Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons Defend the Name Behind Their Band Stanley Simmons

Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, sons of KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, spoke out in defense of the name they chose for their musical partnership, Stanley Simmons, during an episode of SoundExchange’s “Sound Advice” content series. The two addressed suggestions that using their surnames amounts to trading on their fathers’ fame.

• Evan Stanley said he and Nick wrote their first song together, “Temporary Love,” on February 3, 2024, and the duo had formed as a band by around February 14, 2024.
• Stanley Simmons’s debut album, “Dancing While The World Is Ending,” arrives August 28, 2026, and contains 12 tracks.
• The band’s first-ever U.S. tour runs September 14 to November 3, 2026, following a live debut on May 4 at the House of Blues Voodoo Room in San Diego.
• Producer Rob Cavallo, whose credits include Green Day, Fleetwood Mac, Paramore, My Chemical Romance and Dave Matthews, is producing the album and managing the duo.

Why Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons Chose the Name Stanley Simmons

Evan Stanley explained that the pairing came together so quickly that a more elaborate band name never entered the conversation. He said the two simply mapped out where their musical tastes overlapped and built the project from there, pointing to Crosby, Stills & Nash and Simon & Garfunkel as earlier acts that performed under their own surnames.

Nick Simmons added Hall & Oates and Jimmy Page’s post-Led Zeppelin outfit Coverdale-Page to that list of precedents. He said the goal was to present the music plainly, without a gimmick, and admitted he hadn’t anticipated that using his own last name would draw comments about “leaning into the dads.” He called that reaction unintended, noting it is simply the name on his birth certificate.

Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons on Fame by Association

Evan Stanley argued that scrutiny tied to famous parents follows a person into any profession, joking that even if he became a landscaper, people would credit his skill to growing up around his father’s career in KISS. He said there’s no escaping that kind of attention, so the only option is to keep working.

Nick Simmons said he has no interest in either hiding from or leaning on his family name, describing it as “the least interesting thing about me.” He said he wants Stanley Simmons judged with the same harshness applied to any new act, adding that people connected to show business only last if the work itself holds up, citing Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie as examples of performers who endured because of their output.

Evan Stanley closed the thought by tying the band’s fate to simple market demand. He said a name might draw a listener in once, but it won’t carry a song through repeat listens, since audiences ultimately decide based on whether the music connects with them.

Stanley Simmons Album and Tour Details

Stanley Simmons has released six songs ahead of the full album: “Body Down,” the title track “Dancing While The World Is Ending,” “Temporary Love,” “Cellophane,” “Don’t Leave Me Here Like That,” and “Lilith.” The complete 12-track album lands August 28, 2026.

Stanley Simmons 2026 Tour Dates

• September 14: Dallas, Texas
• November 3: West Hollywood, California

Additional stops between the September 14 opener and the November 3 finale have not yet been detailed.

More Info

• Sons Of KISS’s PAUL STANLEY And GENE SIMMONS Defend Decision To Call Their Collaborative Project STANLEY SIMMONS | Blabbermouth