You may remember our past stories on Zachary Walker Lee Johnson, the 5 year old KISS fan who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and Autism. Well we're happy to report that Zach was able to meet KISS before the Sault Ste. Marie Show! The meeting was arranged for Zach and his mother Kristen by the Make A Wish Foundation. Zach told KOL he was excited to meet the band especially his hero - Paul Stanley. He also said that he wanted us to know that Paul actually called him on the phone before because they are friends!
Zach is a great little boy and we wish him well!
Bottom photo is Zach posing with Paul in hotel lobby.
I wanted to let all of you know that I AM ABSOLUTELY FINE!
I'm going to the gym as usual, painting as usual and will be going into the recording studio this week. Like many, I have had a rapid heart beat condition most of my life and I never have had any type of restrictions. When I've had an episode, although momentarily disrupting and taxing, it has no residual effect. This is nothing new and my doctors have known about it.
In short, It doesn't change, hasn't changed and won't change my life.
To make it clear...
I WILL BE AT ROCK & ROLL FANTASY CAMP IN NY..
I WILL BE AT THE WENTWORTH ART GALLERY SHOW in Des Peres, MO. and anything else that's on schedule. I'm stoked and looking forward to it all.
Thanks for the literally thousands of calls and e-mails from all of you. You all mean the world to me.
During sound check yesterday, my heart spontaneously jumped to 190 plus beats per minute where it stayed for over an hour necessitating paramedics to start an IV and give me a shot to momentarily stop my heart and get it into a normal pattern. Not knowing if this episode was life threatening made it even more exhausting. After consulting with both the paramedics and a cardiologist at Cedar Sinai, they confirmed my worst fear. They said that I would put myself at risk if I tried to do the show.
I’m very proud of Gene, Tommy and Eric for carrying on without me. I apologize to anyone I disappointed and I’ll make it up to you when I see you again.
Here are a few photos from Paul's Chicago Art Exhibit at Wentworth Gallery. Sunday's gallery show attracted another huge crowd of art buyers and fans who waited patiently in the line that ran through the Mall. Those who purchased pieces in advance attended the private VIP champagne reception with Paul. Because of the large amount of VIP's, the reception was extended an additional 45 minutes.
Paul will do radio interviews today on the stations listed below, to promote his appearance at the Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp in New York Labor Day weekend.
Here are a few photos of Paul from last night's KISS appearance at ROCK FEST in Cadott, Wisconsin. The band performed for a crowd of over 35,000. Paul was in fine form as he belted out KISS classics including "Love Gun", "Hotter Than Hell" and a scorching performance of "All American Man".
"I'm of the school of thought that everyone should have art in their home. Whether you live in an apartment, a trailer or an estate, art is a really cool thing to have," Paul Stanley said.
For over 30 years, Stanley has been the prancing and dancing lead singer of the self-proclaimed "hottest band in the land" -- KISS.
These days, the 50-something rock star is clearly more excited these days to establish himself as the "hottest brush in the land," by promoting a series of cross-country exhibits at the Wentworth Gallery chain, the exclusive retail outlet for his collection of original paintings.
"Fans need to know that while I love saying 'Hello' to them, this exhibit is not the place for them to be bringing out tour books, photos and albums," stressed Stanley as politely as possible. "This is not a rock concert, it is an art exhibit. I will NOT be signing anything at this appearance. I'm there for my paintings, not my music."
Music seemed quite far from Stanley's mind when he chatted with The Times as well.
"I started painting about seven years ago when I got divorced," Stanley said of what led to his new career as a painter of abstract art. "My friends got tired of me ranting and screaming, and one of them suggested I take up painting, so I did."
When it comes to manipulating paint on a canvas, let's just say that Paul Stanley -- one of the four faces of the iconic rock band KISS -- is quite the expert, whether that canvas is his own visage or a swath of cloth resting on an easel.
"It's generally a two-hour process if I'm being leisurely," Stanley says about the amount of time it takes to transform himself into his rock star stage persona. "In a pinch, it's just a little over an hour. Remember, when I put on those boots I have to acclimate to a higher altitude, so a good amount of time is definitely required."
Painting on fabric canvas is not so cut and dried, the 55-year-old singer-songwriter-artist reveals.
With paintings including "The Jester," Paul Stanley of the rock band KISS expresses himself in a different medium.
ART PREVIEW
Paul Stanley will be making a gallery appearance from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at the Wentworth Gallery in the Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, (847) 995-1190. Original paintings and limited edition prints will be available for purchase in advance or day of event. Purchase is required to meet Stanley. Absolutely no memorabilia autographs will be allowed.
As the lead singer of Kiss, Paul Stanley became famous for wearing paint on his face -- mostly white, with a black star surrounding his right eye.
These days, Stanley usually performs without makeup, but paint is still a big part of his life. The rocker has joined a growing list of entertainers who paint. Stanley will make an appearance Sunday (July 22) at the Wentworth Gallery in Schaumburg to sell and sign paintings and limited-edition prints.
Kiss lead singer Paul Stanley doesn't wear the famous makeup much anymore, but he does use paint for another purpose - art. His work is being shown at the Wentworth Gallery in Schaumburg.
Celebrity artists -- whose ranks include Tony Bennett, Martin Mull and Yoko Ono -- sometimes earn good reviews from critics, although they often raise questions about whether they'd be in galleries if they weren't already famous for other reasons.
Michael O'Mahony, the owner of the 21-gallery Wentworth chain, acknowledges that Stanley's fame as a musician is a selling point. But he also says Stanley's an accomplished artist. The Wentworth Gallery Web site compares the Kiss singer's paintings to the work of Kandinsky, Mondrian, Paul Klee and Mark Rothko.
Check out these great Paul prototype action figures made by KISS fan Thierry Raynaud of France. The non- makeup figure is of Paul from LIVE TO WIN and the makup one is from the Creatures Of The Night Era.
There is never a quiet moment in my home…I have as you can see plenty of Paul Stanley's Signature guitars. I got the Ibanez PS 10 Ltd. signed to my self at the start of KISS's Reunion Tour in 1996….It just snowballed from there….First it was the Silvertone lineup, followed by the current Washburn line….However I do not own the "Solo Tour" Washburn's yet….Also I have acquired 2 of Paul's fine art pieces, both of them are # 75's of limited editions. I also collect KISS Merchandise…. My collection has grown so much that I do not have enough room in my home to show it all. On a side note I caught Paul's solo show in Seattle last November, it was a superb show & I am very much looking forward to picking up the DVD from that tour.
"Paul's Orlando gallery show saw another huge turnout of art buyers and fans who waited patiently in the line that ran through the Mall at Millenia. Those who wisely purchased pieces in advance attended a private VIP champagne reception with Paul".
Photo...
Paul is shown here with Don Bernstine, Manager of Aquisitions for the Hard Rock Hotels, Casinos and Cafes. Don purchased Paul's "Scream".
Here is a photo from Paul's Friday morning appearance on Fox News in Orlando. Paul is pictured with Trei Johnson and Heidi Hatch, co-anchors of Fox 35 Morning News.
Paul appeared on the TV Show the Daily Buzz yesterday to promote his Orlando Art Appearances. Paul did an interview and played a little blues leading into a commercial break. In the photo Paul is pictured on the set with co host Mitch English.
If it were up to Paul Stanley, the former lead singer and songwriter for Kiss would rock 'n' roll all night and paint every day. The rocker turned painter has switched from painting his face to painting canvas and will be the focus of an art exhibition July 6 and 7 at the Wentworth Gallery in Orlando.
Stanley talked recently about his upbringing, art, the future of Kiss and, of course, Gene Simmons' tongue.
