Drugs and alcohol were catching up to Peter at the time of Dynasty and Unmasked. He was great 73-77. He could really hammer and his soulful singing was stellar, but he really needed to get help in the end, and I'm glad he's sober now. But, enough bashing him, it was a long time ago.
Peter gets so much misdirected hate. He's a class act and one helluva drummer. He put his soul into those KISS records, once he was fired the magic was gone (no offense to Ace). He stood up to Gene and Paul when no one else would.
Peter was a jazz drummer who played in a rock band, he was good but nothing special. In fact, besides Ace, who is a great guitar player, Paul and Gene were just average musicians at best. They improved over the years but with Kiss it was all about the show. For me it was about the music first, as a band, they did make magic though. Gene calls Kiss a sloppy cheesburger and he's right.
Peter has always been the "victim".... like if "entitlement " was a (cat) man. It's everyone against Peter, always. He lacks taking accountability for the poor choices he made that ruined any chance of him being at the professional level that was needed. And then when he had to deal with the consequences, its now everyone else's fault. Very emotional man always in his feelings, when he should feel fortunate Paul & Gene didn't drop him after the first album.
You can do the drugs, or the drugs can do you. The drugs did Peter. I read his autobiography. He shot himself in BOTH feet for years. He had a dream opportunity, but he blew it. Facts folks.
Peter Criss was my first early influence...and I thank him for that, it launched me into education, lessons from Grads from Ga State, which was on the map with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Jack Bell and his students from Tom Knight, Sonny Emory Jeff Wilkinson who I studied under creating full scholarships in North TX State, Berklee, many others....then I auditioned for Atlanta School of Music, the reason I am sharing this is once i got a grasp of Pitch, Volume on the snare, bass, and drums, everything HAS to be SPOT ON in recording drums without music while KNOWING your part in the studio was quite a challenge, I remember 3 Songs that was in 4/4 and it took me close to 30 takes before I really started to understand how clean you have to perform in a studio to lay solid tracks, So me enjoying Mr. Criss as a youngster, I began to wonder WHY he was not advancing as a drummer. If I was a KISS Drummer...I would seek out the best drummers to elevate my levels, Neil Peart sought out Freddy Gruber, the list goes on and On. Bottom line people who put in the work will get the work! and you can apply that to everything in life!
And Peter himself is the one who puts that lonely cone in the road in the first place. He's a first class screw up. He had it ALL... and blew it... mainly up his nose.
Better that then what I used to do - drive my car just looking for empty trash cans in the road just so I could hit them sending them flying down the streets. Truly, teen years are the best years.
@@mikomon309 He's no different than most rock stars. The only difference is that his band mates had no loyalty. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and U2 all stood by their members who had substance abuse problems.
Only because they have good reason to. Peter cussed people out regularly, threw drumsticks and people who walked in front of his drumkit, lied about writing Beth, threatened to quit the band regularly. I think you have the incorrect fantasy about Peter
Peter criss is the main reason I started to play drums at 10 years old in 1975. He influenced many many drummer's. I never heard anybody say Paul Stanley influenced them to play guitar. Ace and Peter were Kiss period.
Great point Jeff. Never heard anyone say that about Paul influencing them either. Peter had also influenced me to pick up the sticks and beg for drum lessons at age 10.
That’s funny. Paul is a rhythm guitarist but his gift is that of a frontman, vocalist, songwriter and he has influenced a great number of the glam and hair metal bands. Criss may have influenced 10 year olds who liked his makeup but anyone looking for a drum idol chose real drummers like Paice Bonham etc not Criss by a longshot. KISS in general we’re scoffed at by musicians because of their lack of real ability
Im so tired of people pissing on Peter. Hes a 70's icon and ALWAYS will be. No one even knows who this girl is before she came out of the woodwork. She does keyboards in the shadows. Wow who cares???????
She didn’t just come out of the shadows ! She is a successful song writer , In 2013, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has won thirteen ASCAP Awards, and has co-written hits for numerous successful musicians, including Tina Turner and Pat Benatar who each won Grammy Awards for their recordings of her songs. Songs (credited as songwriter)[edit] Ace Frehley - "Hide Your Heart" Aerosmith - "Rag Doll" Angel (TV series) - theme music Animotion - "Obsession"; "I Engineer" Jimmy Barnes - "Between Two Fires" Tina Turner -"The Best"; "Better Be Good to Me"; "One of the Living"; "You Can't Stop Me Loving You"; "Be Tender with Me Baby"; "Ask Me How I Feel"; "Love Thing"; "In Your Wildest Dreams"; "Do Something" John Waite - "Change" Pat Benatar - "Love Is a Battlefield"; "Invincible"; "Sometimes the Good Guys Finish First"; "Girl" Patty Smyth - "The Warrior"; "Hands Tied" Bon Jovi - "Stick to Your Guns" Bonnie Tyler - "Hide Your Heart"; "The Best"; "Where Were You" Cheap Trick - "Space" Shawn Colvin - "Hold on to the Good Things" Darling Violetta - "My Sanctuary" (theme to TV show Angel) Device - "Hanging on a Heart Attack"; "Who Says"; "Didn't I Read You Right"; "Sand Stone Cobwebs and Dust"; "Who's on the Line"; "Tough and Tender"; "Pieces on the Ground"; "Fall Apart Golden Heart"; "When Love Is Good" Divinyls - "Pleasure and Pain" Fefe Dobson - "Get Over Me" The Donnas - "Wasted", "Here for the Party" Eighth Wonder - "When the Phone Stops Ringing" Elvira - "Here Comes the Bride (of Frankenstein)"; "Haunted House" Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA) - "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" Lita Ford - "Stiletto" Lou Gramm - "Just Between You and Me" Hall & Oates - "Soul Love" Lisa Hartman - "New Romance (It's a Mystery)" Heart - "Never"; "All Eyes"; "There's the Girl"; "Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger"; "I Love You" Grayson Hugh, Thelma & Louise soundtrack - "Can't Untie You from Me"; "Don't Look Back"; "Road to Freedom" Chaka Khan - "Baby Me" Kidd Video - "When the Phone Stops Ringing" Kids Incorporated - "Change" Kiss - "Hide Your Heart"; "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll"; "Raise Your Glasses" Holly Knight - "Heart Don't Fail Me Now"; "Howling at the Moon"; "Love Is a Battlefield"; "Sexy Boy"; "Nature of the Beast" "Palace of Pleasure"; "Howling At The Moon"; "It's Only Me"; "Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used To" Less Than Jake - "Overrated (Everything Is)" Luke Evans - "Love Is a Battlefield" Marilyn Martin - "Turn It On" Noah Reid - "The Best" Christopher Max - "I Burn for You" Suzie McNeil - "Help Me Out" Meat Loaf - "Monstro"; "Alive" Leigh Nash - "Angel Tonight" Hawk Nelson - "Not the Same" Aaron Neville - "Try a Little Harder" Otep - "Perfectly Flawed", "Ur a Wmn Now" Ozzy Osbourne - "Slow Burn" Suzi Quatro - "Fear of the Unknown", "Whatever Love Is" Real Life - "Babies" Riff - "My Heart is Failing Me" Robin Beck - "Hide Your Heart" Scandal featuring Patty Smyth - "The Warrior"; "Hands Tied" Sheila - "Little Darlin'" Charlie Sexton - "Space" Spider - "Better Be Good to Me"; "New Romance (It's a Mystery)"; "Change"; "Everything Is Alright"; "Little Darlin"; "Go and Run"; "It Didn't Take Long"; "Can't Live This Way Anymore" Dusty Springfield - "Time Waits for No One" Paul Stanley - "It's Not Me" Rod Stewart - "Love Touch" Still Standing (TV series) - "Still Standing" Rachel Sweet - "Little Darlin'" Kim Wilde - "Turn It On" Zander Bleck - "Temptation"
So if a woman allows me to take a naked picture of her I'm now a massagenist. Don't know how that logic works. That's like saying if you took a picture of your baby in the bathtub you're now a child p*rn*grapher
@@thedadyouneverhadchannel3544 Not right either but her idea of great guys not giving credit is ridic. Sounds more like Genes like ok heres a check. Write this make us seem like we actually like women.
