News Archive March 2009

Paul Stanley Musician And Artist
From: 7Online.com
Posted: March 1, 2009

As he celebrates his 35th anniversary as the lead singer of KISS, Paul Stanley is making another name for himself as a painter and artist. More recently, he celebrated more than $3-million in sales of his paintings in 2008. Paul Stanley joined us this morning with details of his art show in New Jersey.

The Beatles had Paul McCartney. Led Zeppelin had Robert Plant. KISS have Paul Stanley.

For more than thirty years, Paul Stanley has reigned supreme as one of the single-most recognizable frontmen in the history of rock and roll. He's the principal songwriter, driving force and the unwavering voice of KISS, one of the most successful and influential bands ever born on American soil. Employing equal parts hip-grinding rhythm, full-tilt glam and guitar-driven slam, Stanley single-handedly penned such escapist anthems as "Love Gun," "God of Thunder" and "Black Diamond." He was the golden throat that throttled "Detroit Rock City," the charismatic swagger behind "I Was Made For Lovin' You," and stripped of makeup, was the unmasked troubadour that breathed vocal life into the ballads "Reason to Live," "Forever" and "Every Time I Look At You."

For his highly anticipated solo Live to Win Stanley chose to sidestep the glitz and glamour that has epitomized much of his career, Stanley strips his emotions to the bone and adorns them with a melodic sheen on Live to Win. In doing away with the legendary bombast, what becomes starkly clear is that these songs about the power of the human spirit and commitment to not compromising ideals can rattle not only the walls, but also the heart and soul of the listener. "What I wanted to do on this album was sing about my life, and my life is not that different than anybody else's," he continues. "The truth is, what we all deal with in life is pretty similar, change the names and the story's the same."

"Ultimately your life is always about what you make it and how you will it to be," says Stanley, his tone soft and soothing as he describes his inspiration for Live to Win [New Door Records/ Universal Music Enterprises] his first solo album in more than 25 years, and second overall. "I sing about what I know, what I experience, try to get to keep it all fairly simple and straight ahead, and that what's kept what I've always sung about universal. This album was purely a labor of love and passion, and I was only concerned with turning out the album I heard in my head, without regard for having glitz and star power from other sources."

That philosophy is aptly summed in the album's title track, a guitar-driven crescendo that affirms Stanley's determination to make, break and sustain success: "You ask me how I made my way, You ask me every where and why, You hang on every word I say, But the truth sounds like a lie. Live to win, Till you die, Till the light dies in your eyes, Live to win, Take it all, Just keep fighting till you fall"

"I've always lived by my own rules and refused to let anyone keep me from my goals or succeeding at what I set out to do. You are either your best friend or your greatest obstacle," says Stanley. "I'm living proof of living to win. One might say I'm lucky, but I tell you, the harder you work the luckier you get. You can either be a victim in life who surrenders to failure and bitch about all your adverse experiences, or you can take a deep breath and charge forward".

For more on Paul Stanley and his artwork, visit http://paulstanley.com.

Paul Stanley's local show:
Saturday - February 28, 2009- 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wentworth Gallery
The Mall at Short Hills
1200 Morris Turnpike
Short Hills, NJ

For details on the VIP Reception with Paul Stanley or to RSVP please call 973-564-9776 or 800-732-6140.