Pucker up, it’s time to KISS

His hair was teased to rock ‘n’ roll perfection. 

That was the first feature I noticed about Paul Stanley when I interviewed him for my job at C&G Newspapers Nov. 4, 2006.

My little rock ‘n’ roll heart was beating like a bass drum underneath my gaudy, shiny purple shirt as a staff member from Parisian introduced us. 

My mouth felt dry and my head was on spin-cycle. It’s not every day you interview the Star Child from KISS. Here he was standing just a few feet away from me. 

Meeting Paul Stanley was a thrill.

Earlier that week, I found out the rock star would mingle with fans and sign autographs at the department store in Rochester Hills, Michigan, while promoting a new line of KISS cologne and perfume. I called ahead to see if I could come by and interview him for a story. Yes, I was told, by store staff.  

But I feared that between Wednesday when I made the call and Saturday when he arrived, that would all change. Luckily for me it didn’t, and Paul was more than willing to give me about 10 minutes of his time before he stepped out in front of 1,200 KISS fanatics waiting to meet him.

Parisian staff members led me to a back office that came equipped with a couch where Paul hung out before meeting his public. When I saw him, he looked just like he did in the magazines and on television. I admit it: I had a crush on Paul Stanley. How can you not? He’s got those big, beautiful dark eyes and that rock star glow. I love the sound of his voice when he speaks. And now, he would be speaking to me.   

With KISS being such a phenomenon, I figured every journalist within 100 miles would be at the department store ready to take a whiff of the cologne and ask the rock star all kinds of questions.

But I was the only writer who showed up with a notepad, pens and my own brand of enthusiasm. I felt like William Miller from the Cameron Crowe movie “Almost Famous.” 

As the rock ‘n’ roll frontman stood there with his hair cascading to his shoulders, I tried to breathe in and breathe out. I stammered a few words to the famous musician before admitting to him just how starstruck I was. I know, not very professional, but I couldn’t help it.

Instead of kicking me out, Paul had a heart and — in front of the few Parisian staff members in that back room with us — consoled me with a quick embrace.

“Awe, come here,” he said as he put his arms around me. He was so sweet and he smelled so good. Must be that new KISS cologne. I didn’t know what to do so I hugged him back and just tried to take it all in. I felt “Alive!”

“Sit down,” he motioned as we sat on the couch. Through our brief conversation, I learned he had two children, he liked the new band My Chemical Romance and he said he appreciated the life his fans had given him. 

He was very upbeat and personable, adding the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were among his favorite bands. He also said, “I like Coldplay. I think the Killers are great.”  At the time, Paul had released a solo album, “Live To Win” and played Nov. 5 at the Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens. His back-up band was the house band from TV’s “Rock Star: Supernova.”

Then, boo-hoo, my interview was over and it was time to go. We left the office, I gathered my husband Jim who had been waiting outside, and a group of staff members rode down the escalator with Paul, who was ready to meet his fans.

I walked through the crowd interviewing different people for my article. A couple people mentioned that KISS got them through some pretty rough times. I met one family where the parents said they liked KISS because the band members didn’t use bad language in their music. 

There was one guy dressed like Ace Frehley, and another guy that sang along as KISS and Paul’s solo music played overhead. One fan recalled seeing KISS in 1974 open for Rush at the former Michigan Palace.  

What a great assignment for me, I thought. It will go down in KISStory. 

My framed story hangs in our basement.

Paul was the third member of KISS I had now met. A friend and I met bassist and brilliant businessman Gene Simmons and drummer Eric Carr when they were on tour in 1990 with Slaughter and Faster Pussycat. 

We met them at a hotel lobby where they were staying. We found their buses and eagerly waited with a few other fans in hopes of getting a picture or autograph. When Gene Simmons walked through the lobby we asked for a photo. He wasn’t too friendly, but he did take a few pictures with us. I remember him being quite tall. He didn’t smile and my photo with him did not come out. But I met him, I swear!

Drummer Eric Carr and me in 1990. 

Eric Carr was a sweetie. 

Carrying luggage, Eric emerged from behind a pair of sunglasses and a heavy metal mane with lots of luster. I pulled out my camera to take his picture and then stopped. What if he didn’t want his snapshot taken? So I asked him, “Can I take your picture?” and he said, “Sure.”

He was a total sweetheart. Very genuine. He let each one of us fans take a photo with him one at a time. What a nice, humble guy. Oh and one more thing. Just like Paul, he smelled great. Sorry to know that he passed away Nov. 24, 1991. According to Wikipedia, he died of heart cancer. Very, very sad. I will always remember what a nice, humble guy he was.

In harmony, 

Maria Allard