EVAN STANLEY — AMBER WILD FRONTMAN AND SON OF KISS LEGEND PAUL STANLEY — DIDN’T HEAD DOWN THE GUITAR RABBIT HOLE UNTIL HE DISCOVERED NIRVANA’S “SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT”
By Andrew Daly
TUNE-UPS
CONSIDERING THAT EVAN Stanley grew up watching his dad, Paul Stanley, play guitar in Kiss, most people would assume he’s a dyed-in-the-wool disciple of the Hottest Band in the Land. Sure, his dad’s exploits influenced him, but there’s more to Evan Stanley than kabuki-clad lineage.
“A lot of people think I came out of the womb playing guitar,” he tells us. “I’ve been around it forever because of my dad, and, of course, he was an influence. But the biggest thing was when I went over to a friend’s when I was around 10, and he played ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ on a cheap, out-of-tune acoustic. I ran home and said, ‘Dad, I need to learn guitar.’ He showed me a D and an A chord and said, ‘If you remember these in the morning, I’ll show you G.’ I woke him up at 6 a.m. the next day, showed him the chords, and I was off and running.”
From there on, a burning desire to take the stage was stoked in the younger Stanley, leading to the formation of Amber Wild, a band potentially on the cusp of success. Yes, there’s work to be done, but Stanley is confident, knowing Amber Wild has rare potential.
“I’m in a great band now where I’m fronting and playing guitar, which is like my dad — but the way I got there was very different,” he says. “The pandemic lifted, and I was like, ‘Fuck, I have to get out and play.’ I met Tommy [Lowrey], the drummer; Jacob [Massanari], the bassist; and Marsh [Via], an insane guitarist, and we clicked. We play off against each other in a way not many do. I wanted to bring back that kind of classic guitar exchange.”
The early returns on Amber Wild are good. So good that Kiss penciled them in for the final 19 shows of their End of the Road Tour, a chance that Amber Wild intends to savor.
“To be able to open for Kiss is going to be unreal,” Stanley says. “We’ll connect with as many people as possible. Music has always been something I share with my dad; it’s been a special part of our bond. I’m so excited to be a part of this last run. It’s a dream come true.”
How did Amber Wild get together?
It started during th
