The Fox

Lore & Background

In 1972, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons abandoned their previous band, Wicked Lester, to form a new group with harder rock influences. After recruiting Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, the four focused on creating a unique image. By November 1972, they played a showcase wearing makeup, and by early January 1973, Frehley had joined. The band began experimenting with their image immediately after the lineup was solidified. Stanley's persona, eventually known as the Starchild, was part of this initial wave of comic book-style characters. The band members took on these roles to distinguish themselves within the shock rock scene, which included fire-breathing and smoking guitars. The 'Fox' concept was part of this foundational era before the band achieved prominence in the mid-1970s.

Reader's Guide

Paul Stanley's persona began with the band's formation in 1973 and was part of the makeup experiments that defined their early identity. The group rose to prominence in the mid-1970s with these characters: the Starchild (Stanley), the Demon (Simmons), the Spaceman or Space Ace (Frehley), and the Catman (Criss). In 1983, the band entered their 'unmasked' era, performing without makeup and costumes until 1996. During this time, the specific character personas were set aside for a new generation of fans with albums like the platinum-certified Lick It Up. Following a wave of nostalgia in the mid-1990s, the original lineup reunited in 1996, resuming the use of makeup and stage costumes. Stanley remained a constant member through all these changes, from the 1973 inception to the final show in New York City in December 2023.

Did You Know?

• The band's first performance took place on January 30, 1973, for an audience of fewer than ten people at the Popcorn Club in Queens.
• Ace Frehley created the now-iconic KISS logo by drawing the 'SS' to look like lightning bolts with a Sharpie and ruler, doing it 'by eye' without redrafting.
• Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are the only two consistent members throughout KISS's history, spanning from 1973 to their retirement in 2023.
• The band resumed using makeup and stage costumes in 1996 when the original lineup reunited for a tour that grossed $143.7 million.