“Peter Criss never played that well…and they know it”…..NEVER? Wow….maybe she should go back and listen to 1975 Peter Criss. Reckless statement there. Sell that book!
Peter Criss' playing on the monumental live album KISS Alive were taken from the live recordings and not redone in the studio, so how can you make such a statement. Awesome drummer at his peak.
@@cliveturnbull6656 Yes. When I met Eddie Kramer at a Kiss expo, he told me flat out that Peter's drums on Alive are the only thing not sweetened. All live.
I don't think that's what she's saying. In the context of the full sentence she seems to be saying that not giving credit to Anton didn't mean that fans wouldn't recognise that the drumming was better than Peter would play...... and we certainly knew that it didn't sound like Peter, just like we knew that it wasn't Ace playing on the 4 new tracks on Killers.
@@Rabant777 Interesting discussion. For me…the words…”that well” is what I’m referring to. If she had just said, “Peter Criss never played LIKE THAT”….that would not have been bashing him. But to say he “never played that well”…..is what I see as unnecessary. Appreciate the civil discussion here.
Peter Criss had just recently suffered a bad car accident back before the recording of Dynasty. He was really bruised up when they started the recording process. He did however play drums on the song Dirty Livin'. He also only played the drums on one Psycho Circus song. Into The Void. If it hadn't have been for Ace insisting on Peter Playing the drums on his song, Peter wouldn't have had a single song that he played drums on that album. Dirty Livin' has a great drum groove. Anton Figg is an amazing drummer. But Peter Criss is a great drummer too, and has been slandered for his drum work for over 20 years. It's truly sickening.
@@adamwatson6916 Yeah well, we all have our time of greatness and glory and then it's gone! Peter is older than the other guys in KISS. So I'm sure his body was taking a beating after murdering those drums every night for years non-stop during their heavy touring. He IN FACT WAS A Powerhouse! At the end of each show for years he smashed his drums and destroyed them! It was all part of the Show!
Ha, I am sure you two professional musicians can Enlighten us on why a living legend drummer is why you wanted to play guitar 🎸? I am sure you sucked at that as well!!!
Listen to Shock Me's intro, by Peter! That's the musicality in his drumming that bland drummers lack. Listen to his jazzy feel on songs even on Strange ways, it's magic, not to mention his voice on Strange ways, Get away, Black Diamond, Beth, Hard Luck Woman, Dirty Livin, Baby Driver etc. Magic and feel.
Funny how all those people who love to make disparaging remarks about Ace and Peter are never anywhere near the level of popularity that Ace and Peter had.
@@thetruth7231 That may be true but it's also true that most people don't know who she is. The phrase ... Rich and Famous... doesn't always include both words.
@@chrisoakley5830 most people don't know who Peter Criss is either if you want to get technical....outside of KISS fans it's his makeup that's more known that he is.
@@cindysue5474 the recording was live, but there are a LARGE number of overdubs to correct the horrible sound mix. So, it's technically a "live" album. But the truth has been out there for a long time now.
[Peter was awesome and was taught the rudiments by one of the greatest rock n roll drummers, Jerry Nolan. Maybe Peter rejected her and she got mad (as everyone else seemingly took her up on her offers).]
@@jamesrudd8705 how the F do you know if I’m a musician or not who the hell are you…i never heard of her or you , your opinion as well as hers is irrelevant to me ! Have a good day…🤣
@@jamesrudd8705 I’ll dispute it. Average?….that would be me, and I admit it….(before you go and slam me for my playing). I knew just enough to create a lifetime of incredible memories…in one short summer. Peter Criss…average? Just doesn’t fly with me….and a lot of other people….drummers, too. Go give your opinion to many professional drummers who respect Peter and his drumming. It will be disputed.
I took the phrase "Peter Criss never played that well" to mean that Anton's playing on Unmasked exceeded what Peter would normally play, and I can't disagree with that...... Anton is obviously a more technically adept drummer and that's the reason why he was one of the most in demand session drummers playing on hundreds of recordings by the biggest names in multiple genres. Peter was one of the most exciting live rock drummers for a couple of years in the 70s.
Anton was a studio musician.you are pretty damn good if you are a studio musician.get it in a few takes no drama.peter could have played the tracks but it would have taken longer than a couple days to lay them down.and at this point between the band there would have been major drama.no doubt the kiss "sound" comes from the original 4 and peter is a hugh part of it.i love peter criss.
@@toddedwards5373 Anton wasn't actually a studio / session guy at the time he played on Ace's solo album and with Kiss. Although he had a formal education in jazz and classical and he'd toured with Link Wray & Robert Gordon, he didn't get the opportunities until after Unmasked. It was Ace that mixed with studio musicians like Rob Sabino; Will Lee and John Regan and it's those guys that brought Anton into sessions for Frampton, Joan Armatrading etc.
Peter's addictions definitely brought him down, but it's criminal to put him down like he was some kind of mediocre drummer. The guy was a jazz drummer at heart, studying under Gene Krupa and playing with the swing and swagger that was in at the time, not too dissimilar to Charlie Watts from the Stones or Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls (Peter's friend and contemporary). Paul and Gene just pushed him to play outside of his range too much; they wanted a John Bonham, and didn't care that they had someone closer to John Densmore. Between that and his personal problems, the band was a bit too eager to drop him like dead weight. At least he had some great replacements, in and out of the studio.
I completely agree with you. Peter was a great Jazz drummer in his own right. His style probably did not fit KISS as a rock-and-roll drummer. I think Eric Carr was a much better fit. That being said, there's no need to bash Peter or Ace for that matter. Paul and Gene always like to point to Ace's and Peter's use of substances as the reason they left KISS. Perhaps if they had gotten better treatment from Gene and Paul, they may not have resorted to substances. Heck, I even heard that when Eric Carr was being treated for cancer, Paul and Gene went ahead and got a replacement drummer (Eric Singer) to record Revenge instead of waiting for Eric to recover a least a little bit so that he could record some tracks. Paul even admitted that he made a mistake.
@@Explorer766 no, I mean Krupa actually gave him drum lessons. They knew each other from Peter constantly going to see him and being a young drummer. There's a photo of the two of them with a young Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls.
