Kiss' Paul Stanley: "I Like Coldplay"

Ask any KISS fanatic, and they’ll give it to you straight. KISS isn’t just a rock band, it’s a phenomenon.

About 1,200 diehard fans stood in line for hours Nov. 4 to meet the super group’s front man, Paul Stanley, who made an appearance at the Parisian department store in Rochester Hills.

Cameras clicked and fans howled as the “Starchild” casually rode down the escalator to greet the enthusiastic crowd. The rocker was in town to promote the latest in KISS merchandise, a cologne packaged in “his” and “hers” scents.

Mingling with fans never gets old. “It’s a chance to really say ‘thanks’ for an amazing life they have given me,” said Stanley, who signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Fans also got to “shout it out loud” when Stanley performed Nov. 5 at the Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens. He’s on tour to promote his new solo album, “Live to Win.” Backed by TV’s “Rock Star: Supernova” house band, Stanley was in top form, playing new stuff while mixing in several standard and rare KISS numbers.

Sure, he’s a rock star and all, but Stanley, too, is a music fan, favoring The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, while keeping up with the current scene. “My Chemical Romance, that’s one of the most interesting things I’ve heard recently,” the self-taught musician said. “I like Coldplay. I think the Killers are great.”

While it’s too soon to tell if Stanley has passed on the musical gene to his 2-month-old son, the rocker’s 12-year-old son isn’t too shabby on guitar. Meeting Stanley was a family affair for the McCowns of Clinton Township. Dad Shawn, 39, still has a vinyl copy of KISS’s first album, and he hooked wife Barbara on the band. “It’s classic, and they don’t have a lot of bad language,” Barbara, 41, said.

Sons Alex McCown, 11, and Matt Schiller, 16, also are KISS devotees; they have even learned some of the band’s music on guitar. “The first song I learned was ‘Detroit Rock City,’” Alex said. “It’s kind of hard. I can’t play it all.”

Many fans in line hadn’t even been born yet when KISS first appeared in the ‘70s. Nick Hudson, of Eastpointe, has been listening to Paul, Gene and the boys since he was born. And he’s only 15. Ashlee Bohning, in a red KISS T-shirt her mom bought at a 1977 concert, said meeting Stanley was “mind-boggling.”

“I was so nervous,” the 23-year-old Wyandotte resident said. “I just kept hugging him. I didn’t let go. He was very cool.”

KISS has always been there for her. “They’ve helped me through so many things in my life. Their lyrics … it’s very positive. It’s upbeat.”

After a long wait, Heidi Lichtenstein and Lori Baker got up close and personal with Stanley. Baker’s first-ever concert was the 1975 KISS show at Cobo Hall. The evening went down in KISStory as much of the show made it onto the band’s “Alive!” album. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Baker, 45, of Sterling Heights said. “The lights. The makeup. It was just amazing. Nobody compares to KISS when it comes to a live concert.”

Lichtenstein, 48, of Rochester Hills, first saw the band in 1974 opening for Rush at the defunct Michigan Palace. She’ll never forget the experience. “It was like a masquerade party,” Lichtenstein said. “It changed my life.”

Kim Rolfe and Kristine Connell drove from Ontario to meet Stanley. They brought friend Gus Griesinger, who traveled from Buffalo, N.Y. The trio — which has worked with others to get KISS inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — love everything KISS. “Their music isn’t angry,” said Rolfe, 40, who forgot to show Stanley her KISS tattoos. “It’s just happy music. They’ve taken me through so many happy times.”

“Love Gun” was probably the first KISS song Griesinger, 35, heard. “I wasn’t really a major fan until I was a teen,” he said. Since then, Griesinger has been to at least 40 KISS concerts, including Detroit, Las Vegas and New York City.

Source: http://www.candgnews.com