Paul Stanley Opens Up: How KISS Was Reborn After Chaos and Farewells
“This is the band I always hoped for.”
That’s how Paul Stanley now describes KISS — but the road to that point wasn’t smooth. In a raw and revealing conversation on The Magnificent Others podcast with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, the legendary rocker laid bare the inner turmoil, painful exits, and surprising rebirth of one of rock’s most iconic bands.
The Fall of the Originals: A Beautiful Beginning Turned Bitter
By the time KISS hit their Psycho Circus era, Stanley says the writing was on the wall. The original magic with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss had turned into something darker — tension, resentment, and dysfunction.
“We knew the end was coming,” Stanley admitted. “To have created something so wonderful with Peter, Ace, and Gene — and then see it fall apart with so much acrimony… it was heartbreaking.”
But instead of letting the legacy rot, Stanley made a bold choice: rebuild.
Doc McGhee and the Decision to Carry On
With the support of longtime manager Doc McGhee, Stanley found the clarity and courage to push forward. Retirement wasn’t an option — not yet.
“The people who were glad we went away were the ones who hated us,” Stanley said. “And they were the ones who got angry when we came back.”
But he knew there was still more to say. And he knew the band needed fresh energy.
Enter Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer: The Vital Spark KISS Needed
The arrival of guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer wasn’t just a lineup change — it was a resurrection. According to Stanley, they brought more than just technical skill. They brought spirit. Passion. Consistency. And a deep respect for the KISS legacy.
“They had the fire Ace and Peter lost,” Stanley said. “And just as important as the music was the attitude — that joy and pride of being in the band.”
The Ultimate B12 Shot for Rock and Roll
Thayer and Singer didn’t try to rewrite the KISS formula. Instead, they injected it with new life. Stanley likened their impact to a massive surge of creative energy.
“It was like the biggest B12 shot ever,” he said. “They could play anything, any night, and they always delivered. We kept the setlist structured like a theater piece with a beginning, middle, and end — but knowing we could do anything with those two behind us was empowering.”
Not Reinvention — Revival
For Stanley, the post-Frehley and Criss era wasn’t a compromise. It was a realization. A dream fulfilled.
“They didn’t come in to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “They came in to honor it — and to make it roll smoother than ever.”
Now, looking back, Stanley sees the current version of KISS as the embodiment of everything he always hoped for: rock solid, drama-free, and fired up to give fans the show of a lifetime.