@@andyspencer4786I don't think he actually gave him lessons. He maybe showed him a few things. And as a jazz fan, Peter was not a jazz drummer at heart. You can heae jazz in rock drummers, like Mitch Mitchell. Peter had no timing. He was unique sounding because he wasn't a "good" drummer. He was a bit sloppy and loose, and I loved his style. But he wasn't a good drummer.
Peter Criss is a legend for being the original drummer and playing on kiss best albums. Very nice playing, not just a basher, like carr or singer, who are both great too.
I know.. people say Neil Peart was the best yada yada... of course he was brilliant but I like Moons drumming better... just because one person is technically better than the other does not mean there is not an X factor the lessor player brings...
They definitely had a "coolness" peak around 77-78. After the movie, the comic, the dolls, Halloween costumes, it just became a big kiddie show. Kiss was expecting the Dynasty tour to be this massive thing with multiple dates in all these cities but ended up canceling many shows. It was a fast downhill decline in popularity - except maybe 10 year-olds.
Theres wayyyyyyyyy enough footage now being re engineered to sound even better of Peter during the Alive era to prove how good he was he was in a way pushed to play heavier and harder than hes natural drumming when he was still youthfull he is still the oldest from kizz remember. I do hear alot about how miserable he was to be around at times which caused his demise but again it was the best thing for him and Kizz too we got Creatures with Vinnie and Eric Imagine Peter on creatures🙄No no nooooooooo
Peter Criss haters like to think and say that he didn't play drums on "Rocket Ride" (with that amazing final drum break), but he did it. Haters say that it was Anton Fig, but that's not true. That song was recorded in 1977, and Fig didn't exist in the Kiss universe at that time. He entered the picture the following year, when Ace hired him to play the drums on his solo record, which he did because Peter was unavailable due to his own solo record.
She's not only written more hits than Ace & Peter combined but has a networth that far exceeds both of them combined as well..she doesn't need validation.
@@MENFUSSMIKE For me he was still in his prime during destroyer but he did have nerve problems/arthritis in his arms and hands during the late 70s from touring too much and his car accident so he did lose some of what he had.
Isn't it ironic how people seem to hate Peter Criss, especially his solo album. Between the 4 solo albums, I like Peter's the best. Yes, it is more jazz and blues oriented and couldn't be further from KISS. There is nothing wrong and paying tribute to your influences here. Ace's may have sold the best, but Peter's misunderstood solo album is both beautiful and eclectic and , like Elder and Unmaskrd, history and time have shown how great the album really is.
I just listened to Pete's solo album a few nights ago, for the first time in probably 20 years, it was even better than I remembered. It's as good as Paul's and definitely better than Gene's.
@@giraffesareselfish9563 That is great! In 1978 It was just the shock of it depending on our age at the time. We thought we would get 4 "Rock" albums. Peter's in context of the music at the time is not that far out of place and actually pretty good
Peter's was quite far removed from the KISS sound, but it had integrity because it reflected the kind of songs and sound that Peter grew up on and loved. He was being true to himself and his musical tastes.
I'm beside myself.. Peter was a powerhouse up until about 79 in which he was in bad shape. He also has severe tenden and carpal tunnel issues. The combination of those things made him fall off but he certainly is a good drummer. When he came back to kiss in 96 he was again good. His timing had improved and he was more precise. I think the prime of the second coming of kiss was under the Brooklyn bridge. I believe that was one of the best performances ever by kiss. They were absolutely on 🔥 Again though, he fell off and I believe that he got lazy. In 2000 most of the times when they played Deuce he just played the beat without the fills. I'm a drummer and there is no excuse for it!
Brooklyn Bridge performance was definitely one the best reunion performances. They only played 5 songs, so he could let it fly..and not have to pace himself like a 2 hour show. I was there, it was magic. Drummer here, too.
Yeah, LOTTA half timing the songs and just kinda, keepin the beat. Who knows? I honestly think it was probably from his injuries/health issues raising themselves again..ID think that he was necessarily doin it on purpose/gettin lazy. THOSE are just the ways ya do ta get by when you're injured, obviously. Been there MORE than once. Sucks. 🥁🤘🔥🤘
She said “Peter never played that well and they knew it”. Now, this could just be meant that he didn’t play AS well as Anton, but he was still good. Or that he just plain couldn’t play that well.
He may not have been in great shape at the time but to say he never played well is simply an ignorant statement. His work in the heyday of KISS is absolutely fantastic. It wasn't super flashy, but it was tasteful and full of character. Something a lot of drummers today could / should learn from. It was simply a stupid, ignorant statement. @@hollyknightofficialyoutube8622
I take what she said about Peter with a grain of salt. Peter and Ace were both very unhappy in kiss at that point. Also, Paul and Gene were helping her out. Peter was and is a drummer that plays by feel. He’s not a music reader. What he played on the albums was the right fit for that time. He was a good drummer and he is undeniably a rock star who will be remembered for decades to come.
I don't know about this chick ,but imo. Peter was a dang decent drummer , my by far favorite singer in this Peter got grit and more soul and I like that
If Holly is as talented as she says, why does she feel the need to bash Peter Criss? At her age, she shouldn't be so bitter and have some kind of an ego to try and prove things to people all the time
She's a typical session player. They're not cool enough to be public figures, so they wallow in jealousy behind the curtain. Sure, they make money. But, if you ask them if to choose between fame & fortune, 99% of them would choose fame. She's jealous of Peter's fame.
Thanks for the video! Unlike some other fans, I really enjoy "Unmasked." Yes, it's unlike some of their other music, but I enjoy a wide variety of genres and good on them for trying something different. I'd read that Anton Fig actually played on that album, instead of Peter Criss. Not really surprising, since Peter Criss was gone after that. I had no idea about Holly Knight's keyboards. Now, I need to listen to that album again.
The 100,000 Years drum solo was the best. Then Paul rapping with the crowd ! That KISS’s best moment. Then God of Thunder drum solo - so cool. This chick plays keyboards on the lousy Unmasked album ? Whatever honey.
@@seagullpoet what hit songs? go ahead and google it....worth almost 200 million and written more hits than Ace & Peter combined....100,000 years is generic...there's a reason why every single kiss tribute clown can play it with no problem....
Session players, like this woman, are just jealous of the attention guys like Peter get. She's probably made a lot of money in her time, behind the scenes. No need to bash Peter because no one's coming up to you & asking for your autograph. Be happy you had a career, & leave it at that. This woman, & others like her, are petty AF.
I guarantee you that at present, she is worth more than Peter. Her songs get used all the time in movies and commercials. She might be resentful for other reasons, but money isn't likely to be one of them.
Anyone who knows music understands there is a feel to playing and then there is a technical aspect to it. The standard everyone applies to the studio is the Beatles. Ringo Starr is an amazing drummer that had tremendous feel for whatever the band was creating. He also received direction from both Lennon and McCartney on what they were looking for. But he was not a technically proficient drummer. McCartney never trashed his band members on their ability. He worked within the framework of what they could do as a band. It speaks for itself. Today KISS tours and performs their songs not of the past 40 years, but of the first eight. That should tell you something right there. Stanley and Simmons should take better notes from their personal heroes.
