The Starchild

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Stanley initially struggled with the concept of stage makeup, testing various designs before finding the star. He recalled trying a 'Bandit' look in very early 1973 and even painting his face red before realizing that stars were central to his identity. In later years, specifically during the 1980s when Kiss performed without makeup, Stanley noted that this era was satisfying for him because he craved being on stage without the mask. He felt his persona was not defined by the makeup itself but by who he was, stating that the makeup only reinforced what people were seeing. This period allowed him to connect with audiences directly while maintaining his role as the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

In Their Own Story

In early 1974, shortly after recruiting Ace Frehley, Kiss released their self-titled debut album. Stanley had legally changed his name from Stanley Bert Eisen to Paul Stanley around this time, inspired by Paul McCartney and Paul Rodgers, partly because he hated his birth name. As the band toured, the Starchild character came to life on stage. When a fan accused him of lip-syncing during the final tour's first leg, Stanley did not confirm or deny it, simply stating he was taking care of his voice. Later, following a slip-up with fireworks and drum cues at a Belgium show in June 2022, manager Doc McGhee clarified that Stanley sang fully but utilized backing tracks, denying any lip-syncing allegations.

Reader's Guide

To understand the Starchild, one must look at Paul Stanley's personal history. Born with microtia, which left his right ear misshapen and unable to hear on that side, Stanley faced taunting as a child. Despite this, he found solace in music, watching American Bandstand and learning to sing harmony with his family. He received his first real guitar at age 13. The star over his eye became the visual anchor for a man who always identified with stars. In 2006, Hit Parader ranked him 18th on their list of Top 100 Metal Vocalists, and a Gibson.com poll in 2010 named him the 13th top frontman. His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 cemented his legacy as a founding member of Kiss.

Did You Know?

• Before settling on the star, Paul Stanley tried a 'Bandit' character with a 'Lone Ranger' style mask primarily during very early 1973.
• Stanley once painted his face all red and admitted he looked like a 'long-haired tomato'.
• In 2006, Stanley was hospitalized for tachycardia (an irregular heartbeat), and the show was canceled after Kiss performed one song as a trio.
• Despite being born with microtia (a misshapen right ear), Stanley learned to play guitar at age seven and received his first real one at 13.
• Stanley legally changed his name from Stanley Bert Eisen to Paul Stanley, inspired by Paul McCartney and Paul Rodgers.