Kiss’ Gene Simmons opened up about his bandmate, Paul Stanley, who said that the Kiss guitarist isn’t getting enough ”respect” and ”credit” as a guitarist.
During an interview with Guitar magazine, Gene Simmons said:
“When we first started the band in 1972, there was this sense that Paul and Ace (Frehley) would complement each other and try not to play in the same chord range.
”The result would be this big guitar sound with different voicings of the same chord. But clearly, a lot of that came from Paul, who is not given the respect and recognition he deserves.”
“Paul has never just been a rhythm player. He has also been mighty handy on lead guitar. That’s Paul doing lead guitar duties on ‘A World Without Heroes’. That’s Paul playing the harmony on the ‘Detroit Rock City’ solo.
“That’s Paul at the beginning of ‘C’mon & Love Me’, and it was Paul who came up with the chordal intro on my song ‘Deuce’. Without those chords opening the song, it simply wouldn’t have the same impact.”
“”Deuce” without Paul’s opening chords is more one-dimensional. Paul’s musical background stretches from ’60s and ’70s English bands, especially Zeppelin, to the Byrds. But clearly, his lead guitar playing owes a lot to Jimmy Page and Page’s approach to the construction of a solo.
”Paul’s vibrato, when he bends a note, is overlooked for some reason. But any good guitar player will tell you his vibrato is as sweet as honey.”