George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known as Peter Criss, is an American musician best known as drummer and vocalist for the rock band Kiss. Criss established the "cat" character for his Kiss persona. is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hard Rock redirects here. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Glam metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that arose in the late 1970s - early 1980s in the United States. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine). ... For the comic book character, see Drummer (comics). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This article is about the genre. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. ...

Early years

An Italian-American, Criss is the eldest of the five children of Joseph and Loretta Criscuola in Brooklyn, New York. An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship. ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ...

He was an avid art student and a jazz aficionado. While playing with bandleader Joey Greco, Criss ended up studying under his idol, Gene Krupa, at the Metropole Club in New York. This blossomed into an active musical career as he went on to play jazz and rock with a number of bands in New York and New Jersey throughout the 1960s. Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973) was a famous and influential American jazz and big band drummer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Criss was involved with a number of bands throughout the mid-to-late 1960s. In late 1960s, Criss joined Chelsea, who had a two-album deal with Decca Records. The group released a self-titled album in 1970. The group never recorded a second album, and in August 1971 became Lips (a trio consisting of Criss, as well as Chelsea bandmates Michael Benvenga and Stan Penridge). By the Spring of 1973, Lips was just the duo of Criss and Penridge. It has been suggested that Decca Music Group be merged into this article or section. ...

Kiss

After the demise of his band, Lips, Criss placed an ad in the East Coast edition of Rolling Stone, which read: Red shows states east of the Mississippi River, pink shows states not fully eastern or western The U.S. Eastern states are the states east of the Mississippi River. ... This article is about the magazine. ...

EXPD. ROCK & roll drummer looking for orig. grp. doing soft & hard music. Peter, Brooklyn.

Contrary to the story that has been recited by fans and by the band for years, there was never an ad placed that said "Drummer willing to do anything to make it."^[1] The ad was answered by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, who were looking for new members for their band, Kiss. Ace Frehley was added to the lineup in December 1972, and the band was formed later that month. This article is about the metal musician. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ... Paul Daniel Frehley (born April 27, 1951[1]), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Kiss. ...

Kiss released their self-titled debut in February of 1974. Throughout his Kiss career, Criss was lead vocalist on several notable songs including "Black Diamond", "Hard Luck Woman", and their breakthrough hit "Beth". Many of Criss' contributions to Kiss were written with the help of Stan Penridge, who was a bandmate of Criss' in Chelsea and Lips. // January - The Ramones form. ... Beth is a song by Kiss that was originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. ...

Peter Criss is referenced in an episode of the television show Family Guy, when Peter mentions to Lois that he suspected Lois was not a true Kiss fan when she dressed up as Peter Criss, stating "Nobody wants to be Peter Criss, not even Peter Criss."

"Beth"

Criss is given co-writer credit for the ballad "Beth", which was a Top 10 #7 hit for Kiss in 1976. The song remains the highest charting song for Kiss in the USA and it earned them a People's Choice Award for "Young People's Favorite New Song" in 1977 which had tied with "Disco Duck". The song was written before Peter had joined Kiss, while he was still a member of Chelsea. Peter came up with the melody for the song while on a train to New York City from New Jersey where the band practiced. He and Chelsea guitarist Stan Penridge wrote the song together. "^[2] For other uses, see Ballad (disambiguation). ...

A bootleg exists of the song from 1971, but the song's title was "Beck", named after fellow band member Mike Brand's wife, Becky who would call often during their practices to ask Mike when he was coming home. Years later, while in Kiss, both Bob Ezrin and Gene Simmons are credited for changing the song's title to, "Beth". The song was said to be a tribute to Criss' wife Lydia, and, according to interviews with Peter, he had changed some of the lyrics to reflect some of Lydia's lamenting that she missed him while on tour, but the song actually originated years earlier.

