In a candid interview on The Drew Lane Show, KISS frontman Paul Stanley offered effusive praise for STANLEY SIMMONS, the nascent musical endeavor of Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, the sons of KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, respectively. The project, which unveiled its debut single, "Body Down," in December, is poised to release a full-length album later this year, a prospect that has Stanley Sr. beaming with pride and anticipation.
"Nick and Evan have basically known each other their whole lives, but didn’t really get close until the last year where they said, ‘Oh, let’s try singing or writing’," Paul Stanley revealed to host Drew Lane. His endorsement of their musical output was unequivocal: "Their album, which I’ve heard, is frigging phenomenal. I mean, it’s as good as anything I’ve heard in the last three or four decades. It’s that good. So it’s terrific, and it’s organic."
The discussion inevitably turned to the specter of nepotism, a label often affixed to the offspring of famous musicians. Paul Stanley, however, dismissed these concerns, framing it instead as a natural extension of familial familiarity. "The idea of nepotism – if you suck, you’ll fall on your face," he stated. "I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking advantage of having some sort of familiarity. But ultimately, most people who trade on that fail because it’s not enough. So, I think STANLEY SIMMONS, it’s just fantastic and I can’t wait for them to start playing live."
A Sonic Departure from the KISS Legacy
The musical direction of STANLEY SIMMONS has been a point of curiosity, particularly after host Drew Lane likened the sound of "Body Down" to that of legendary folk-rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. When questioned about potential classic rock influences, Paul Stanley elaborated, "They’re very inspired by all the greats. And I have to say that as good as ‘Body Down’ is, the rest of the songs leave that in the dust… Oh, the songs are just crazy good. And there’s flavors of all different artists in what they do, in the same way that virtually everybody who’s out there or has succeeded has elements of something else. So I don’t have a problem with that. It’s not imitating; it’s being inspired by. So, they’re great. I can’t say enough about them. I’ve just been wowed."
This sentiment of organic inspiration, rather than imitation, has been echoed by Evan and Nick themselves. In a recent appearance on the Caught On The Mike podcast, hosted by Michael Clark, the duo addressed the rationale behind their project’s name, STANLEY SIMMONS.
"It’s funny when you say the obvious marketing angle, it’s a really funny one for us, or to anyone who is familiar, our parents are in a band together, and it’s a pretty big band and that’s great and it’s really cool," Evan explained. "I think it’s one of those things where online it’s a very funny thing. You read these comments, and it’s, like, ‘You’re trying to do your own thing, but then you use their names. Riding their coattails.’ I’m, like, dude, it’s literally our names. This is my birth name. It’s our legal name."
Nick Simmons added his perspective, admitting a degree of surprise at the online reaction. "I didn’t actually anticipate that, which is stupid. I should have. But when we talked about it, we were, like, ‘Oh, we like a lot of bands that do that: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Hall & Oates and Simon & Garfunkel. We could just be Stanley & Simmons’ or whatever. And so we did that conversation. And we were, like, ‘Yeah, sounds good. That makes sense, with the type of music we’re doing.’ Yeah. And then people were, like, ‘Look at them milking the fucking [KISS connection].’ And we were, like, ‘Oh, I guess… I didn’t really think about that.’"
Navigating the Noise and Defining Their Sound
The challenge of cutting through the modern music industry’s saturation of content was also a key theme in their discussion. Evan Stanley articulated, "The thing is, you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t. Because at the end of the day, there are so many talented musicians out there, and there’s so much great music coming out. There’s also just an ungodly amount of platforms to try and keep up with, and there’s so much noise to cut through." He emphasized that while initial curiosity might be piqued by their lineage, sustained listenership hinges on genuine musical merit. "So there’s so much great stuff, and then also because everyone has a platform, everyone wants to use it and be loud, so then there’s also a lot of noise. So anything that we can do to help cut through the noise and get people to listen to our music, I’m willing to do. I have no problem with that, because at the end of the day, someone will listen once out of curiosity, but they won’t listen a tenth time because they’re curious. They’re gonna either love it and connect with it and be part of it or they won’t be. And that’s not something you can buy. You can get in front of people and we’re very, very lucky in that way. But it’s so funny reading all the comments. It’s kind of, like, ‘Okay, so you don’t want us to use this, but then when we don’t, you ask why we don’t.’"
The genesis of STANLEY SIMMONS, as described by Evan, was far from a calculated business move. "It was never supposed to be a project. We just wanted to sing together once. Then we heard it back and thought, ‘Wait, this actually sounds special.’" Nick Simmons concurred, highlighting a unique synergy: "There’s a kind of connection you can’t fake. When we sing together, it feels like a third voice, something new."
