not only as rock stars, but as rockers. The urgency Stanley brings to this track – a statement of intent if ever there were one – is palpable, not to mention exciting.
“Lick It Up”: Life is too short, Stanley seems to say. Identify your pleasures, then pursue them with everything you’ve got. “Don’t need to wait for an invitation / You gotta live like you’re on vacation.” Don’t leave anything at the bottom of the bowl. Lick it all up.
“A Million to One”: KISS would eventually scale the singles chart with another power ballad (1989’s “Forever”), but this one, on 1983’s Lick It Up, had more of that power thing – no acoustic guitars or keyboards, and Stanley giving listeners his best spurned-lover vocal. KISS never played the song much, but Stanley resurrected it on his solo tours, proving he has some affection for it.
“Heaven’s On Fire”: It’s a simple song – a three-chord blues progression, same as a couple million other rock ‘n’ roll songs. This one, however, features Stanley describing sexual urges in positively Biblical terms – a melding of sacred and profane that truly speaks to the KISS aesthetic.
“Who Wants to Be Lonely?”: There’s a groove here, a pulse that is unusual in KISS’ collection of cheers and come-ons. Speaking of come-ons, Stanley’s voice in the verses comes on in a thick timbre, wrapping around the melody instead of pushing it. It’s at once sexy and chilling and completely effective.
“Crazy Crazy Nights”: This was pop metal of a very high order, with Stanley’s patented rallying cry bringing the KISS Army to attention. Some might dismiss "Crazy Crazy Nights" for its glossy sheen, but no matter – it’s an anthem, and few can sing an anthem better than Paul Stanley.
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