The crowd moves in unison as the band onstage belts out hits like “Rock and Roll Nite”, “Detroit Rock City”, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”, and “Strutter.” There is plenty of makeup, platform boots, and all the spectacle one might expect from a legendary KISS show. Only at this show at the House of Blues in downtown Dallas, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are nowhere to be found. Enter the era of headlining tribute bands.
The tribute band Rock and Roll Over is instead keeping KISS fans rocking – and may be the next-best-thing to the real thing. The painted faces? The outrageous outfits? The loud guitars, booming drums, and fireballs? It’s all there and is a testament to how big tribute acts have become over the last decade.
From Dallas to Las Vegas to New York and everywhere in between, a thirst for nostalgia and some old school rock ‘n’ roll is driving fans to pack bars, clubs, casinos, and even bigger venues to hear some of their favorite tunes – just not exactly by the original singers and bands. The result has been a growing industry that can benefit performers and venues alike. Fans are pretty happy, too.
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Becoming Paul Stanley
Not many know the ins and outs of leading a tribute band like Christopher Milligan, who plays the lead role of Paul Stanley in the Dallas-based Rock and Roll Over (named after KISS’s fifth studio album). On stage, Milligan is a tour de force and has Stanley down to a tee, from vocals to guitar riffs to the outfit and makeup. Even the chest hair is there, along with the prissy moves the native New Yorker is known for.
Milligan’s journey to tribute band stardom began in 2009 as a member of a completely different KISS incarnation. When another member had designs on a hostile takeover and conspired to have Milligan thrown out of that band, a friend named Allen Shelley came calling.
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Shelley had recently been performing with another KISS tribute band in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the two came together to form the internationally touring Rock and Roll Over. Shelley performs as Ace Frehley in the group, complete with “Spaceman” costume and makeup.
The Rock Rolls On!
Fifteen years later, the band is still performing and was even named as one of the top five KISS tribute bands by the real band in 2018. Milligan has a lengthy background in music and wasn’t always on board with simply performing the music of one of his favorite bands.
“I initially resisted being part of a tribute band because I have my own music, but with file sharing being so rampant, that avenue seemed very bleak,” he tells Skillset. “With KISS being my all-time favorite band, it was a blessing to give it a go.”
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That deep history as a band fan not only motivated him to get involved but also prepared the 55-year-old to don the makeup and play the role of Paul Stanley, aka “The Starchild.”
“In a way, I’ve been preparing to portray my hero, Paul Stanley, since the age of 7,” he says. “I further immersed myself in KISS’ classic performances by acquiring any live footage I could obtain. The overall response has been extremely positive. There are, of course, some who feel that I should be reminded that I’m not Paul Stanley. No kidding, look at my bank account (laughing).”
Fans who get it can expect a complete immersive experience into the world of KISS – from smoking guitars, “Gene Simmons” spitting blood, and bone-rattling drums. Rock and Roll Over has six more shows remaining this year in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and has already booked several more for 2026.
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As the band hits the road, Rock and Roll Over and KISS fans are mourning the loss of original guitarist Ace Frehley, who died in October. Milligan hopes the band will keep his legacy alive.
Rock and Roll Over will continue to honor his name,” he says, “while celebrating KISS’ 50-year-plus career and heritage.”
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Big Hits at a Smaller Price
At a time when nostalgia is big, tribute bands continue to feed many people’s need to connect with their youth. From Full House and Cobra Kai to Knight Rider and Baywatch, the entertainment industry is bringing back television shows more than ever before.
On the film side, Hollywood continues to revive favorite films and give them a twist for a new audience. Video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band brought some classic rock riffs and beats to a whole new generation.
Tribute bands take a similar tack, entertaining with the tunes of bands that brought millions of fans joy, at a bargain price. Grabbing a seat in the crowd may connect to that first time a fan heard a particular song by Fleetwood Mac or The Cars. Or perhaps making that mix tape in junior high comes to mind.
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Many of those classic hitmakers are getting older and performing less these days. A cover band fills that void and delivers a sound that is as good, if not better in some cases, as the original. Even Taylor Swift lookalikes are hitting the stage and collecting paychecks for mimicking Travis Kelce’s fiancée.
Some bands are even flipping genders for something a bit different. For example, Los Angeles-based Whole Lotta Rosies is an all-female group that has been belting out classic AC/DC hits for 25 years and touring all over the country.
“We literally created a blueprint for other women wanting to do the same thing,” founding member and rhythm guitarist Trudi Keck recently told the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “Wanting to show that female musicians could command the stage with the same power and authenticity as the original legends.”
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Getting in on the Act
The world of tribute bands and real bands has even merged in recent years. Jason Bonham, son of famed Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, takes a seat behind the drum kit for his Led Zeppelin Experience, which tours across the country.
Bonham has also performed with artists like Sammy Hagar, Ted Nugent, and Paul Rodgers, as well as with Zeppelin originals Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones. He loves keeping the spirit alive and also finds performing a way to reconnect with his father, who died when Bonham was only fourteen years old.
“I’m very fond of the music, and it does bring me closer to [my] dad,” he recently told Salt Lake magazine. “When I’m playing, I can just drift. It takes me back to such a happy time. Sometimes I haven’t even had to rehearse certain songs before getting them right. That’s the uncanny bit: I can play a Led Zeppelin song I have only played two or three times in my life, and I don’t know why, but I’ll know it.”
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Legends Never Die
After the death of Ozzy Osbourne in July, the Prince of Darkness’s guitarist, Zakk Wylde, announced plans for a tour with his Black Sabbath tribute band, Zakk Sabbath. The famed British metal band included Osbourne along with guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, and bassist Geezer Butler.
The UK-based Tears for Fears tribute band Close to Tears recently had an interesting run-in with a member of the real thing. Curt Smith, part of the Tears for Fears duo with Roland Orzabal, showed up at a show in Bristol. The band was overwhelmed, and that shows how much some of these acts are massive fans of the bands they cover.
“They say never meet your idols, but it’s not true in this case,” Close to Tears lead singer Andrew Bevington told the BBC. “The man is a legend.”
Milligan has a similar love affair with the band and the man he helps portray on stage. That love comes through, and he believes that, and the overall experience of rocking out with the band resonates with most KISS fans.
“There are certain bands that are just timeless,” Milligan says. “People can come to see tribute bands of their favorites deliver a reasonable facsimile for an affordable price. That is very appealing.”