You can also look at Led Zeppelin deciding to call time after Bonhams death. Plant remarked without Bonham the stuff Jimmy and I wrote would not have worked . Once Johm mastered his part everything else would fall into place.
So tired of the "Peter sucked" bit. Peter was a damn good drummer and he put the groove in those early Kiss tunes. He became a useless drug addict in the end (79/80), but please stop bashing his ability as a drummer.
She didn’t really trash Peter Kris. His battles with substance abuse that rendered him unable to perform at a high level are well documented. I doubt he’d even be offended by her comments.
“Peter Criss never played that well and they know it.” That is trashing Peter. What wouldn’t be trashing him would be “Peter wasn’t playing that well” - present tense, not “never”.
Unfortunately she is wrong. Kiss had many songs in the 80s that were MIDDLE of the road. Gene was dedicated to his movie career, Paul had to take the lead in that time, Bruce (as nice of a guy as he was) is a role playing musician in the band and then they had Eric Carr who was an incredible drummer who would have been a success after Paul was allegedly going to kick him out in favor of Eric Singer anyway. I remember this very well as a young KISS fan who was only in his single digits when he became a fan of the makeup wearing beasts!!! As I recall, after LIU it became a routine run of the mill album after album until they went back to their black leather roots with Revenge. Then, it was too late, the world was in "Nirvana Mode"... all the Alternative music coming out.. so what did KISS do??? Follow that Trend as they followed the trend in the 80's. Let's face it... The ORIGINAL MAKEUP WEARING KISS is where their bread was buttered so to speak.
This is how obvious the drumming difference was. I was 13 when Dynasty came out and I remember saying to my buddy “Wow Peter Criss has either gotten really good or they used a studio guy”. Then when “Unmasked” came out I heard the groove on “Torpedo Girl” and I said NO WAY thats Peter. I loved PC from 74-77 but the fame and drugs and booze and circus life they lived got in the way of making the music.
100% the same reaction I had. As a kid I told my buddies that the drums didn't sound like Peter Criss on both Dynasty and Unmasked. They thought I was stupid for even suggesting that.
I don't think we know what was going on at the time of Unmasked with Peter. It's believed generally he was erratic at this time and wether he wanted to play these songs anymore with Kiss or they wanted him to be there is still speculation. But they used his producer and that's the wildest part.
Peter Criss is a legend . Who is she. Who Cares about some Obscure keyboardist from 40 years ago. Never even heard of her before this interview. Gene was probably just trying to nail her lol. Peter Criss is the man...
Loved Peter Criss. No one could beat him. He's the Cat Man. He has that raspy sound in his voice that makes Black Diamond sound so good. And he adds soul to it. I saw them back in the 70s, he was a strong, great drummer. And it was he that put Beth on the charts.
Criss INVENTED the Catman, created the persona, designed the makeup and he WAS, IS and forever WILL BE the Catman.......... One mau say: "Well there were 13 different Superman" or "There were 10 Batman" on the screen..... Yes! That's true. But remember that Zorro, Batman, Iron Man are all ficctional characters. Any artist can perform the role. The Catman IS A REAL PERSON!!!! Too different from "The Phantom of the Opera" (e.g.)..... By the way - even Paul performed the Phantom. Peter Criss is a GENIUS, a talented musician, and amazing artist, a wonderful performer and a great singer. No substitutes!!!!
Peter Criss will always be the quintessential KISS drummer. Bar-none he helped define the original lasting KISS sound we in our youth and to this day still embrace as what KISS is supposed to play and sound like. The 'Unmasked' record is now 43 years old, and by some estimation it has not aged well, an album Peter Criss was entirely absent from. The Gene and Paul axis was beginning to apply itself at that time, in hindsight who can really blame them for wanting (or attempting) to make KISS a more musically/commercially accessible popular act. In 1980 disco was still king, Vini Poncia was a known disco producer, and with this rather light-pop sounding album and no North American KISS tour, the band lost serious street-cred gained from the 70s. Peter Criss, nor Holly Knight had nothing to do with the failure of Unmasked amongst the KISS faithful back-in-the-day.
People comparing/rating him like he's supposed to the greatest ever or something, I don't think he ever claimed to be. He was a competent, solid drummer that fit them, then he wasted it. Simple. Great singer too.
I was the ultimate kiss fan...was. I was there from the beginning... 1973. I was 12 years old. Now I'm 62 and I just have to tell you, I'm a bit disappointed. All of the bashing they've done over the past 30 years, I mean, come on. Enough already. Nobody is perfect. No matter how much a star you"think" you are. We're all human. It's this kind of thing that made me give away my entire collection to a thrift store. I kept the first live album and a black light poster. That was it. Now ABBA owns KISS 💋
Peter Criss from '74-'76 was a better drummer than everybody except Billy Cobham and Cozy Powell...but KISStards can't name 5 songs that either of them played. P.S. F Holly Knight. P.P.S. Peter was a good singer back then too.
@@rockinyouallnight He was so good. And peters had nerve problems in his arms and hands since the late 70s. If more people knew that maybe they would cut him more slack.
You are aware that the Wanton Song and Achilles Last Stand, not to mention all of 2112 were recorded during that period, aren't you? Get ahold of yourself.
Peters problem is that he was no one special, but he thought he was someone special. If you read anything at all about Peter from those years, he is one of the most obnoxious people you would ever want to meet that is precisely why he doesn’t get any slack from anyone who was around him. If he had been just an average drummer but was kind and humble, and in reality about his actual abilities, you wouldn’t hear all the negativity you hear about the guy. If you want to have people say kind things about someone, then that person had to treat people kindly and Peter did not treat people kindly, and the fact that he used illegal drugs doesn’t absolve him of Anything
@@Ryan2022 Ok fair enough. The only really special player in the original four was Ace. But he is no better than Peter in the personality department. And that leaves us with the two money grubbers. Were either of them a special talent? Not even close. They were four schlubs from New York that made it. Nothing more nothing less.
@@bbodinefan11 ha. All true. I think a lot of this stuff should be water under the bridge at this point. Peter Criss is 77 years old. I don’t think Paul and Gene go out of their way to bash Peter or Ace anymore. I don’t think they even think about them unless they’re asked then they give their honest opinion m. what it boils down to is they were just a rock band here for entertainment. I know people get all wrapped up in hero worship stuff, but I never did.
@@simpleplandrummer I do play drums and Peter is fine. It's like saying Ringo sucked because he couldn't play a Rush song. Watch the "Get Back" movie. Early on that song has a basic beat like anything else and the song is OK. Later there is the bumb badda bump" snare run and the song WAKES UP AND DRIVES. Listen to "Rain". PLus Paul and John both said that Pet best was OK, but when Ringo sat in, they all played at another level. The difference between a drummer that can keep a beat and one that makes the entire band better is practically unnoticeable to the public, but the BAND can feel it. I have been a "weekend warrior" for 45 years, I know.
So sick of hearing Peter wasnt that good..he was an animal in the 70s.. You think a young Paul and Gene would hire a drummer that sucked?? It was make it or bust, they wouldn’t have some shit drummer in the band , something that would destroy their dreams.. He was the best drummer for the band , never will be any better for kiss.
