On the “End Of The Road” tour, Paul Stanley’s vocals have been defended by Doc McGhee, the band’s longtime manager, who claims that the “Star Child” sings every song live.
Paul Stanley has reportedly been accused of lip-syncing for many years. Stanley has never claimed to be a vocal powerhouse and has always been open and honest about his singing talent, yet the myths have persisted. Stanley has consistently refuted the allegations, claiming that he has always performed live. He has even shared footage of himself doing so to back up this claim.
Kiss’s manager McGhee has recently talked about it while speaking to the Syncin’ Stanley YouTube channel. About Stanley, he said, “He sings every track. So he sings to it. So he’s not lip-syncing. He fully sings. It’s enhanced. It’s just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sang, to begin with. Nobody wants to hear people do stuff that’s not real, that’s not what they came to hear.”
He also clarified more saying he is, “actually saying there are backing tracks that Paul is singing to. He’ll sing to tracks. It’s all part of a process. Because everybody wants to hear everybody sing. But he fully sings to every song.”
Since the beginning of Kiss’ final “End of the Road” tour in 2019, there has been debate on whether Paul Stanley was actually singing or was merely miming the music. Back in 2019, Paul also addressed the case himself. While talking with Star Tribune, he said.
“I try not to talk to guys like you, for one. It’s hard to stay away from smoke, because the arenas are filled with it. But I do shut up as much as possible, and try other things. There’s no denying, whether you’re an athlete or singer, that life goes on, and you aren’t who you once were. That’s life. I always say if you want to hear me sound like I did on ‘Alive!’ go listen to ‘Alive!’ That said, I have no problem doing what I’m doing and standing by it. The songs sound awesome.”
Back in 2015, Gene Simmons himself criticized bands that use pre-recorded vocals during concerts. It was during his interview with News.com and it’s most unlikely that his own bandmate doing so. He had said,
“I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks,” Simmons said at the time. “It’s like the ingredients in food, if the first ingredient on the label is sugar that’s at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you’re paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is (on) backing tracks and they’ll sing sometimes, sometimes they’ll lip synch. At least be honest. It’s not about backing tracks, it’s about dishonesty.”
