Creative Director. Rockstar.

In 2018, the two titles – earned or self-appointed – carry more clout than three-letter acronyms like CEO or NBA with six-figure followings mean more to most than six-figure salaries.

50 years ago when KISS frontman Paul Stanley decided he wanted to be both, it was less about fame and fortune and more about imagining his own world.

“I started doing this because I wanted to live without rules,” reflects Stanley, the man behind not only the mic but also KISS’s image, costumes, stage design, album art and merch for nearly half a century. “My only rule was there no rules and to not be shackled by others’ limitations.”

Undefined by the expectations of others nor titles other lust to tote, the New York native is doing pretty, pretty good. The same hand that penned “I Want To Rock and Roll All Night And Party Everyday” and sketched the famous KISS logo decades ago now spends time painting in his family’s Beverly Hills home when he’s not rocking crowds of 80,000 in countries that register as #TravelGoals.

So, Paul’s designed massive stages, the look for the most famous band in the world and the art for numerous platinum projects — why not sneakers? Well, that’s exactly what he’s doing now and exactly why we spoke with him. Teaming up with PUMA for the Suede 50 celebration, we chatted with the man who set out 50 years ago to do what every kid dreams of doing now and is still doing it to this day.

Rock on.

Nice Kicks: Growing up in New York, what would you say was your relationship with sneakers?

Paul Stanley: In New York, everybody had sneakers and certainly they were of a different generation than what it’s evolved to. We had Keds, PF Flyers, and Converse. Over time it was interesting to see how sneakers evolved into a multi-purpose shoe and wearing it outside of sports. It’s amazing how sneakers have turned into a fashion accessory and how they have elevated above just function.

Preorder now - Only 300 bundles available worldwide!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of four solo albums by the founding members of KISS with this limited-edition box set bundle! The glossy, foil-stamped slipcase contains four 180-gram LPs in band member colors. It also features four 12-by-12-inch album cover art posters, plus an exclusive turntable slipmat that shows all four of artist Eraldo Carugati’s iconic, painted album-cover face images.

Bundle set  also includes limited edition tee, coaster and pin sets.

CLICK HERE to preorder now!

Commemorating 40 years of the KISS Solo Albums with this LIMITED EDITION platinum record.

Authenticated with the official RIAA certification signifying over 4 million copies sold, collectively, worldwide.

This award features a platinum colored vinyl record and personalized, engraved inscription plate all framed in a 1.25" black frame.

CLICK HERE to order now!

40 YEARS AGO TODAY!

On this day in KISSTORY - September 18, 1978 - the KISS Solo Albums: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley were released. The Solo Albums represented the first time ever that all the members of a band released solo works on the same day. All 4 albums shipped platinum!

The Iconic Rock Band’s Four Same-Day-Released Solo Albums Come Together In ‘KISS: The Solo Albums - 40th Anniversary Collection’
A Limited-Edition 4LP Vinyl Box Set Via Casablanca/UMe

Forty years ago today, each one the four founding members of KISS — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss — released their respective solo albums all on the same day to much fanfare, chart success, and platinum sales. And now, four full decades later, all four of these pioneering albums are being collected in KISS: The Solo Albums - 40th Anniversary Collection, a limited-edition 180-gram 4LP box set by Casablanca/UMe that’s earmarked for release on October 5.

Preorders commence today, September 18, for the limited run of 2,500 vinyl box sets being made available exclusively through KISS’ webstore (shopkissonline.com) and The Sound of Vinyl (thesoundofvinyl.com/us). Each heavy-grade 180-gram LP appears on virgin marbled white vinyl, in addition to sporting the unique color associated exclusively with each KISS bandmember. All four albums are housed together in a deluxe glossy black-matte slipcase that displays a high-gloss black-ink print of the infamous KISS logo text and related images.

Also included in this set are four 12-by-12-inch posters that are replicas of the ones that came with the albums upon their initial 1978 release, plus an exclusive turntable slipmat that shows all four of artist Eraldo Carugati’s iconic, painted album-cover face images all connected together.

We are sadden by the passing of Brigadier General James B. Thayer. All of us mourn this great man, friend, father and war hero.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Tommy and the entire Thayer family during this difficult time. 

Message from the Thayer family:

To all our family and friends, it's with great sadness we let you know our dad James Thayer passed away peacefully early this morning. He was an amazing man and we're going to miss him a lot.