Supporters of one of the most famous bands from the ’70s and ’80s were pleasantly surprised when the lead singer made a rare public appearance in Los Angeles recently.

The rock star, now 73 years old, opted for a more relaxed look in a simple polo shirt and worn-out jeans, a significant departure from his previous extravagant style with vibrant makeup and flamboyant outfits during his time with KISS.

The music legend, who, along with Gene Simmons, established the innovative band back in the 1970s, was seen grinning broadly while picking up a takeout order from Starbucks — a much calmer moment compared to his famous stage performances, which included his signature tongue-out pose and guitar smashing antics.

Longtime followers, however, quickly recognized his signature black, flowing hair — which he has previously admitted he keeps lengthy to cover a congenital deformity.

‘I pursued fame as a way to compensate for a lot of insecurities,’ he revealed in 2019. ‘I was born deaf on my right side and I had a birth defect. I had what’s called microtia, which is basically not having an ear — just a crumpled mass of cartilage.’

Can you guess the famous rocker?

Fans of one of the most iconic bands of the ’70s and ’80s were in for a surprise when the group’s legendary frontman stepped out for a rare sighting in Los Angeles on Thursday

The rocker, now 73, kept it low-key in a casual polo shirt and faded jeans, a far cry from the wild makeup and outlandish costumes he once wore as the face of KISS

If you said Paul Stanley, you’re absolutely right!

When KISS burst onto the scene in the 1970s, they weren’t just another rock band—they were a spectacle. 

Their theatrical makeup and larger-than-life personas set them apart from the era’s other glam and hard rock acts.

‘At the same time that we were forming in New York, there was a very big glitter scene, where boys were basically acting like girls and putting on makeup,’ Simmons recalled in a 1996 interview with Porkchops & Applesauce, per Far Out.

‘Well, we were more like football players — all of us were over 6 feet tall — and it just wasn’t convincing!’

Instead of following the glam trend, KISS carved out their own lane, using face paint to create striking, otherworldly alter egos. 

Simmons became The Demon, Stanley transformed into Starchild, Ace Frehley took on the role of Spaceman, and Peter Criss embodied Catman. 

The formula was a resounding success: Across four decades and 44 albums, KISS shattered records, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and etching their name into rock history.

If you said Paul Stanley, you’re absolutely right!; (seen in 2023)

When KISS burst onto the scene in the 1970s, they weren’t just another rock band—they were a spectacle: their theatrical makeup and larger-than-life personas set them apart from the era’s other glam and hard rock acts; (seen on right in 2021)

Their legacy reached an official milestone in 2014 when they earned a coveted spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

But their signature style wasn’t always polished.

‘The very first pictures we took when the band first got together, we looked like drag queens,’ Simmons admitted. ‘But we knew we wanted to get outlandish.’

‘Getting up onstage was almost a holy place for us, like church, so being onstage looking like a bum wasn’t my idea of respect,’ Simmons explained. 

‘That’s where the makeup and dressing up came in. It would have obviously been a lot easier to get up onstage in jeans and t-shirts and go, ‘Okay, here we are — we’re the Ramones!’ And that would have been just as valid, but it would not have been honest.’

The band’s signature looks weren’t meticulously planned—they were born from instinct.

‘I just remember being in a loft in downtown New York and looking in the mirror and just starting to draw,’ Simmons recalled. ‘It was very stream-of-consciousness. What you see is really what just happened… Nobody else was involved.’

While the makeup became their signature, KISS stunned the world in 1983 by appearing in an MTV interview completely unmasked.

Paul Stanley in 1970 

While the makeup became their signature, KISS stunned the world in 1983 by appearing in an MTV interview completely unmasked; (Simmons and Stanley in 2023)

The formula was a resounding success: Across four decades and 44 albums, KISS shattered records, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and etching their name into rock history

‘To me, it doesn’t feel all that different because I’ve seen these guys more often without makeup than I have with makeup,’ Stanley said at the time.

‘Everybody hated it,’ Simmons later admitted, according to Yahoo. ‘People didn’t want the paint to come off, but you know what? Tough. It had to happen.’

Their grand return to makeup and full costume came on February 28, 1996, when the original four members made a surprise appearance at the Grammys—fully decked out for the first time in 17 years.

Despite decades of speculation about who first introduced the idea of the makeup, Simmons recently reflected on the band’s evolution in a June 2024 appearance on Steve-O’s Wild Ride! podcast.

‘Nobody who was ever in KISS can ever lay claim to saying, “I’ve got a brilliant idea, everybody should put on makeup. Let’s wear more makeup and higher heels than your mommy ever did.” Nobody did, it just happened,’ Simmons explained.

Stanley shares Sarah with his wife Erin Sutton, whom he married in 2005, and together they also have two younger children, 13-year-old Emily and 18-year-old Colin. 

He is also father to Evan Stanley, 30, from his previous marriage to actress Pamela Bowen.