Paul Stanley, frontman of the glam rock outfit Kiss, has released a new memoir in which he details some of the more private aspects of his life and reflects upon his career fronting one of the world's biggest bands. From fairly humble beginnings and with a little hard work, Kiss became one of the highest selling rock n' roll acts of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.

Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley Releases Memoir, 'Face The Music: A Life Exposed.'

Life hasn't always been plain sailing for Stanley, 62, who is also known by his stage name The Starchild, owing to the black star he paints over his right eye. Born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, the child afflicted with microtia, a facial deformity which prevented his right ear from forming properly and left him deaf on the right side, didn't have an easy ride at the hands of his peers.

"There was a time when this makeup was a mask-hiding the face of a kid whose life up to then had been lonely and miserable," explains Stanley in his new book. "I was born with no right ear-I'm deaf on that side, too-and the most searing early memories I have are of other kids calling me "Stanley the one-eared monster." It was often kids I didn't even know. But they knew me: the kid with a stump for an ear," via Parade.

Paul Stanley Gene Simmons
Stanley Explains Meeting Simmons, Forming KISS & Creating His Starchild Persona.

He met bassist Gene Simmons and joined Wicked Lester before they recruited Ace Frehley and Peter Criss to create the formidable rock unit known as KISS.

Next Page: Stanley reflects on how Starchild helped him both hide and feel confident.