08/31/2025
55 years ago, in late August 1970, Gene Klein* and Stanley Eisen met for the first time at a mutual friend, Stephen Coronel's apartment in Washington Heights, New York (4455 Broadway, Apartment 2L). The photo below was not taken on that day, but was taken about a year later, after Stanley joined Gene and Stephen's band called Rainbow. Rainbow would become Wicked Lester, Wicked Lester would become KISS, Gene Klein would become Gene Simmons, and Stanley Eisen would become Paul Stanley.
* Chaim Witz is Gene's birth name. His name was changed to Gene Klein soon after he arrived in America on June 16, 1958, and Gene Klein was the name he was using when he met Stanley Eisen in late August 1970.
(info/photo courtesy MAGIC - KISS KRONICLES 1973 TO 1983)
