Paul Stanley rules out new KISS music as it 'can never compete with the past'

They haven't recorded an album in 10 years

KISS's Paul Stanley
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 25th Aug 2022
Last updated 25th Aug 2022

Paul Stanley has ruled out recording any more music with KISS as he believes "it can never compete with the past.’

Currently performing live on their swansong End of the Road World Tour, KISS haven’t made a new album since their 20th studio effort ‘Monster’ a decade ago.

Appearing on a recent episode of the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, frontman Paul Stanley was asked if KISS are tempted to lay down some new material in the studio.

Categorical in his response, Stanley said: "No. Because at this point, I came to the conclusion that it can never compete with the past. Not because it's not as good, but it hasn't the connection to important times in your life.

"It doesn't have that patina to it of, 'Gee, I remember I heard this song when I was 18,' or, 'I heard this song when I was on my first date or whatever.' You can't compete with that. It's more than a song; it's a snapshot of your life at a certain point."

KISS

He added: "We did two albums in the last, I think probably 10 years, and there are songs on those that are every bit as good as anything I've ever written, but they're new.

"Somebody says, 'Why don't you do a new album?' You do a new album and do a song — we have one song, Modern Day Delilah, which is as good as Love Gun or any of these songs, but it hasn't aged; it's not like wine that has a chance to have grown in importance.

"Not just because of what it is, but because what it's surrounded by."

Concluding his argument, Stanley said: "I think it's setting myself up for disappointment. Not crushing disappointment, but when you put your heart and soul into doing something and it kind of gets a polite nod, there's other things I'd rather do."

KISS kick off their Australian tour at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena tomorrow night (26th August).

KISS THIS:

This September, Planet Rock will celebrate KISS all month long with KISS THIS – a series of special shows and programming honouring the band.

Stay tuned for more information!

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