Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, the respective sons of Kiss legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are officially launching their collaborative musical project, Stanley Simmons. The duo is set to debut their first single, “Body Down,” on December 5, marking a new chapter for the pair who have grown up in the shadow of rock royalty.
What began as a casual musical session quickly blossomed into a fully-fledged band. Speaking to Tmrw magazine, Evan Stanley explained the organic development of the project. “It was never supposed to be a project. We just wanted to sing together once. Then we heard it back and thought, ‘Wait, this actually sounds special,'” he revealed.
Nick Simmons elaborated on the undeniable artistic chemistry the two share: “There’s a kind of connection you can’t fake. When we sing together, it feels like a third voice, something new.”
The two have spent the last 11 months quietly documenting their studio time on social media, building anticipation for the release. In a joint statement, the musicians shared their pride and excitement: “A year ago Stanley Simmons wasn’t even the beginning of a thought in either of our heads. Now it’s pretty much all of them. We’re incredibly proud of the record we’re making and very stoked to share it with you all.”
Growing up with two of the most recognizable names in rock history presents unique challenges, which the duo addressed head-on. Evan noted the pressure to prove their merit beyond their lineage: “People get hyped on the last names. But that doesn’t get you anywhere. You can’t network your way into making something that actually moves people.”
Nick shared a similar sentiment with People magazine, describing the spontaneous moment that kicked off their partnership. “We’ve grown up together. We’re essentially brothers, so we always thought we’d probably play together for fun at some point. But recently Evan picked up a guitar when we were hanging out, and we started humming some harmonies, and it was kind of an unexpected, magic moment. It all just snowballed from there.”
Gene Simmons, who has been observing the project’s evolution, praised the organic connection between the two. Speaking to the New York Post, he noted: “Both have been pals because they went to see their dads work since they were little boys. And they never thought about getting together, just strumming and humming and all that.”
He cited a viral moment when the two recorded an impromptu cover of “The Sound of Silence” as proof of their inherent appeal. “They did ‘The Sound Of Silence’ a few times and immediately everybody went, ‘What is that?’ Because you can’t create that. You either have that chemistry — that sound that people react to — or not, right? Something about both Evan‘s voice and Nick‘s voice connected.”
The band has already recorded an album’s worth of material, confirming via Instagram that “One song turned into 10 real quick.” Fans can hear the first glimpse of the Stanley Simmons sound when “Body Down” drops on December 5.
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