STANLEY SIMMONS Step Out of the KISS Shadow With “Body Down”

Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons have spent their entire lives watching arenas light up for their dads. Now they’re finally flipping on their own stage lights.

The sons of KISS icons Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have officially launched their project STANLEY SIMMONS and dropped their debut single “Body Down” on December 5 via ONErpm. Icon Vs. Icon+1

Instead of leaning into face paint and fire-breathing riffs, Evan and Nick take a hard left turn into rootsy, folk-Americana—the kind of music that feels as comfortable on a back porch as it does on a festival main stage. Early coverage has pointed to echoes of Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with a modern shimmer that sits comfortably alongside artists like Harry Styles’ early solo work and Noah Kahan. Icon Vs. Icon+1

“It really has nothing to do with what our dads do”

From the start, the duo has been adamant: this isn’t cosplay rock, and it isn’t KISS 2.0. In interviews and social posts leading up to the release, they’ve stressed that the project “really has nothing to do with what our dads do” — a line that’s quickly become the mission statement for STANLEY SIMMONS. Facebook+1

That creative separation isn’t about rejecting their roots; it’s about earning their own. For two guys who grew up around stadium rock mythology, choosing intimate storytelling, Laurel Canyon–style harmonies, and organic instrumentation is almost a rebellious move in itself.

Rob Cavallo’s stamp of belief

If you’re wondering how serious this project is, here’s your answer: their upcoming debut album is being produced by Rob Cavallo, the hitmaker behind Green Day’s Dookie and American Idiot, among a pile of other era-defining records. BLABBERMOUTH.NET+1

Cavallo has raved publicly about the duo, calling the most striking thing the fact that their sound doesn’t resemble KISS at all and describing them as a kind of new, mystical Laurel Canyon presence with its own deep, distinct vibe. BLABBERMOUTH.NET+1 When a producer with that résumé signs on and talks like that, it’s not a vanity project—it’s a bet.

“Body Down”: first look at the world they’re building

“Body Down” arrives with a lyric video that leans into mood, not spectacle. The track builds around warm, lived-in tones—acoustic textures, steady groove, and vocals that feel conversational until they suddenly bloom into big, soaring lines. Multiple outlets have highlighted the song as a bold first artistic statement, more focused on songwriting and emotional pull than pyrotechnics. Icon Vs. Icon+2Sleaze Roxx+2

For longtime KISS fans, it’s a curveball—but it’s also a reminder that melody and hooks are part of that family DNA, no matter what genre they land in.

From living-room jams to a fully formed band

This release has been a long time coming. Earlier this year, Evan and Nick started popping up online with acoustic covers—most notably a stripped-down take on “The Sound of Silence”—and quietly revealed they’d already written and recorded a batch of original songs together, reportedly 10–12 tracks deep. Kiss Asylum

Their legendary fathers haven’t just given a thumbs-up from afar; both Paul and Gene have publicly championed the collaboration, with Paul calling their chemistry “magic” and interviews noting how proud the KISS camp is to see the next generation step into their own lane. Facebook

Second-generation rock, first-generation identity

We’re in a fascinating moment where the kids of rock royalty—Noah Weiland, Violet Grohl, and now STANLEY SIMMONS—are choosing not to recreate their parents’ bands, but to build new genres of legacy. They’re inheriting the work ethic and stagecraft, not the exact sound. Facebook+1

For Press Play, that’s the story inside the story with “Body Down”:
This isn’t just a single; it’s a line in the sand. Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons are telling the world, We know where we come from—but watch where we’re going.

Why this matters to the Press Play universe

STANLEY SIMMONS fits squarely into the wave of artists blending classic songwriting values with modern, emotionally honest production. The Americana/folk lane they’re carving out leaves plenty of room for:

• Deep-dive storytelling – songs that reward repeat listens and long-form interviews.

• Stripped-back live sessions – exactly the kind of thing fans will want to see in intimate performance spaces and on future Press Play–style platforms.

• Cross-generational fandom – KISS lifers checking them out out of curiosity, and younger fans discovering them with zero context and just hearing a great song.

“Body Down” is out now on all major platforms, with a full album on the horizon. Based on everything we’re hearing—from Cavallo in the studio to the duo themselves drawing that clear artistic boundary from KISS—this feels less like a side quest and more like the start of a serious new chapter in modern Americana. Far Out Magazine+3Icon Vs. Icon+3BLABBERMOUTH.NET+3

When the album drops, don’t be surprised if STANLEY SIMMONS end up not just living up to the last names on the marquee, but redefining what those names mean for a new generation of music fans.

By Tina Houser with a little help from AI