In the May issue of Classic Rock on sale now…The Greatest Singers In Rock
We’re talking about singers – no screamers, no screechers, no foghorn-voiced frontmen. Over 20 pages we look at the best rock singers ever to have drawn breath and then let it out to such stunning effect.
PAUL STANLEY
"KISS' show was amazing, but I think the fact that their show was so spectacular often caused you to overlook how good Paul's voice was." - Billy Squier
A consummate hard-rock vocalist, over four glorious decades Paul Stanley has carved out his rightful place among rock's Mount Rushmore of singers. Combining primal power and passion with the brimstone fury of an evangelical preacher, Stanley's multi-octave voice electrified such KISS classics as "Love Gun", "Detroit Rock City", and "Strutter".
His remarkable vocal virtuosity is a hallmark of the KISS canon and his stylistic range is impressive: ballsy rock ("Got to Choose"), rock anthems ("Flaming Youth"), Zeppelin-style metal ("Makin' Love"), disco ("I Was Made for Lovin' You"), power pop ("Tomorrow"), R&B ("Easy As It Seems"), grunge ("It Never Goes Away"), operatic pop ("Just A Boy") and acoustic balladry ("Everytime I Look At You").
Greatest Vocal: "Anything For My Baby" from KISS' 'Dressed To Kill' (1975). A muscular song that illustrates Stanley's bruising vocal chops.
Wentworth Gallery is pleased to present two art exhibitions by artist, rock icon and legendary KISS frontman Paul Stanley. Paul will make two special appearances at Wentworth Gallery in June.
Friday – June 12, 2009 -7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday – June 13, 2009 – 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wentworth Gallery
South Park Mall
4400 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
For details on the VIP Reception with Paul Stanley or to RSVP please call 704-365-2733 or 800-732-6140
Things don't always happen in 'order'. So is life, right? Well, we have gotten a few of our PS5 series Paul Stanley Preacher guitars in recently from the FIRST RUN. This first run features a chrome set of Seymour Duncan humbuckers. A JB in the bridge position and a '59 in the neck. The run is a total of 8 pieces.
While chatting recently with Terry Atkins, Washburn's Custom Shop Director, I mentioned that I was looking for more PS5 guitars as soon as he could deliver... as the response has been AMAZING! He suggested sending 2 from the 2nd run - NOW. The second run was commissioned by BSG with Seymour Duncan 'Custom Shop' GOLD Plain Covered humbuckers!
So - yesterday, #1 of 8 and #5 of 8 arrived. #5 was on hold for my great Canadian friend and customer, Dave. And I have a feeling #1 won't make it past today. But we will see. Folks - these guitars are amazing!
Some quick history on the PS5 guitars. In 2007 and 2008 I worked with Paul and Washburn Owner, Rudy Schlacher on two runs of very high quality PS8500 Preacher guitars. 2 runs of 50 guitars. One black and one white. Numbered, custom - the whole deal. They came out extremely well and have been gobbled up by BSG customer base and the KISS Army quickly. While we were considering putting together a 3rd run of PS8500 Preachers, I became very dismayed at how truly exceptional Korean construction prices have continued to spiral - UPWARD. Drastically. The more I kept thinking about it - the more it made sense to go back to the drawing board.
Besides the occasional body paint and stage make up, rock stars aren’t usually known for their artistic touch. But every rule has its exception and KISS lead singer Paul Stanley is just that: an exception. The rocker’s paintings often tout $70,000 price tags. If it hadn’t been for school, he may have gone the way of Picasso earlier on.
At the famed High School of Music and Art in New York City, the rigid structure and required classes soured Stanley on becoming an artist. He joined KISS after graduation, turned into a rock icon, and didn’t pick up a paintbrush again for more than three decades.
Around 2001, while Stanley was going through a divorce, he decided to pick up some canvases and paint. “It was very cathartic,” he says, “and a way to get in touch with myself.” He never planned to share his art with the world, but after hanging his painting Green Planet in his home, friends took notice and pushed him to contact a gallery. Stanley finally agreed.
