KISS’s Paul Stanley: “I think it was a bit difficult for my dad to see my success when success eluded him” – 2022 – Interview
Paul Stanley: What a great time and interview with Howie Mandel. Thanks Howie!!
You can listen to the entire interview via the embedded video below.
INTERVIEW EXCERPT:
On his parent’s reaction to him changing his name to Paul Stanley:
I was baffling to them. I was running around in tights and high heels with white makeup and putting a guitar between my legs. So, to begin with, I was a bit strange. But I think it was a little hard on them. I think it was a little hard on my dad.
What business was he in?
He was in office furniture. Super bright guy, who never really found a way to manifest his intelligence. He graduated high school at sixteen and should’ve gone on to college, but his parents, I think they kind of strong-armed him into working to provide for the family.
I think he was frustrated through his life because he was really a very, very innovative, very interesting guy. Probably fifty years ago, he came home one night and brought home Evian bottles that he had bought at some import store. He said, “This is the future,” and I went, “Nobody’s going to buy water.” I was like: “Dad, you turn on the faucet, it’s free. You’re not going to buy bottled water.”
On if his parents were proud of his success:
I think it was a bit difficult for my dad to see my success when success eluded him. Look, people aren’t perfect, and my parents certainly weren’t perfect. I think it was tough for my dad because instead of looking at my successes, and seeing that he was a part of it, my dad thought of it as his inadequacies.
On raising his children:
I want my kids to not have that sense of entitlement. I’d like to see that work ethic manifested in all my kids. If anything, I want to lead by example. Your kids aren’t really taken with what you tell them, but they’re more taken with what they see. So, I think my kids have seen that I work hard.
I wrote a book, more for them than for me. I was in a position where my kids could know my story and know that nothing was handed to me. I worked hard and I think it’s reflected in them.
You can listen to the entire interview via the embedded video below.
This is Bryan Stanley to Paul Stanley, Hey cous! I’m looking forward to visit with you. Looking backward at the situation you were in at the time would not have been an ideal situation for me but now that I have learned that your situation has changed extremely for the better, I would be pleased and very happy to visit with you in the near future. So glad to here things have changed for the better for you! Blessing’s to you and your Family and I hope to see you soon as you text or send an email.