Paul Stanley is a multi-millionaire, adored by fans worldwide, has a New York Times best-seller under his belt and is about to begin a three-week residency with KISS, the band he co-founded 41 years ago, at the Hard Rock.
Yet he remains driven, it appears, in no small part by his resentment for those who disdained him and his band for so many years.
KISS was enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, but Stanley told KNPR's State of Nevada he and the original members of the band would not perform because "we were going to be a dog and pony show."
"Firstly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wanted nothing to do with us," Stanley said. "They begrudgingly let us in ... They wanted to have the original guys play in the band and all of us in make-up and quite honestly, I think it would have done all of us a disservice ... it would have sounded a bit suspect."
Stanley talked about rising to the top of the rock business, only to find that enormous success was not the key to happiness.
"You have the stark reality of seeing that life doesn't really change," he said. "The external changes ... but the fact remains you're miserable ... And then you're faced with either putting a needle in your arm, a gun in your mouth or rolling up your sleeves and figuring out what's wrong. In my case, it was spending a lot of time in therapy."
KISS begins a three-week residency at Hard Rock Casino Wednesday. Now 62, Stanley said he wants KISS to live on with new members even after he lays down the guitar.
"Will a time come when I say 'That's enough?'" he said. "Of course, and I ... will work with all my heart to see that the band continues without me."
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