Politics and band drama aside, what a lot of KISS fans refuse to accept is that Peter is simply a mediocre drummer who was in an enormously popular band. Once that was established, KISS was a business, and the "bosses" of that business wanted to do whatever they could to make that business flourish. Having someone with a better feel , a better sound, a better comprehension for music and able to learn parts faster and record them more precisely made perfect sense. But fans wind up concocting an emotional connection. KISS is their friends. They want to believe there's a comradery. They want to see them as the comic book heroes the band created. But they're just guys putting on a show in a effort to make a lot of money. They do it well. And business is business.
@Nelson Mediocre, my ass; up through ‘78 before car accidents and drugs hampered him, PC was not only the best drummer for KISS, but a double-threat powerhouse behind the kit- both vocally and whilst pounding the skins!..
People keep saying that KISS never would have been as big without Ace and Peter?🤷♂️ Wrong! They could have been even bigger than they were. Ego is one thing to deal with. Drugs and alcohol a whole different story. Peter was always difficult to deal with. Ace always just wanted to live the "rock star" lifestyle.
Not that I believe Peter to be a great drummer from a musical POV but I don't understand how Peter can absolutely smash it on the Alive II studio recordings, best playing of his career - but then be 'unfit' to play a year later.
Wait , what? I didn't bash Peter. I was referring to Dynasty and Unmasked - and the fact that Anton recorded the drums even though Peter was credited as the drummer. If you listen to both drummers around THAT time period, it's rather obvious it's two different drummers, but I didn't put down Peter, I just praised Anton for being that good and he is !
I like the way this video ended. She was going on about how she was a successful songwriter and how she played on Paul's solo album, and Eddie Trunk was like Hmmmm. Like he was about to say, "Who cares?" Lol
Shes just playing the Gene/Paul record. She got no credit because Gene and Paul wanted all the money for themselves. Peter is a legend that helped launch the inferior talents of Gene and Paul . Ace n Peter are the reason Kiss was so good back then.
Peter was a solid drummer for KISS 74-76..watch the videos..he had a great voice...Black Diamond?? 'nuff said.
"Peter Criss was a solid drummer for KISS 74 - 79"
Also the voice of their biggest hit
@@paulthomasbranda7591 ..yep..I have a hunch that still burns Paul and Gene.
Know what? Thats an excellent piont, and i couldn't agree more. He did have a really good voice. Beth, Hard Luck Woman and Back Dimond
@@S3thousand baby driver and hooligan too
Drugs and alcohol were catching up to Peter at the time of Dynasty and Unmasked. He was great 73-77. He could really hammer and his soulful singing was stellar, but he really needed to get help in the end, and I'm glad he's sober now. But, enough bashing him, it was a long time ago.
Peter gets so much misdirected hate. He's a class act and one helluva drummer. He put his soul into those KISS records, once he was fired the magic was gone (no offense to Ace). He stood up to Gene and Paul when no one else would.
Peter lost the magic long before he was fired.
Peter was a decent drummer. Cocaine wrecked his career.
Peter was a jazz drummer who played in a rock band, he was good but
nothing special. In fact, besides Ace, who is a great guitar player, Paul
and Gene were just average musicians at best. They improved over the
years but with Kiss it was all about the show. For me it was about the music
first, as a band, they did make magic though. Gene calls Kiss a sloppy cheesburger
and he's right.
Peter has always been the "victim".... like if "entitlement " was a (cat) man.
It's everyone against Peter, always. He lacks taking accountability for the poor choices he made that ruined any chance of him being at the professional level that was needed. And then when he had to deal with the consequences, its now everyone else's fault. Very emotional man always in his feelings, when he should feel fortunate Paul & Gene didn't drop him after the first album.
You can do the drugs, or the drugs can do you. The drugs did Peter. I read his autobiography. He shot himself in BOTH feet for years. He had a dream opportunity, but he blew it. Facts folks.
Peter Criss is now officially my favorite member of Kiss
HE IS NOT A MEMBER!!!!!!!
Yea the lying, angry cokehead. He didn't write Beth, you do know that right? Smdh
@@LOUIS-np6be lmao
@@LOUIS-np6be you guys are funny -truly
But, when he was, he was the best, Ace also!!!! Team Peter and Ace always
Peter Criss was my first early influence...and I thank him for that, it launched me into education, lessons from Grads from Ga State, which was on the map with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Jack Bell and his students from Tom Knight, Sonny Emory Jeff Wilkinson who I studied under creating full scholarships in North TX State, Berklee, many others....then I auditioned for Atlanta School of Music, the reason I am sharing this is once i got a grasp of Pitch, Volume on the snare, bass, and drums, everything HAS to be SPOT ON in recording drums without music while KNOWING your part in the studio was quite a challenge, I remember 3 Songs that was in 4/4 and it took me close to 30 takes before I really started to understand how clean you have to perform in a studio to lay solid tracks, So me enjoying Mr. Criss as a youngster, I began to wonder WHY he was not advancing as a drummer. If I was a KISS Drummer...I would seek out the best drummers to elevate my levels, Neil Peart sought out Freddy Gruber, the list goes on and On. Bottom line people who put in the work will get the work! and you can apply that to everything in life!
I’m with you Jason! He/Kiss were my Ringo/Beatles!
If it weren’t for Peter, I wouldn’t be a Drummer!
PERIOD!
Peter Criss is like the lonely road cone of Kiss. Everyone seems to swerve to knock him over for fun
Did it to himself. Piss poor attitude and sense of entitlement.
And Peter himself is the one who puts that lonely cone in the road in the first place. He's a first class screw up. He had it ALL... and blew it... mainly up his nose.
Better that then what I used to do - drive my car just looking for empty trash cans in the road just so I could hit them sending them flying down the streets. Truly, teen years are the best years.
@@mikomon309 He's no different than most rock stars. The only difference is that his band mates had no loyalty. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and U2 all stood by their members who had substance abuse problems.
Only because they have good reason to. Peter cussed people out regularly, threw drumsticks and people who walked in front of his drumkit, lied about writing Beth, threatened to quit the band regularly. I think you have the incorrect fantasy about Peter
As of the last decade or so, Peter Criss is officially the most mature and adult member of KISS.
A scare with death will do that.
He also has admitted that at times he was a real shit to Gene and Paul.
Not that G&P were easy to work for but...
LOL. Peter? The most mature??? LOL.
@@MattSmithMe I'd agree with that.He changed a LOT after learning he could legit die.😮
That would probably either be Bruce Kulick or Eric Singer.
Well, by 77 you should be so.
Peter criss is the main reason I started to play drums at 10 years old in 1975. He influenced many many drummer's. I never heard anybody say Paul Stanley influenced them to play guitar. Ace and Peter were Kiss period.
Great point Jeff. Never heard anyone say that about Paul influencing them either. Peter had also influenced me to pick up the sticks and beg for drum lessons at age 10.
Except without Paul and Gene, KISS never would have happened, period!!
