The Amazing Story of キッス Guitarist Paul Stanley’s Missing Ear 

KISS frontman Paul Stanley is mourning the death of a man who played a pivotal part in shaping the sound of his band and ensuring a long career for the guitarist. New Hampshire’s Dr. Frederic Rueckert, who died on May 4, treated the rocker for a congenital ear deformity called Grade 3 Microtia back in 1982. Stanley was born with the condition, which left the external ear underdeveloped and essentially deaf.

“My dear friend Dr. Frederic Rueckert has died at 95,” Stanley tweeted. “He truly changed my life when he constructed my right ear from my rib. God Bless You.”

My dear friend Dr. Frederic Rueckert has died at 95. He truly changed my life when he constructed my right ear from my rib. God Bless You. pic.twitter.com/DbcMdbIXAF

In a series of five surgical procedures, Rueckert removed pieces of cartilage from the rock star’s rib cage and carved them into the framework of an ear, which was then “implanted with a series of skin grafts.”

Stanley chronicled his ear struggles in his 2014 book, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed.”

“I had nothing more than a stump on the right side of my head, and my ear canal was also closed, so I was deaf,” the 65-year old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wrote. “That left me unable to tell the direction of sound, and more importantly, made it incredibly difficult for me to understand people when there was any kind of background noise or conversation. These problems would lead me to instinctively avoid social situations.”

Stanley hid the deformity by growing his hair long, and worked through insecurities with a therapist, Dr. Jesse Hilsen, as KISS rose to rock prominence. It was Hilsen who suggested Rueckert after reading an article on the New Hampshire surgeon. At the time, the surgery was relatively new and mainly used on kids.

“I always tried to express to Dr. Reuckert the life-changing role he was playing for me,” wrote Stanley, who was 30 when he underwent the procedure. “He was a humble man who helped countless children avoid the experience and turmoil and endlessly compounded problems I faced as a kid. He helped give me a new lease on life; I gave him a Rolex watch when he retired. I could never figure out a way to truly show him how much he meant to me.”

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Mike G if you feel that way then maybe your the one that needs to figure out your sexuality ..because even if he is gay or bi it dont matter it was still great music ..your the one that should be worried because you were wondering …are you gay

I like Paul Stanley, he’s a real stand-up kind of guy. I think he was a tad bit harsh in his book on the other members, but for all i know, maybe he was going easy on them. Anyway, if there is a God, i think Paul might have all his blessings.

Paul is as good a singer as any other hair band singer. They had a giant production going on and they delivered the goods for many years. It was all about a big spectacle and having a good time. Jelly boys gonna be jelly. Get back to me after you’ve written and recorded twenty something records.

Too bad it left him odd in other ways…such as his questionable sexuality….and terrible singing, lyric writing ,acting and those dance moves, I feel sick after watching kiss especially without peter or ace…his hairy chest with those odd low cut tank tops ewffff…wierdo all around livin off fireworks 💥

oh God Mike g keep going with the description, you got me horny….ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh aaaaahhhhhh

Paul has been married to 2 gorgeous women and has 5 children. He has made millions as a singer, song writer, painter and book writer. What is it you have done Mike G?

The same can be said for the marginally talented Gene Simmons. That said, did mommy and/or daddy not give you enough attention?

So refreshing that a major star like Paul Stanley should take the time to thank and credit another with part of his success. For those who say that his success came before the procedure, I would say that the procedure may have contributed to his longevity or his desire to stay in music and also may have contributed to the future evolution of KISS.

This story starts off by saying that the doctor “played a pivotal part in shaping the sound of his (Paul’s) band and ensuring a long career for the guitarist.” Paul didn’t get the procedure done until he was 30. By then (1982), KISS had released more than a dozen albums. While the doctor may have been pivotal in Paul’s personal life, he had no influence on Paul’s band or career.

They didn’t make millions with their voices toolbag Radi, they made it from the entertainment value like pyrotechnics and spitting blood. Juice like Alice Cooper, would you agree ? Whose the toolbag now?

Why won’t you try to sing like him when was at his prime. If you think Justin has a better voice than Paul Stanley, you’re probably right, since you’re his biggest fan. I want to see as many rock stars sing for as long as he has. They will never compare.

So how many millions of dollars have you made from your voice toolbag?

Funny all the wanna be stars. Suck it up Joe, How many years have they been in demand! You do the math if you can but I would say millions and millions worth

Interestingly, that’s right about when KISS shed the makeup. Coincidence?

I was thinking the same. I spent two days very close to the original members of KISS 1975 and never knew about his deformity, he kept it well hid.

Which Doctor Who reconstructed it? I say Tom Baker, but maybe Matt Smith.

LOL I also thought “What has Doctor Who to do with Stanley’s ear?”