Topic: Paul Stanley

Stanley Eisen (born January 20, 1952 in Queens, New York) known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of most of the band's highest-charting hits, including "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Detroit Rock City," "Hard Luck Woman," "I Was Made for Lovin' You," "Crazy Crazy Nights" and "Forever."

Before Kiss, Paul Stanley was in a local band, Rainbow (not to be confused with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow) and Uncle Joe. Through a mutual friend of Gene Simmons', Stanley joined Simmons' band Wicked Lester in the early 1970s. The band recorded an album in 1972, but as of 2008 it has never been officially released (although songs from the album appeared on Kiss's 2001 box set). Wicked Lester soon fell apart and Stanley and Simmons placed ads for a drummer and a guitarist in various New York papers. This resulted in Peter Criss and Ace Frehley joining the group, and they named themselves Kiss. Kiss released their self-titled debut in February 1974.

Stanley's original persona in Kiss was "The Bandit", with a "Lone Ranger" style mask design make-up pattern. This make-up design would only be used during a few mid-1973 shows, then to be replaced by the now famous "Starchild" make-up design and persona.