That’s funny. Paul is a rhythm guitarist but his gift is that of a frontman, vocalist, songwriter and he has influenced a great number of the glam and hair metal bands. Criss may have influenced 10 year olds who liked his makeup but anyone looking for a drum idol chose real drummers like Paice Bonham etc not Criss by a longshot. KISS in general we’re scoffed at by musicians because of their lack of real ability
Paul’s influenced many vocalists. I know Erik Gronwall, formerly of HEAT, now of Skid Row counts him as an influence
@@flyingburritobro68 the list of rock musicians (dimebag, Z.W., Slash, etc.) who were influenced by Ace/the band is long.
Im so tired of people pissing on Peter. Hes a 70's icon and ALWAYS will be. No one even knows who this girl is before she came out of the woodwork. She does keyboards in the shadows. Wow who cares???????
Thank you.
Peter is a LEGEND. Literally never heard of this girl before today and likely won't after
She didn’t just come out of the shadows ! She is a successful song writer , In 2013, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has won thirteen ASCAP Awards, and has co-written hits for numerous successful musicians, including Tina Turner and Pat Benatar who each won Grammy Awards for their recordings of her songs. Songs (credited as songwriter)[edit]
Ace Frehley - "Hide Your Heart"
Aerosmith - "Rag Doll"
Angel (TV series) - theme music
Animotion - "Obsession"; "I Engineer"
Jimmy Barnes - "Between Two Fires"
Tina Turner -"The Best"; "Better Be Good to Me"; "One of the Living"; "You Can't Stop Me Loving You"; "Be Tender with Me Baby"; "Ask Me How I Feel"; "Love Thing"; "In Your Wildest Dreams"; "Do Something"
John Waite - "Change"
Pat Benatar - "Love Is a Battlefield"; "Invincible"; "Sometimes the Good Guys Finish First"; "Girl"
Patty Smyth - "The Warrior"; "Hands Tied"
Bon Jovi - "Stick to Your Guns"
Bonnie Tyler - "Hide Your Heart"; "The Best"; "Where Were You"
Cheap Trick - "Space"
Shawn Colvin - "Hold on to the Good Things"
Darling Violetta - "My Sanctuary" (theme to TV show Angel)
Device - "Hanging on a Heart Attack"; "Who Says"; "Didn't I Read You Right"; "Sand Stone Cobwebs and Dust"; "Who's on the Line"; "Tough and Tender"; "Pieces on the Ground"; "Fall Apart Golden Heart"; "When Love Is Good"
Divinyls - "Pleasure and Pain"
Fefe Dobson - "Get Over Me"
The Donnas - "Wasted", "Here for the Party"
Eighth Wonder - "When the Phone Stops Ringing"
Elvira - "Here Comes the Bride (of Frankenstein)"; "Haunted House"
Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA) - "Wrap Your Arms Around Me"
Lita Ford - "Stiletto"
Lou Gramm - "Just Between You and Me"
Hall & Oates - "Soul Love"
Lisa Hartman - "New Romance (It's a Mystery)"
Heart - "Never"; "All Eyes"; "There's the Girl"; "Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger"; "I Love You"
Grayson Hugh, Thelma & Louise soundtrack - "Can't Untie You from Me"; "Don't Look Back"; "Road to Freedom"
Chaka Khan - "Baby Me"
Kidd Video - "When the Phone Stops Ringing"
Kids Incorporated - "Change"
Kiss - "Hide Your Heart"; "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll"; "Raise Your Glasses"
Holly Knight - "Heart Don't Fail Me Now"; "Howling at the Moon"; "Love Is a Battlefield"; "Sexy Boy"; "Nature of the Beast" "Palace of Pleasure"; "Howling At The Moon"; "It's Only Me"; "Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used To"
Less Than Jake - "Overrated (Everything Is)"
Luke Evans - "Love Is a Battlefield"
Marilyn Martin - "Turn It On"
Noah Reid - "The Best"
Christopher Max - "I Burn for You"
Suzie McNeil - "Help Me Out"
Meat Loaf - "Monstro"; "Alive"
Leigh Nash - "Angel Tonight"
Hawk Nelson - "Not the Same"
Aaron Neville - "Try a Little Harder"
Otep - "Perfectly Flawed", "Ur a Wmn Now"
Ozzy Osbourne - "Slow Burn"
Suzi Quatro - "Fear of the Unknown", "Whatever Love Is"
Real Life - "Babies"
Riff - "My Heart is Failing Me"
Robin Beck - "Hide Your Heart"
Scandal featuring Patty Smyth - "The Warrior"; "Hands Tied"
Sheila - "Little Darlin'"
Charlie Sexton - "Space"
Spider - "Better Be Good to Me"; "New Romance (It's a Mystery)"; "Change"; "Everything Is Alright"; "Little Darlin"; "Go and Run"; "It Didn't Take Long"; "Can't Live This Way Anymore"
Dusty Springfield - "Time Waits for No One"
Paul Stanley - "It's Not Me"
Rod Stewart - "Love Touch"
Still Standing (TV series) - "Still Standing"
Rachel Sweet - "Little Darlin'"
Kim Wilde - "Turn It On"
Zander Bleck - "Temptation"
@@AudiophileTommy Ans STILL about 90% of the rock world doesn't even know who she is.
Peter was one of the best drummers in Rock 74-76!!! xoxo The Clarences
Amen to that!
Yes, he was! Why can’t it be left at that? Why the comparisons?
@@KISStributeNYC97 Agreed!!! xoxo The Clarences
he could never play the intro to She Loves U Man right...
@@danstarr374 Yes! Yes! Yes! xoxo The Clarences
So does she no longer consider Gene's keeping polaroids of naked groupies misogynistic because he helped her career a bit?
Which ever way the wind blows w a woman
So if a woman allows me to take a naked picture of her I'm now a massagenist. Don't know how that logic works. That's like saying if you took a picture of your baby in the bathtub you're now a child p*rn*grapher
@@thedadyouneverhadchannel3544 Not right either but her idea of great guys not giving credit is ridic. Sounds more like Genes like ok heres a check. Write this make us seem like we actually like women.
“Peter Criss never played that well…and they know it”…..NEVER? Wow….maybe she should go back and listen to 1975 Peter Criss. Reckless statement there. Sell that book!
Peter Criss' playing on the monumental live album KISS Alive were taken from the live recordings and not redone in the studio, so how can you make such a statement. Awesome drummer at his peak.
@@cliveturnbull6656 Yes. When I met Eddie Kramer at a Kiss expo, he told me flat out that Peter's drums on Alive are the only thing not sweetened. All live.
Peter during Alive era was incredible. Unfortunately he could not sustain that
I don't think that's what she's saying. In the context of the full sentence she seems to be saying that not giving credit to Anton didn't mean that fans wouldn't recognise that the drumming was better than Peter would play...... and we certainly knew that it didn't sound like Peter, just like we knew that it wasn't Ace playing on the 4 new tracks on Killers.
@@Rabant777 Interesting discussion. For me…the words…”that well” is what I’m referring to. If she had just said, “Peter Criss never played LIKE THAT”….that would not have been bashing him. But to say he “never played that well”…..is what I see as unnecessary. Appreciate the civil discussion here.
