KISS Frontman Paul Stanley Was Born With Only One Ear, Had A Generally Nightmarish Childhood

KISS Frontman Reveals He Was Born With Only One Ear
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 17: Musician Paul Stanley of KISS appears at a press conference to announce the KISS and Def Leppard '2014 Heroes Tour' at House of Blues on March 17, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Live Nation)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 17: Musician Paul Stanley of KISS appears at a press conference to announce the KISS and Def Leppard '2014 Heroes Tour' at House of Blues on March 17, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Live Nation)

In his recent memoir, "Face The Music: A Life Exposed," Paul Stanley revealed that his fellow KISS band members were anti-Semitic, and also that he was born with only one ear. Due to a congenital deformity called microtia, Stanley was deaf on the right side, developing only a stump of cartilage, with "no direct path to the inner workings of the ear."

As an adult, Stanley was able to have reconstructive surgery and began using an implanted hearing aid. Although, during his childhood, the condition led to severe bullying, during which we imagine rude little children in school calling Stanley horrible insults like "monster" and "stupid ear!" Fortunately, he could only hear them, if he was turned to the left.

Stanley notes that all of these experiences led to a deep mistrust of all people, though he is understanding in retrospect. “Perhaps it was not that unusual for that generation but you make someone stronger by giving them more love,” he explained. “You make them stronger by being a channel for them to talk and to validate their feelings.”

"Perhaps that was one of the paramount reasons for me to finally write the book," he said of his lack of an ear and horrific childhood. "The idea that I can perhaps make someone else’s life a little easier or put a little bit more light on things by telling people my journey."

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