BIRTHDAY WISHES: Peter Criss was born today in 1945 in Brooklyn, New York. Peter Criss is the original drummer for the legendary rock band KISS and has influenced countless drummers like Tommy Lee and Mike Portnoy. Born Peter George Criscoula, Criss got his start drumming after discovering legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa (whom he actually took lessons from at one point) and 60s rock bands like the Rolling Stones. Playing in local bands throughout the 60s and early 70s, Criss was becoming increasingly fed up when none of his bands were experiencing much success. His luck changed when a pair of fellow New Yorkers answered an ad he had placed in a music paper, stating drummer with 11 years experience, willing to do anything. The pair turned out to be none other than Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons (then known as Stanley Eisen and Gene Klein, respectively), who were in the midst of putting together a new group that would be a reaction against the current rock bands of the time. Criscoula got the gig and soon after changed his name to Peter Criss. After the trio enlisted guitarist Ace Frehley, the quartet agreed on the name KISS and specialized in high-volume rock, but with a strong melodic edge (courtesy of Simmons and Stanleys admiration of the Beatles). It was also agreed that the bandmembers would choose a character and wear makeup and costumes relating to their choice; Criss selected a cat. After signing with Casablanca Records in 1973, KISS rocketed to stardom in 1975 with their classic Alive! release becoming one of the most popular and instantly recognizable rock acts of all time. When KISS was recording their follow-up to Alive!, 1976s Destroyer, Criss dug up an old song hed written with one of his previous bands, a heartfelt ballad called Beck. After changing the title to Beth, and adding an orchestral accompaniment set to the lyrics, the song became a surprise Top 10 hit for the band. Later in the year, it was Criss Rod Stewart-esque lead vocals that landed the Paul Stanley-penned acoustic Hard Luck Woman into the Top 20 as well. But despite KISS wild success, Criss left the band in 1980 amidst rumors of a breakup. He then launched a solo career with such releases as 1980s Out of Control and 1982s Let Me Rock You. Criss resurfaced throughout the rest of the 80s with such bands as the Alliance and Balls of Fire, but didnt release another album until 1994s independent Criss Cat #1. In 1995, KISS fans got their wish of a band reunion when Criss and Frehley (who himself had left the band two years after Criss exit) reunited with Stanley and Simmons for a taping of MTVs Unplugged. The concert was a success, which led to a permanent re-formation of the original four bandmembers. This resulted in 1996-1997s highly successful Alive Worldwide Tour and their first original album in nearly 20 years, 1998s Psycho Circus. After the U.S. leg of KISS Farewell Tour wrapped up in late 2000, Criss left the band again. He rejoined the band in late 2002 and appeared on the KISS Symphony: Alive IV DVD and CD before departing again in March 2004. In 2012, Peter Criss released his autobiography, Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss. On April 10, 2014, he and KISS were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after being eligible for nearly 15 years. Currently, Peter Criss is getting ready to release his first new music in close to a decade. The drummer started to sing, and this Wilson Pickett-style voice came out of him. Paul (Stanley) and I said Thats it, thats our drummer! - Gene Simmons describing going to a small Italian club in Brooklyn to meet Criss for the first time
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 15:15:31 +0000
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