Peter Criss had just recently suffered a bad car accident back before the recording of Dynasty. He was really bruised up when they started the recording process. He did however play drums on the song Dirty Livin'. He also only played the drums on one Psycho Circus song. Into The Void. If it hadn't have been for Ace insisting on Peter Playing the drums on his song, Peter wouldn't have had a single song that he played drums on that album. Dirty Livin' has a great drum groove. Anton Figg is an amazing drummer. But Peter Criss is a great drummer too, and has been slandered for his drum work for over 20 years. It's truly sickening.
The accident was in 1978. In the following year, he had an incident with a glass table. He tripped on it and fucked up.
@@83marceloa after 1977 his drumming really went downhill.
@@adamwatson6916 Yeah well, we all have our time of greatness and glory and then it's gone! Peter is older than the other guys in KISS. So I'm sure his body was taking a beating after murdering those drums every night for years non-stop during their heavy touring. He IN FACT WAS A Powerhouse! At the end of each show for years he smashed his drums and destroyed them! It was all part of the Show!
Look at Vinnie for example.. hard to imagine she was a shredder
I've been a drummer for 40 years. Peter's a second rate player. Eric was far superior, technically speaking.
Peter Criss is the reason I picked up the drums, and exchanged them for guitars.
Same here my friend.
Ha, I am sure you two professional musicians can Enlighten us on why a living legend drummer is why you wanted to play guitar 🎸? I am sure you sucked at that as well!!!
Eddie could have stuck up for Peter there.
I agree ,I thought he would
He likes to kiss the ass of whatever current guest he has on his show
Yes he should have.
He's supposed to be good friends with Peter. He let her bad-mouth him on his show and didn't say a word. He's a puss
Lol…why? He wasn’t there. Holly was just telling her story.
Listen to Shock Me's intro, by Peter! That's the musicality in his drumming that bland drummers lack. Listen to his jazzy feel on songs even on Strange ways, it's magic, not to mention his voice on Strange ways, Get away, Black Diamond, Beth, Hard Luck Woman, Dirty Livin, Baby Driver etc. Magic and feel.
Hell ya Strange ways!!!!Almost Human!!☆
No disputing that Peter was a great drummer and very creative. Sadly his substance abuse adversely affected his career.
Don't forget, "Watching You"!
Love his drums and drum solo on alive!!!! There only one Catman for me!!!
Peter was the best singer in the band
Even KISS power pop is still pretty good.
Funny how all those people who love to make disparaging remarks about Ace and Peter are never anywhere near the level of popularity that Ace and Peter had.
She's not only written more hits than Ace & Peter combined but has a net worth that far exceeds both of them combined.
@@thetruth7231 That may be true but it's also true that most people don't know who she is. The phrase ... Rich and Famous... doesn't always include both words.
@@chrisoakley5830 most people don't know who Peter Criss is either if you want to get technical....outside of KISS fans it's his makeup that's more known that he is.
@@thetruth7231 Well, Kiss fans are a lot of people, world wide.
@@thetruth7231 I bet if you asked the average rock n roller, they'd heard of Peter, before they heard of her.
He was just a powerhouse on ALIVE! An amazing live album.
that was not life
@@cindysue5474 the recording was live, but there are a LARGE number of overdubs to correct the horrible sound mix. So, it's technically a "live" album. But the truth has been out there for a long time now.
KISS Alive is one big drum solo! Try playing along.
@@chrisi123 At least the drums was.
Bonham was a powerhouse. Criss never was even close to one. Sorry, he was mediocre as a drummer. Great vocalist though.
Of course the broad that dated Anton Fig and Paul Stanley bashes Peter Chriss.
She bashed him because he is a jag off
@@flyingburritobro68 Better guy then Paul Stanley.
Who cares? Leave it to trunk to keep talking about kiss - keep ‘em relevant as much as possible ed -- smooch their asses some more
[I have a feeling she "dated" just about everyone in that studio as well as the managers and security.]
[Peter was awesome and was taught the rudiments by one of the greatest rock n roll drummers, Jerry Nolan. Maybe Peter rejected her and she got mad (as everyone else seemingly took her up on her offers).]
Without Peter on those classic Kiss records, the chemistry wouldn’t have been there, great drummer…who the hell is she anyway to judge
Exactly.
I honestly never heard of her until today. And I will forget about her tomorrow.
She's an actual musician. You aren't.
Criss was never better than average. Anyone who disputes that knows nothing about drumming.
@@jamesrudd8705 how the F do you know if I’m a musician or not who the hell are you…i never heard of her or you , your opinion as well as hers is irrelevant to me ! Have a good day…🤣
@@jamesrudd8705 I’ll dispute it. Average?….that would be me, and I admit it….(before you go and slam me for my playing). I knew just enough to create a lifetime of incredible memories…in one short summer. Peter Criss…average? Just doesn’t fly with me….and a lot of other people….drummers, too. Go give your opinion to many professional drummers who respect Peter and his drumming. It will be disputed.
"We all used to hang out together", means " I was sleeping with the band".
Wrong.
😂
Not Paul. She's not a 10 year old Haitian boy who's been orphaned and smuggled in to the states
Definitely wouldn't sleep with her now she's old and gross trying to relive the old days.🤣
@@johngillespie3409 I'm sure you,just like all the members of Kiss are old and gross too trying to relive the old days...lol
I took the phrase "Peter Criss never played that well" to mean that Anton's playing on Unmasked exceeded what Peter would normally play, and I can't disagree with that...... Anton is obviously a more technically adept drummer and that's the reason why he was one of the most in demand session drummers playing on hundreds of recordings by the biggest names in multiple genres. Peter was one of the most exciting live rock drummers for a couple of years in the 70s.
Anton was a studio musician.you are pretty damn good if you are a studio musician.get it in a few takes no drama.peter could have played the tracks but it would have taken longer than a couple days to lay them down.and at this point between the band there would have been major drama.no doubt the kiss "sound" comes from the original 4 and peter is a hugh part of it.i love peter criss.
@@toddedwards5373 Anton wasn't actually a studio / session guy at the time he played on Ace's solo album and with Kiss. Although he had a formal education in jazz and classical and he'd toured with Link Wray & Robert Gordon, he didn't get the opportunities until after Unmasked. It was Ace that mixed with studio musicians like Rob Sabino; Will Lee and John Regan and it's those guys that brought Anton into sessions for Frampton, Joan Armatrading etc.
Peter was a better drummer than Anton
@@darylhall2198 So you keep saying Daryl. ....... and I have to agree with you, because Ace is a better guitar player than Eddie Van Halen.
@@Rabant777 absolutely!!! 😎
Peter's addictions definitely brought him down, but it's criminal to put him down like he was some kind of mediocre drummer.
The guy was a jazz drummer at heart, studying under Gene Krupa and playing with the swing and swagger that was in at the time, not too dissimilar to Charlie Watts from the Stones or Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls (Peter's friend and contemporary).
Paul and Gene just pushed him to play outside of his range too much; they wanted a John Bonham, and didn't care that they had someone closer to John Densmore. Between that and his personal problems, the band was a bit too eager to drop him like dead weight.
At least he had some great replacements, in and out of the studio.
Great point!
