KISS's PAUL STANLEY: 'Social Media Is A Great Thing When Used Properly'

KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley recently spoke to Jefferson Graham of USA Today about the new Kiss Me photo app, moving the Kiss Army to social media, and why the iPhone 6 Plus is his go-to device. Check out the clips below.

Speaking about the importance of social media in today's world, Stanley said: "I think social media is a great thing when used properly. And it does sometimes get abused. There are people out there who like to yell 'fire' when there is no fire, and level accusations at people, and hide in anonymity. But other than that, I think social media is a great way for people to communicate immediately, and it makes the world a smaller place. So in that way, it's terrific."

Stanley also talked about how KISS has used social media to promote the band and expand its fan base. He said: "Certainly social media is a great way for us to deliver what we are and the message, but if you have nothing deliver, social media is not gonna help you. So we were here before social media, and we will ride the wave."

Asked how KISS would go about creating a buzz if they were starting out today instead of in the early 1970s, Stanley responded: "I think that all things that last the longest start with a groundswell. And it's all well and good to have talent shows on television and YouTube and other outlets, but the fact of the matter is that if you really wanna create a groundswell, I think the best way to do it is in a club, or in a small area, and have it build from there. Because it has to start with people, and I believe that to sustain something, it needs more than just an overnight buzz."

He continued: "It's such a hypothetical question. And here we are forty years later and a hundred million albums and countless world tours, so how we would do it if we were starting now? You know, I may be a dinosaur, but I still believe that the way to people is by engaging them, and what I try to do on stage is engage people and make everybody feel that they're important and that each one of them is essential to what we do. It's great to have media outlets and the Internet and such, but I'm one who believes that the message first has to be delivered in church, in temple, in synagogue — you choose — but it's gotta go directly to the people."