Backstage Pass

March 18, 2019
In this entertaining memoir cum lifestyle guide, Kiss singer Stanley (Face the Music) presents himself as a changed man: “I’ve achieved not only traditional success but also the peace of mind that allows me to see things in a different light.” Having dealt with his past hardships, and with Kiss now reestablished as a successful touring band, Stanley felt obligated to give his fans a “backstage pass” in the form of this work, a distillation of his thoughts on and approaches to success (“Be tough on yourself, but always be your own biggest fan”; “kick the bucket list”) to help readers establish “an effective outlook that will influence every aspect of your life.” Covering his experiences in business, health, and parenting, Stanley is relentlessly optimistic: “Have a passionate plan to get from point A to point B” and “We can’t know what’s behind a door if we don’t open it.” Stanley shares some stories about Kiss, but they are geared to illuminate his message of positive thinking, such as the reason why Peter Criss, the original Kiss drummer, undermined a reunion tour: “his failure to commit to being the best he could be, his lack of wanting to do the work.” Stanley proves to be an insightful writer, and his advice just might reach beyond the Kiss fan base.

April 15, 2019
In his second book, following the best-selling Face the Music (2014), Stanley, the front man and rhythm guitarist for the flamboyant rock band KISS, transforms himself into a sort of rock-and-roll self-help guru. Non-KISS fans may be surprised at just how thoughtful Stanley is. I'm not a therapist, he writes in the introduction, but he doesn't think self-improvement is exactly rocket science either. He divides the book into sections focused on business and success, relationships and family, and self, health, and happiness. Many of his suggestions are rooted in common sense, and some readers may find them a bit facile, addressing such sentiments as: Let the past be the past; life becomes worthwhile when we make others feel worthwhile; and pride in what we do is pride in who we are. But his advice is based in genuine experiences, and Stanley is an amiable guide. What he writes here may not be new or earth-shaking, but it's worth repeating in this context. KISS fans will love Stanley's guidance, as will others who know little about his iconic band.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)