In The Loop Magazine Born Into Rock, Built To Play, Stanley Simmons Bring Their Own Legacy Of Music To Chicago

Born Into Rock, Built To Play, Stanley Simmons Bring Their Own Legacy Of Music To Chicago

Oct 16, 2026 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By James Currie

Rock and roll runs in their blood, but Stanley Simmons are ready to prove they can do it on their own. Rock royalty doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t rock. At Chicago’s Chop Shop, Stanley Simmons proved they have the chops to back up their famous last names.

Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons showed that being the sons of KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons may open a few doors, but the real talent has to come from them. And judging by their first-ever tour, these two are ready to step out of their famous fathers’ shadows.

For this tour, they are joined on stage by Adam Marcus on bass, Brook Salazar on guitar and Kyle Hughes on drums. Each a talent on their own provides a back end that compliments Stanley and Simmons.

Evan and Nick have been friends since childhood. Now, they are bandmates, songwriters and the driving force behind their debut album produced by Rob Cavallo, Dancing While The World Is Ending.

The two played most of their songs from the record only leaving off “Temporary Love” and “Singing Myself To Sleep”, but we got a bonus new song not yet recorded, “Hollywood Hearts” and a single, “All I Want For Us”, giving Chicago fans their first taste of what this new band can do.

I have to say, Evan is a highly underrated musician. He sings, writes songs and plays guitar, and he can rip through a smoking-hot lead solo just as easily as he can hold down the rhythm. His voice has some of the same high notes as his father’s, but Evan has his own style and sound.

Nick is just as much a star on stage. No, he’s not playing bass, but he is growing into a keyboard player and has a great voice that blends perfectly with Evan’s. He also knows how to work a crowd. He points at fans, makes funny faces, throws in quick jokes under his breath and keeps the audience watching his every move. With his physical height and big stage presence, he looks right at home in the spotlight. At one point, Simmons describes his song he wrote about A.I. and his dislike of it. Then said, “Evan also feels the same way about that (A.I.) and he also wrote a song about it, but, his song is different, because it has hope.” Meet with a laugh from the audience.

Sure, there are signs of their famous dads in the way they perform. Nick has Gene’s sense of humor, his eyes and his gift for getting a crowd going. Evan sometimes throws his head back just like Paul and holds his guitar in a familiar way. Growing up around two of rock’s biggest stars, those things are bound to rub off. But these aren’t two guys trying to be KISS. They are building something of their own.

Between songs, Evan and Nick kept the crowd engaged with stories about how they made the album, wrote songs together and apart, and put the tour together. They also talked about how much they like Chicago and being on the road building these new friends. Since this was their first tour, it was also their first time playing the city, and the crowd made sure they felt welcome. Seeing them in this small intimate club setting is a real treat as I imagine they will be playing larger venues very soon.

Fans had traveled from far and wide to catch the show. A few people near the front had followed the band from earlier stops on the tour. Evan and Nick spotted them from the stage, called them out and thanked them for showing so much love so early in the band’s career.

It was a nice moment that showed what this tour is really about. Stanley and Simmons may have famous rock n roll last names, but they are putting in the work, meeting fans and earning their own following one show at a time. Wrapping up the set, Simmons said, “If you were saving your energy for any particular moment, this would be it.” Then launched into Stanley’s “Real Life”.

When the music ended, the night wasn’t over. The band invited everyone out front for a meet-and-greet, and the fans were more than happy to follow. A long line wrapped around the venue as Evan and Nick signed merchandise, took photos and listened to stories from fans as many related KISS into the conversation wearing their favorite KISS shirts.

One fan asked Nick and Evan, “why didn’t you guys play the last KISS show with your dad’s”. To which Nick replied, “Because we’re not in KISS.” There were no rock-star attitudes or rushing people out the door. Just two musicians taking time to meet the people who came to see them.

Stanley Simmons have a long road ahead, but the signs are good. This tour alone has about a dozen dates left. They have songs, talent, strong voices and the kind of stage presence that can’t just be mimicked. Most of all, they seem to enjoy doing this together.

Chicago got its first taste of Stanley Simmons, and the band promised they would be back soon. Their fathers may have helped shape rock history, but Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons are ready to write a little history of their own.