KISS guitarist Paul Stanley shares that a physical deformity is the reason he was drawn to fame: 'It was a way to compensate for a lot of insecurities' By Heidi Parker For Dailymail.com Published: 18:58 BST, 22 April 2019 | Updated: 18:58 BST, 22 April 2019 Viewcomments He rose to fame as one of the members of the band KISS where the musicians dressed up in over-the-top costumes. And during an interview with Dan Rather on AXS TV, guitarist Paul Stanley shared why he was was drawn to such a flamboyant career. 'I pursued fame as a way to compensate for a lot of insecurities,' said the 67-year-old musician. 'I was born deaf on my right side and I had a birth defect. I had what's called a Microtia, which is basically not having an ear. Having a crumpled mass of cartilage.' Music man: He rose to fame as one of the members of the band KISS where the musicians dressed up in over-the-top costumes. And during an interview with Dan Rather on AXS TV, guitarist Paul Stanley shared why he was was drawn to such a flamboyant career. Seen in 2017 Ready to rock: Here Paul is seen in 2015 on stage in Perth, Australia with KISS Microtia is a congenital deformity where the external ear is underdeveloped. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Microtia 'are birth defects of a baby's ear. Microtia happens when the external ear is small and not formed properly.' It was added that some children with Microtia 'may have issues with self-esteem if they are concerned with visible differences between themselves and other children.' Stanley is known for painting one black star over his right eye. He said he did this because he was a 'social outcast' during his childhood. A happy life now: Though he said fame didn't make him feel much better, he learned to deal with his struggles. Seen with Erin Sutton in 2014 'I wasn't very socially adept and when you have something physical that sets you apart from people it makes you really a target of unrelenting scrutiny and sometimes ridicule,' he confessed. 'And, quite honestly, the idea of becoming famous was a way to push it in people's faces and go, "You see, you should have been nicer to me."' But in the end, he said that all that fame did nothing to make him feel better. Tough past: 'I wasn't very socially adept and when you have something physical that sets you apart from people it makes you really a target of unrelenting scrutiny and sometimes ridicule,' he confessed. Seen with Tommy Thayer 'I was fortunate enough to have success come to me and realize that didn't change anything,' said Stanley. 'So I was really blessed because, at that point in your life, it's either a disappointment because it's not a remedy and you either put a needle in your arm, a gun in your mouth or you live life as a victim, and I'm not cut out of that,' he said. 'So I decided that I would spend my life and my time on self-exploration and trying to make myself a better person and seeing where that was going to take me.' The KISS End of the Road World Tourkicked off earlier this year. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility