There was always going to be curiosity surrounding a project involving the sons of two KISS legends. But what Stanley Simmons are doing isn’t nostalgia—it’s something far more personal.
The duo—made up of Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons—have officially announced their debut studio album, Dancing While the World is Ending, set for release on August 28, 2026. The news arrived on April 30 via Instagram, complete with album artwork and a full 12-track listing.
A Project That Grew Naturally
This album didn’t begin as a grand, calculated statement. In fact, it started small.
What was initially a plan to write just one song quickly turned into something much bigger. As Evan Stanley previously shared, that spontaneous session snowballed into a collection of songs—“10 real quick”—eventually forming the backbone of a full-length record.
So far, fans have already heard glimpses of what’s to come through the singles “Body Down” and the title track, Dancing While the World is Ending. A third single, “Temporary Love,” is set to drop on May 8, and it carries special meaning—it was the very first song the duo ever wrote together.
Not Trying to Be KISS
Let’s get one thing clear: this is not a KISS revival project.
Despite their lineage—being the sons of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons—Stanley Simmons are intentionally carving out a completely different lane.
Instead of hard rock bombast, their sound leans into harmony-driven, melodic songwriting. It’s softer, more reflective, and built around vocal chemistry rather than spectacle. Their covers of Simon & Garfunkel and Eagles over the past year hinted at this direction—and now it’s fully realized.
Full Tracklist
The album will feature 12 tracks:
- Body Down
- Dancing While the World is Ending
- Starve the Beast
- Running Just a Little Too Long
- Cellophane
- Cold
- Lilith
- Dystopia Boogie
- Temporary Love
- Real Life
- Love Real Slow
- Sing Myself to Sleep
Aesthetic Matches the Sound
The album artwork reinforces the duo’s artistic direction.
Instead of flashy, arena-rock visuals, the cover leans into a retro, almost psychedelic-folk aesthetic. Warm reds and beiges frame the two musicians, surrounded by ornate floral elements. It feels intimate, dramatic, and emotionally grounded—perfectly in sync with the music’s tone.
First Live Shows Incoming
Stanley Simmons aren’t wasting time bringing this project to the stage.
Their first-ever live run kicks off May 4 in San Diego and wraps on May 13 in Ventura, with stops in Santa Ana and Morro Bay along the way. These early shows will likely give fans their first real sense of how the duo translates their studio intimacy into a live setting.
More Than Just Famous Last Names
The real story here isn’t just legacy—it’s intention.
Plenty of artists with famous parents lean into that identity. Stanley Simmons are doing the opposite. They’re stepping away from the towering shadow of KISS and choosing something quieter, warmer, and more vulnerable.
That’s what makes Dancing While the World is Ending feel significant. It doesn’t come across as a side project or a novelty—it feels like the beginning of a genuine artistic voice.
The album is now available for pre-order on major platforms like Amazon and Spotify, with its full release arriving at the end of August.