[8] His parents listened to classical music and light opera; Stanley was greatly moved by Beethoven's works.

His favorite musical artists included Eddie Cochran, Dion and the Belmonts, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.

[13] He listened to a lot of doo-wop music, but when the Beatles and the Rolling Stones played on U.S. television he was inspired by the performance aspect, which he thought was not out of his reach.

[14] Before Kiss, Stanley was in a local band, Rainbow,[15] and was a member of Uncle Joe and Post War Baby Boom.

Wicked Lester fell apart and Stanley and Simmons answered Peter Criss's advertisement in Rolling Stone.

[16][17][18] Soon after recruiting Criss, they held auditions for a lead guitarist, with Stanley placing an ad in the Village Voice.

For a brief time, Stanley tried out a new character "the Bandit", with a "Lone Ranger" style mask design make-up pattern.

[23] During the first leg of the band's final tour, Stanley was accused by fans of lip syncing and using backing tracks.

[24] In response to the allegations, Stanley did not confirm nor deny that he lip syncs on stage, saying he is taking care of his voice.

[25] Accusations were later revived by fans following the band's performance in Belgium on June 6, 2022, when a slip-up occurred with the fireworks and drum cues a measure late on the opening song, "Detroit Rock City".

In the same year, Stanley shared lead vocals with Desmond Child on the title track for the soundtrack of the Wes Craven horror film Shocker.

In April 2007, Stanley extended the tour to include Australia, playing in Coolangatta, Wollongong, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.

[29] The band's performance at the House of Blues in Chicago was captured on film and released in 2008 on DVD and digital audio download formats as One Live Kiss.

Stanley collaborated with Boston-based power pop group Click Five on their hit single, "Angel To You (Devil To Me)".

[37] On August 15, 2013, Stanley, Gene Simmons and manager Doc McGhee became a part of the ownership group that created the L.A.

Kiss Arena Football League team, which played their home games at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

[5][43] An unreleased song written by Stanley along with Jean Beauvoir, titled "Like a Bee to the Honey", was recorded and released by the Finnish hard rock band Lordi for their album, Killection.

[44] In 1982, after he turned 30 years old, Stanley had reconstructive surgery for the microtia in his right ear done by Frederic Rueckert, who had been performing the procedure primarily on children.

Stanley said the surgery had given him "a new lease on life" and was so grateful to Rueckert that he gave the doctor a Rolex watch upon his retirement.

On November 19, 2005, Stanley married longtime girlfriend Erin Sutton at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, California.