A Deep Dive into Musical Influences and Parental Support
The musical direction of STANLEY SIMMONS leans heavily into roots-oriented Americana and folk influences, a conscious departure from the hard rock anthems of their fathers. Evan Stanley explained to KTLA’s Andy Riesmeyer, "We grew up loving a lot of roots stuff, Americana folk, so you hear a lot of that in there. It really has nothing to do with what our dads do. I think the interesting thing is we do actually have a lot of the same influences." Nick added, "We were excited. I never get to do just stripped down, rootsy Americana music. And so it was, like, ‘Let’s do it. ‘Cause it would be fun.’ And then people were, like, ‘No, you should do this.’"
The project is being produced by Rob Cavallo, known for his work with Green Day. Cavallo noted the striking contrast between STANLEY SIMMONS’s sound and that of KISS. "The fact that it has nothing to do with the sound of KISS is the first thing that’s interesting. And even the name STANLEY SIMMONS. And you realize they’re kind of like the new Laurel Canyon mystical, magical. It’s just got its own vibe that’s very deep. So we’re excited."
The support from their famous fathers has been a consistent theme. Nick Simmons described his father, Gene Simmons, as a master of the "backhanded compliment," recounting, "My father is the master of the backhanded compliment. He’ll be, like, ‘This is much better than the last thing you showed me.’ And I was, like, ‘Oh, you said some nice things about that.’ He goes, ‘Nothing compared to this.’" Evan added, "They’re unbelievably supportive. If someone’s honest with you, then when they say something’s great, it’s actually worthwhile, and it means something."
A Timeline of Emergence and Anticipation
The journey of STANLEY SIMMONS has unfolded over the past year, with subtle hints and direct confirmations from both the artists and their fathers.
- Past Year (leading up to December 2024): Evan and Nick begin collaborating more seriously, sharing glimpses of their musical process on Instagram. This period marks the transition from casual jamming to a dedicated project.
- December 2024: STANLEY SIMMONS releases their debut single, "Body Down." The accompanying music video, directed by Kuya Allen and Shey Allen of Downhaus, is made public.
- February 2025: Nick Simmons speaks with People magazine about the project’s inception, describing an "unexpected, magic moment" that "snowballed from there." He also acknowledges the inherent challenges of familial connections in the music industry.
- March 2025: Gene Simmons discusses the burgeoning partnership with the New York Post, highlighting the chemistry between the two musicians and the overwhelming initial response to their cover of "The Sound of Silence." He confirms they are actively writing and recording their debut album.
- July 2025: Paul Stanley shares his profound pride and emotional connection to his son’s collaboration with Gene Simmons’ son in an interview with Liz Svatek, emphasizing the "magical" and "poignant" nature of their bond.
- Later in 2025 (Tentative): The full-length debut album from STANLEY SIMMONS is slated for release.
The Inevitable Comparison and the Quest for Authenticity
Despite the assurances of originality and organic creation, the specter of comparison to their fathers’ iconic band, KISS, remains an undeniable factor. Nick Simmons acknowledged this reality, stating, "I am like every other consumer out there – I’m a little sick of the family members of people trying to insert themselves into our eyeballs. But it doesn’t really matter if one of them is actually good." This sentiment underscores the duo’s awareness of public perception while maintaining confidence in their artistic merit.
The project’s name itself, STANLEY SIMMONS, drew direct inspiration from musical duos that share surnames, such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Hall & Oates, and Simon & Garfunkel. This choice, while seemingly straightforward, became a focal point for criticism, prompting the artists to clarify their intentions.
"The reason we went with STANLEY SIMMONS is this was such an unexpected collaboration," Evan explained to Tmrw magazine. "We’ve been friends for a long time, but we’d never really done anything together. And when we tried writing, we were, like, ‘Wow, this is something. Let’s run with this.’ And from the get-go it has been – I think the word ‘organic’ and ‘authentic’, both of those words get tossed around so much, but this was never trying to be a thing… And then it was, like, ‘Let’s write a song or two together. And maybe we’ll do one or two songs together. It’ll be fun.’ And then we wrote the first one. It was, like, ‘Well, wait. This is the best song I’ve ever been a part of. There’s something to this.’ … And that’s kind of why we went with STANLEY SIMMONS, is just, ‘Hey, this is who we are.’ We’re not trying to be the da da. It’s just our names. There really isn’t a thing, except the thing is that it’s just us singing together and playing stuff that we like."
A New Chapter for Rock Legacies
The emergence of STANLEY SIMMONS represents more than just a new musical act; it signifies the continuation of a storied legacy, albeit on a different sonic path. The industry buzz surrounding their debut, coupled with the enthusiastic endorsements from their legendary fathers, suggests a promising future for Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons. Their journey, from childhood acquaintances to collaborative artists, embodies a compelling narrative of shared history and independent artistic expression, poised to carve its own distinct niche in the annals of music. The anticipation for their full album release is palpable, as listeners await further evidence of the "magical" connection that has captivated both their fathers and the industry alike.