Unmasked and Unrecognizable: The Iconic '80s Singer Revisited

KISS Me, Baby: The Legendary Rocker Steps Out of Character for a Rare Sighting

In a move that sent shockwaves through the music world, Paul Stanley, the iconic frontman of KISS, was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Thursday, leaving fans utterly starstruck. The 73-year-old rocker, known for his outrageous stage presence and face paint, kept it low-key this time around, sporting a casual polo shirt and faded jeans.

But don't worry, die-hard KISS enthusiasts – the signature black hair was still there, and so were those piercing eyes that have captivated fans for decades. Stanley's rare outing comes as a surprise to many, given his reputation for keeping his personal life under wraps. After all, this is the same guy who used to stick out his tongue and smash guitars on stage!

But what really caught our attention was Stanley's admission in 2019 that he keeps his hair long to cover up a congenital deformity – specifically, microtia, which means he was born without an ear. Talk about a true rock 'n' roll rebel! When asked why he pursued fame as a way to compensate for insecurities, Stanley candidly revealed: "I was born deaf on my right side... I had what's called microtia, which is basically not having an ear – just a crumpled mass of cartilage."

Now, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the glory days of KISS. Who could forget their theatrical makeup and larger-than-life personas that set them apart from other glam rock acts in the 1970s? "At the same time that we were forming in New York, there was a very big glitter scene, where boys were basically acting like girls and putting on makeup," Gene Simmons recalled in a 1996 interview with Porkchops & Applesauce, as featured on TheScholarlyNote.com. "Well, we were more like football players – all of us were over 6 feet tall – and it just wasn't convincing!"

Instead of following the glam trend, KISS carved out their own lane by using face paint to create striking, otherworldly alter egos. Simmons became The Demon, Stanley transformed into Starchild, Ace Frehley took on the role of Spaceman, and Peter Criss embodied Catman. And let's be real – that formula was pure magic! Across four decades and 44 albums, KISS shattered records, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and etching their name into rock history.

Their legacy reached an official milestone in 2014 when they earned a coveted spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But their signature style wasn't always polished – oh no! "The very first pictures we took when the band first got together, we looked like drag queens," Simmons admitted. "But we knew we wanted to get outlandish!"

Getting up onstage was almost a holy place for KISS – it was like church, people! And being onstage looking like a bum wasn't their idea of respect. That's where the makeup and dressing up came in. As Simmons explained: "It would have obviously been a lot easier to get up onstage in jeans and t-shirts and go, ‘Okay, here we are — we're the Ramones!' And that would have been just as valid, but it wouldn't have been honest."

The band's signature looks weren't meticulously planned – they were born from instinct. Simmons recalled: "I just remember being in a loft in downtown New York and looking in the mirror and just starting to draw. It was very stream-of-consciousness. What you see is really what just happened... Nobody else was involved!"

And then, of course, there was the infamous unmasking moment in 1983 when KISS appeared on MTV without their signature makeup. Simmons later admitted: "Everybody hated it – people didn't want the paint to come off, but you know what? Tough. It had to happen." But don't worry – they soon returned to their iconic looks, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

In a recent appearance on Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast in June 2024, Simmons reflected on the band's evolution: "Nobody who was ever in KISS can ever lay claim to saying, 'I've got a brilliant idea, everybody should put on makeup. Let's wear more makeup and higher heels than your mommy ever did.' Nobody did – it just happened."

So, what's Stanley been up to lately? Well, he shares Sarah with his wife Erin Sutton, whom he married in 2005, and together they also have two younger children, Emily (13) and Colin (18). He is also father to Evan Stanley (30), from his previous marriage to actress Pamela Bowen.

And that's not all – Stanley has been keeping busy with various projects and collaborations. We can't wait to see what the future holds for this rock legend!