Stanley Simmons, the collaboration between Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, has released the new single ‘Cold’ and its Jack Hackett-directed video as the duo begins the next stage of its debut album campaign.
by Paul Cashmere
Stanley Simmons has released ‘Cold’, the latest single from Dancing While The World Is Ending, the debut album from Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, the sons of KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Released on August 28, the 12-track album establishes a musical identity rooted in folk rock, Americana, vocal harmonies and melodic songwriting rather than the theatrical hard rock associated with their fathers.
The release of ‘Cold’ is accompanied by an official music video directed by Jack Hackett. The song is one of 12 tracks on Dancing While The World Is Ending and follows earlier releases including ‘Body Down’, ‘Dancing While The World Is Ending’, ‘Temporary Love’, ‘Cellophane’ and ‘Lilith’.
‘Cold’ also provides one of the clearest examples of the musical territory Stanley Simmons has been developing since the project emerged in late 2025. Its layered vocal approach, restrained guitar work and polished roots-rock production invite comparisons with Fleetwood Mac, particularly the band’s harmony-driven late 1970s work. The connection is stylistic rather than an attempt to replicate the sound of another group, with Stanley Simmons drawing from a wider pool of classic folk rock, Americana and melodic pop.
The Fleetwood Mac association also has a direct production link. Dancing While The World Is Ending was produced by Rob Cavallo, whose production career includes work with Fleetwood Mac, Green Day, Paramore, My Chemical Romance and Dave Matthews. Cavallo became involved after hearing early bedroom recordings from Evan and Nick and subsequently took on a management role with the project.
Stanley Simmons began almost accidentally. Evan and Nick had known each other since childhood, having grown up around their fathers’ careers, but had never seriously considered becoming musical collaborators.
That changed in December 2024 when an Instagram reel put the pair in front of microphones together for the first time.
“We were shocked,” Evan and Nick recalled. “The chemistry was instant. The way our voices locked together… it was undeniable.”
By February 2025, they were writing together. What had initially been intended as a casual experiment developed into a larger recording project, eventually becoming Stanley Simmons.
The decision to use their surnames has itself become part of the discussion surrounding the band. Evan has argued that Stanley Simmons is simply a reflection of their legal names rather than an attempt to exploit their family history.
Nick acknowledged that the connection was obvious but said the naming approach was consistent with the duo format they admired in groups such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Hall & Oates and Simon & Garfunkel.
The musical direction was similarly deliberate. Evan has described the project as being influenced by roots music, Americana and folk, while Nick has said he welcomed the opportunity to make stripped-back music outside the heavier rock traditions surrounding their families.
That distinction is particularly significant because both musicians have access to an established rock legacy. Instead of following KISS stylistically, Stanley Simmons has pursued a more intimate approach centred on songwriting and the interaction between two voices.
Paul Stanley has publicly supported the project while maintaining that his son should make his own artistic decisions. Speaking about the album, Paul described the material as “phenomenal” and praised what he considered its organic quality.
He has also addressed the inevitable discussion surrounding nepotism. Paul’s position is that family connections can provide an initial opportunity, but they cannot guarantee a sustainable career if the music fails to connect with listeners.
Evan and Nick have similarly acknowledged the advantages and complications of entering the industry with famous surnames. Their view is that the family connection may generate curiosity, but repeated listening ultimately depends on whether audiences respond to the songs.
That question now moves into a new phase with Dancing While The World Is Ending available in full.
The duo made its live debut on May 4 at the House Of Blues Voodoo Room in San Diego, giving the project its first opportunity to translate its recorded material to the stage. Its first full US tour begins September 14 in Dallas and continues through November 3 in West Hollywood.
The schedule includes performances in Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Nashville, New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Portland, among other cities. The run includes a September 24 appearance at Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville and concludes at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
For Stanley Simmons, the combination of a completed debut album and its first substantial tour provides a more meaningful test than the attention generated by its family connections. The project now has a 12-song catalogue to present and a live audience to develop.
‘Cold’ sits within that catalogue as a song that most clearly demonstrates the duo’s affinity for harmony-led classic rock and roots music. The Fleetwood Mac comparisons may provide an immediate reference point, but Dancing While The World Is Ending presents a broader musical picture of where Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons are attempting to take their collaboration.
Tour Dates
September 14, Dallas, TX, Three Links Deep Ellum
September 16, Houston, TX, House Of Blues
September 17, Austin, TX, Antone’s Nightclub
September 19, New Orleans, LA, Gasa Gasa
September 22, Birmingham, AL, All Good Beverage Co.
September 23, Nashville, TN, Cannery Hall, Row 1
September 24, Louisville, KY, Bourbon And Beyond
September 27, Charlotte, NC, Neighborhood Theatre, Side Room
September 29, Huntington, WV, The Loud, Live Music & Beer Garden
September 30, Washington, DC, The Atlantis
October 2, Boston, MA, City Winery Boston
October 3, New York, NY, The Mercury Lounge
October 5, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live, The Lounge
October 7, Pittsburgh, PA, City Winery
October 8, Ferndale, MI, The Magic Bag
October 11, Indianapolis, IN, Hoosier Dome
October 12, St. Louis, MO, Blueberry Hill
October 14, Milwaukee, WI, The Rave/Eagles Club
October 15, Chicago, IL, Chop Shop
October 18, Des Moines, IA, xBk Live
October 20, Denver, CO, Goosetown Tavern
October 22, Salt Lake City, UT, Urban Lounge
October 25, Seattle, WA, The Vera Project
October 26, Portland, OR, Holocene
October 29, Napa, CA, Napa Music Hall, The Ballroom
October 31, Berkeley, CA, Cornerstone Berkeley
November 1, Felton, CA, Felton Music Hall
November 3, West Hollywood, CA, Troubadour
Tracklisting
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
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