Along with Beth, other songs he sang in Kiss were Black Diamond, Hard Luck Woman, Dirty Livin', Nothin' to Lose, Mainline, Strange Ways, Getaway, Baby Driver, Hooligan, Kissin' Time, and I Finally Found My Way, with only the first one being a live staple for every tour during his time with Kiss and Dirty Livin', Baby Driver, Hooligan and Beth being the only ones he co-wrote (Paul Stanley wrote Black Diamond, Hard Luck Woman, Mainline, and I Finally Found My Way, Ace Frehley wrote Strange Ways and Getaway, Gene Simmons wrote Nothin' to Lose).

Departure

Criss struggled with drug abuse through many of the years he was in the band. Although he was always credited as drummer, 1977's Love Gun was the last Kiss album on which Criss played throughout. Love Gun is an album by the American hard rock band Kiss. ...

On the 1979 release Dynasty, he played only on his own composition, "Dirty Livin'" and did not play at all on 1980's Unmasked. Anton Fig, now David Letterman's house drummer, was hired to play on both albums. Unmasked is an album by the American band Kiss released in 1980. ... Anton Fig is a top session drummer noted for his work as the drummer for David Lettermans house band. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an Emmy Award-winning American television host and comedian. ...

Solo career

Although Criss officially left Kiss in May 1980, his involvement with the band had ceased by December 1979. In March 1980, he began recording his first solo album, Out of Control. Released later in the year, the album was a commercial failure despite remaining a favorite with fans of Criss. So too was the follow-up album, 1981's Let Me Rock You, which contained one song written by Gene Simmons. The album cover for Let Me Rock You featured Criss without his Kiss makeup but was not released in the U.S. at the time. Out of Control is the first album released by former KISS drummer Peter Criss. ... Let Me Rock You is the second album released by former KISS drummer Peter Criss. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ...

For the rest of the 1980s and early 1990s, Criss was involved with a number of bands (each usually lasting less than a year). One of them was The Keep, which featured ex-Kiss guitarist Mark St. John. While Kiss were promoting their upcoming release Crazy Nights, Criss appeared on the syndicated radio program Metal Shop and discussed his time in Kiss from a more positive perspective than previously. Criss briefly reunited with former Kiss bandmate Ace Frehley on Frehley's 1989 album Trouble Walkin' (singing and playing percussion on one track). In the early '90s, Criss assembled a band named "Criss," which would feature future Queensrÿche guitarist Mike Stone. This band released the Criss EP in December 1993 and the Cat #1 album in August 1994. The group also supported Frehley's band on the 1995 "Bad Boys Tour." Mark St. ... For the album by country music group Lonestar, see Crazy Nights (Lonestar album). ... Trouble Walkin is a studio album by Frehleys Comet, released in 1989. ... // Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single but are too short to qualify as albums. ...

The homeless urban legend

In the late 1980s, an urban legend circulated that Criss was a homeless alcoholic, culminating in a 1989 Star Magazine article that appeared to lend credence to the notion. Jeffrey Scott Holland paid tribute to Peter's alleged plight by painting his portrait in an alley with a bottle in his hand, and Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold began a campaign to try to rescue Criss. Barr and Arnold had discovered a homeless man living under a bridge who had claimed to be Criss, but it was later revealed to be a hoax. The hoaxer, Christopher Dickinson, appeared with the real Criss on The Phil Donahue Show in 1991. On the same show, there was a woman who claimed to also have had an affair with Criss back in 1982, which was vehemently denied by Criss (and his ex wife who called in to the show). For years afterward, the belief still persisted that Peter was broke and sleeping on the streets. Criss later sued the Star[1] and they settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. An urban legend or urban myth is similar to a modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ... Star Magazine is a magazine owned by American Media Corporation specializing in celebrity gossip and scandals. ... ... This article is about the actress. ... Thomas Arnold (born March 6, 1959) is an American actor and comedian. ... Phillip John Donahue (born December 21, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American media personality and writer, best known as the creator and star of The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, the first tabloid talk show. ...

