Paul Stanley's Paradise

Guitarist on Paul's upcoming solo speaks!

from Blabbermouth.net:

Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Glam-Metal.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Brad Fernquist, who performed most of the lead guitar on the new solo album from KISS frontman Paul Stanley. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Glam-Metal.com: Another one of my favorite artists that you have worked with is Paul Stanley of KISS. You worked with him on his soon-to-be-released solo record, right?

Fernquist: "Yes, I did. I played almost all the leads on his record. I also played some rhythm guitar. That was a really great experience. He was totally fun to hang out with and he was funny. I meet him before briefly but never spent any time with him, so I didn't know what he was like or what to expect. But he turned out to be a great guy to be around. And the music is very cool."

Glam-Metal.com: What does it sound like?

Fernquist: "Well, I'm younger, so I think that he brought me in because he wanted it to sound more like modern rock. If it does sound like KISS, it's because it's Paul Stanley. But it's modern rock, it does have some heavy tunes and a couple of laid back ballads. But overall it sounds very modern."

Glam-Metal.com: Did you co-write any of the material with him?

Fernquist: "No, no definitely not. Basically what happened is I worked for an artist that Doc McGee managed and he called me in and Paul liked my playing and from there it just worked out."

Glam-Metal.com: Wow, what a great gig that must have been. There are probably 30 million guitarists out there that would have killed for the chance to play on Paul Stanley's new upcoming release.

Fernquist: "Yeah, it was pretty cool. To be honest because I'm younger, I kind of missed out on the whole KISS thing. I knew the obvious songs and hits and stuff like that, but I kind of missed the whole big KISS thing. But even so, I still knew who KISS and Paul Stanley were, but I didn't grow up learning Ace Frehley riffs or anything like that. But don't get me wrong, it was definitely cool working with him, I had to pinch myself a few times to prove that I wasn't dreaming. It was fun. He was a very cool guy to work with."

Glam-Metal.com: Do you consider yourself a Kiss fan now after working with him?

Fernquist: "Definitely. I actually had a chance, because I was out on the road touring, and got a chance to see my first KISS show a couple summers ago in either Houston or Dallas. And I totally got it. I was like 'Wow, this is like the biggest show I've ever seen.' And I've been to a lot of big shows. It had you interested from the beginning to the end. The guys in the GOO GOO DOLLS are big KISS fans as well and I've learned a lot about KISS through those guys. But, after seeing their show, I would buy tickets in a second to watch them play again."

Read the entire interview at Glam-Metal.com.

Paul's new solo CD to be titled "Live To Win"

Blabbermouth.net

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has confirmed to ABC Radio's ePrep that his new solo album will be called "Live to Win". Stanley is still in the process of shopping the record to labels in various countries, explaining, "There's nothing worse, that I've seen in the past, [than] when you have a deal, let's say in America, and the company in Germany hates your album." To combat that, the singer is seeking out different labels internationally to assure they're all excited about the CD. He expects it to be in stores in about four months.

Stanley is planning a tour to support the CD, and says he'll be bringing out a bigger band than he's used at past solo gigs, "because there's a lot more going on on this album." He estimates he'll have about six people in his band. As for the musicians he used during the recording of "Live to Win" — a list which includes session drummer Victor Indrizzo, guitarist Corky James, former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick (who plays bass on a few songs) and noted string arranger David Campbell — Stanley says, "[It's] some friends of mine — it's not a 'who's who.' I didn't want to do one of those albums where you list people and it becomes some sort of a, trying to impress everybody with names. So it's a great album. Everybody loves it." Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Wake Up Screaming" and "Second to None".

Art design to be done for Paul's upcoming solo?

As reported on the t42design website and kisskollector, Paul supposedly has approached them to art direct and design his forthcoming solo album.  t42design has also designed several KISS albums, the KISS box set, KISS tourbooks and the about to be revamped Kissonline.  

KISS – PAUL STANLEY  “I’m Done. Finished.”

2005-12-07 19:17:07
Special Report By Martin Popoff

He is, of course referring to his new solo album, the legendary KISS guitarist adding that, “I’m just looking and talking with various labels to see where it will wind up. I mean, it’s done, mixed and ready to go, and according to everybody who’s heard it, it’s damn good.”

“Modern is a scary word,” opines Stanley, when asked for a characterization of the record. “I would certainly say that it is very much in keeping with my personality and keeps a very consistent viewpoint, but it sounds really big and the songs are great. The singing is great and the songs are great and the playing is great. You know, so far so good.”

Quite diverse like Gene’s album, or is it a fairly unified sound?

“Well, it certainly… you know, not to be smart, but it’s consistent in its diversity. There’s enough divergence in terms of the songs, and yet they all sound like they belong on the same album. There’s nothing that’s experimental and there’s nothing that is out of character, but after doing this as long as I have, I’ve covered enough bases that I think I’ve just brought them all home on this album.”

Stanley is also celebrating the release of Kiss’ new DVD – Rock The Nation Live!, a gorgeous concert package shot in the DC area last year, stuffed with rarities like ‘Love Her All I Can’, ‘Tears Are Falling’ and ‘Makin’ Love’. Paul offers comment on the advantages of the two disc package. “Well, you know, the fact that it is high def makes a huge difference. And that we have this Kiss Powervision, as we’re calling it, where you can choose who you want to watch. And of course if you have your sanity and your good taste, you’ll be watching me. It’s a great concert and a great time capsule of the last tour. Again, what it does is that it very much says that this band really is justified in terms of the longevity and how people view the band, good or bad. I could care less. We are exactly who we aspire to be, and who we work our asses off to be. This isn’t a shadow of a bygone era. When we hit the stage, as in the last tour, you see a stage set up and show that is signature Kiss. The band looks and sounds like it was… you pick a year.”

Kiss' Stanley Readies Second Solo Set

November 10, 2005, 12:00 AM ET  (from Billboard.com)
Greg Prato, N.Y.

Kiss may not be planning on hitting the recording studio any time soon, but vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley is heading down the solo route. As first tipped here in 2003, Stanley is nearing completion on his first non-Kiss release since his self-titled 1978 album, issued in tandem with solo projects from the other three original Kiss members.

"So far everybody that's heard [the album] thinks it's great, so I'm real pleased with it," Stanley tells Billboard.com of the as-yet-untitled set. "Again, at this point, if it sells 100 copies or 100,000 copies or 10,000,000 copies, it won't change my life either way. All it's about is doing what I want to do and what I have the freedom to do. That being said, it's a very mainstream album. I don't think I'm going to surprise anybody being mistaken for somebody else. It was important to me to do the album I wanted to do, without any regard for anybody else's opinion or direction."

Stanley did not reveal specifics about the sonic direction of the project, but says time has only sharpened his skills. "It's not 1978 anymore," he says. "It's certainly the same mentality, and certainly I'm a better singer today. My perspective and where I'm at in my life at this point, and what I've experienced and seen, brings something else to the table that wasn't there then. But I still look back on that album as a really great snapshot of who I was and what I was doing then."

Joining Stanley on the album are session drummer Victor Indrizzo, guitarist Corky James, former Marilyn Manson guitarist John5, former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick (who plays bass on a few songs) and noted string arranger David Campbell.

"It was great because there's a freedom to also being the director," Stanley enthuses. "In the studio, it's called the producer, but in actuality, it's the director -- the person who puts the scene together. It's great to not be limited by having to use a set group of people, because then you have to tailor to their ability or to their taste. So in doing something like this, you have total freedom to not only do what you want, but to bring in the people who can do it well. It's been great."


When the album is done, Stanley is hoping to support it with live shows. "I would love to go out, and my plan is to go out and play," he says. As previously reported, Kiss' 2004 Rock the Nation tour is chronicled on the DVD "Rock the Nation! Live," due Dec. 13 via Image Entertainment.

While this isn't exactly "new" it is all the info we have up to now on Paul's solo.

Thanks to Julian at KISSFAQ.COM  for putting this all together on his website......he does a great job.  But also....for giving me permission to boost it for here

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Paul Stanley Solo Album 2005 News