Return to Kiss

In 1995, Criss appeared at the official Kiss Konvention in Los Angeles that led to the Kiss live performance that was recorded for MTV Unplugged. In April 1996, Kiss held a press conference to announce a reunion tour with all four original members. The 1996–97 Alive/Worldwide Tour was an enormous success, and the reunited Kiss released a studio album, 1998's Psycho Circus. However, controversy would arise when it was discovered that Criss only played on one track, which was "Into the Void," Ace Frehley's one lead vocal track. Many sources claim that Kevin Valentine performed on the rest of the drum tracks for the album. Criss did have one lead vocal, a track called "I Finally Found My Way to You," which was written by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin. MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments. ... Psycho Circus is a 1998 album by the American hard rock band Kiss. ...

Criss remained a member of Kiss until 2001, when he left over a contract dispute, and was replaced by Eric Singer. He rejoined the band in 2002, and would appear on the Kiss Symphony DVD and CD before departing again in March 2004 when Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons opted not to renew his contract. He was once again replaced by Singer who continues to perform with the band today. Eric Doyle Mensinger (born May 12, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio), better known as Eric Singer, is an American drummer for the rock band Kiss and singer Alice Cooper. ... This article is about the metal musician. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ...

Since 2004, Criss has kept his public appearances to a minimum. Criss now resides in Wall Township, New Jersey. He released a solo album—One for All—July 24, 2007, on Silvercat Records. Map of Wall Township in Monmouth County Wall Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. ... One for All is a studio album by former Kiss drummer and vocalist Peter Criss. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Discography

Chelsea

• Chelsea (1970)

Kiss

• Kiss (February 18, 1974)
• Hotter Than Hell (October 22, 1974)
• Dressed to Kill (March 19, 1975)
• Alive! (September 10, 1975)
• Destroyer (March 15, 1976)
• Rock and Roll Over (November 11, 1976)
• Love Gun (June 30, 1977)
• Alive II (November 29, 1977)
• Dynasty (May 23, 1979)^[3]
• Kiss Unplugged (March 12, 1996)
• Psycho Circus (September 22, 1998)^[4]
• Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (July 22, 2003)

Kiss is the self-titled debut album from the American hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Hotter Than Hell (1974) is the second album from the rock group Kiss. ... is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Dressed to Kill is a 1975 album from American hard rock group Kiss. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alive! was KISSs fourth album and is considered their breakthrough, as well as a cornerstone for live albums. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Singles from Destroyer Released: March 1, 1976 Released: April 30, 1976 Released: July 28, 1976 Released: August 1976 Destroyer is the fourth studio album and fifth album overall by hard/glam rock band Kiss, released on March 15, 1976 in the United States. ... is the 74th day of the year (75th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rock and Roll Over is the fifth studio album and sixth overall by hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Love Gun is an album by the American hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Alive II is a 1977 live album from KISS. It is the groups eighth album and second live album. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Singles from Dynasty Released: May 1979 Released: 1979 Released: 1979 Dynasty is a studio album by the American hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... MTV Unplugged: Kiss is a Kiss album featuring the group performance in MTV Unplugged. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Psycho Circus is a 1998 album by the American hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Solo

• Peter Criss (September 18, 1978)
• Out of Control (September 1980)
• Let Me Rock You (May 1982)
• Cat #1 (August 16, 1994)
• One for All (July 24, 2007)

Peter Criss is a 1978 solo album from the drummer of American hard rock band Kiss. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Out of Control is the first album released by former KISS drummer Peter Criss. ... Let Me Rock You is the second album released by former KISS drummer Peter Criss. ... Cat #1 is the third album released by former KISS drummer Peter Criss, and first under the band name Criss. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... One for All is a studio album by former Kiss drummer and vocalist Peter Criss. ...

Notes and references

External links

• Peter Criss - The Official Website
• Interview with Peter Criss
• Second Interview with Peter Criss
• Billboard.com article by Greg Prato