I completely agree with you. Peter was a great Jazz drummer in his own right. His style probably did not fit KISS as a rock-and-roll drummer. I think Eric Carr was a much better fit. That being said, there's no need to bash Peter or Ace for that matter. Paul and Gene always like to point to Ace's and Peter's use of substances as the reason they left KISS. Perhaps if they had gotten better treatment from Gene and Paul, they may not have resorted to substances. Heck, I even heard that when Eric Carr was being treated for cancer, Paul and Gene went ahead and got a replacement drummer (Eric Singer) to record Revenge instead of waiting for Eric to recover a least a little bit so that he could record some tracks. Paul even admitted that he made a mistake.
studying under Gene Krupa? What? You mean he randomly says he liked Gene Krupa?
@@Explorer766 no, I mean Krupa actually gave him drum lessons. They knew each other from Peter constantly going to see him and being a young drummer. There's a photo of the two of them with a young Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls.
@@andyspencer4786I don't think he actually gave him lessons. He maybe showed him a few things.
And as a jazz fan, Peter was not a jazz drummer at heart. You can heae jazz in rock drummers, like Mitch Mitchell. Peter had no timing. He was unique sounding because he wasn't a "good" drummer. He was a bit sloppy and loose, and I loved his style.
But he wasn't a good drummer.
Peter Criss is a legend for being the original drummer and playing on kiss best albums. Very nice playing, not just a basher, like carr or singer, who are both great too.
Peter’s drumming on Kiss Alive is as good as anything Anton ever did
AND, the only parts not overdubbed.
Now that's funny.
I don't know about that, but at least, Peter had his own style, and it was cool. I can't say that about Anton
Just cuz you got chops don’t mean you can rock
I know.. people say Neil Peart was the best yada yada... of course he was brilliant but I like Moons drumming better... just because one person is technically better than the other does not mean there is not an X factor the lessor player brings...
If you grew up as a teen when KISS did KISS alive, it was bad ass. When they did "Meet the phantom" they became a joke.
It’s amazing how small of a time window that actually was.
They definitely had a "coolness" peak around 77-78. After the movie, the comic, the dolls, Halloween costumes, it just became a big kiddie show.
Kiss was expecting the Dynasty tour to be this massive thing with multiple dates in all these cities but ended up canceling many shows. It was a fast downhill decline in popularity - except maybe 10 year-olds.
Theres wayyyyyyyyy enough footage now being re engineered to sound even better of Peter during the Alive era to prove how good he was he was in a way pushed to play heavier and harder than hes natural drumming when he was still youthfull he is still the oldest from kizz remember. I do hear alot about how miserable he was to be around at times which caused his demise but again it was the best thing for him and Kizz too we got Creatures with Vinnie and Eric Imagine Peter on creatures🙄No no nooooooooo
Peter Criss haters like to think and say that he didn't play drums on "Rocket Ride" (with that amazing final drum break), but he did it. Haters say that it was Anton Fig, but that's not true. That song was recorded in 1977, and Fig didn't exist in the Kiss universe at that time. He entered the picture the following year, when Ace hired him to play the drums on his solo record, which he did because Peter was unavailable due to his own solo record.
They also say that about "Larger Than Life". Also untrue
It doesn't sound like him, on either of those songs. But according to Gene it definitely was him on those songs
@@RGZ112 According to Peter, too. Ace hadn't met Anton, yet, at that time.
@@johnsoos6907 The 16th-note hi-hat playing on "Larger Than Life" is TOTALLY Peter's style.
@@RGZ112 Peter is on those songs. Ace didn't play on Larger Than Life. That apparently was Rick Derringer. He did play on Rocket Ride though
She'll get another 15 minutes of validation. We know how important that is to...
She's not only written more hits than Ace & Peter combined but has a networth that far exceeds both of them combined as well..she doesn't need validation.
@@thetruth7231 if that is true, she seems kind of like a bitter attention seeking person to me
Never heard of her til now.
@@johnnyg1161she's been around for decades. Even co-wrote some KISS songs.
@@RGZ112- Most broads her age are bitter by default.
I don't hear any bashing. If it's saying Anton is a better drummer, that's hardly bashing.
he isnt a better drummer.
@@darylhall2198 I would agree with you if we were talking about Alive era Peter but he deteriorated fast starting with Destroyer.
@@MENFUSSMIKE For me he was still in his prime during destroyer but he did have nerve problems/arthritis in his arms and hands during the late 70s from touring too much and his car accident so he did lose some of what he had.
@@darylhall2198 yes he is.
@@thetruth7231 no, his style brings nothing to the songs, hence why he wasnt brought into the band.
Isn't it ironic how people seem to hate Peter Criss, especially his solo album. Between the 4 solo albums, I like Peter's the best. Yes, it is more jazz and blues oriented and couldn't be further from KISS. There is nothing wrong and paying tribute to your influences here. Ace's may have sold the best, but Peter's misunderstood solo album is both beautiful and eclectic and , like Elder and Unmaskrd, history and time have shown how great the album really is.
I agree, I've always loved Peter's album.
Peter's always gets more 'spins' for me as well.
I just listened to Pete's solo album a few nights ago, for the first time in probably 20 years, it was even better than I remembered. It's as good as Paul's and definitely better than Gene's.
@@giraffesareselfish9563 That is great! In 1978 It was just the shock of it depending on our age at the time. We thought we would get 4 "Rock" albums. Peter's in context of the music at the time is not that far out of place and actually pretty good
Peter's was quite far removed from the KISS sound, but it had integrity because it reflected the kind of songs and sound that Peter grew up on and loved. He was being true to himself and his musical tastes.
I'm beside myself.. Peter was a powerhouse up until about 79 in which he was in bad shape. He also has severe tenden and carpal tunnel issues. The combination of those things made him fall off but he certainly is a good drummer. When he came back to kiss in 96 he was again good. His timing had improved and he was more precise. I think the prime of the second coming of kiss was under the Brooklyn bridge. I believe that was one of the best performances ever by kiss.
They were absolutely on 🔥
Again though, he fell off and I believe that he got lazy. In 2000 most of the times when they played Deuce he just played the beat without the fills. I'm a drummer and there is no excuse for it!
Brooklyn Bridge performance was definitely one the best reunion performances. They only played 5 songs, so he could let it fly..and not have to pace himself like a 2 hour show. I was there, it was magic. Drummer here, too.
@@KISStributeNYC97 that's fantastic!! I love Peter
Powerhouse? No. Not even close. John Bonham? Yes. Neil Peart? Yes. Keith Moon? Yes. Peter Criss? No!
Yeah, LOTTA half timing the songs and just kinda, keepin the beat. Who knows? I honestly think it was probably from his injuries/health issues raising themselves again..ID think that he was necessarily doin it on purpose/gettin lazy. THOSE are just the ways ya do ta get by when you're injured, obviously. Been there MORE than once. Sucks. 🥁🤘🔥🤘
@@jamesrudd8705 Phil Rudd was also a powerhouse 🥁😏 You related? 😎🤘🔥🤘
She didn't "bash" Peter Criss. She simply said that he didn't play on that record.
She said “Peter never played that well and they knew it”. Now, this could just be meant that he didn’t play AS well as Anton, but he was still good. Or that he just plain couldn’t play that well.
@Donnell Okafor HOW DARE SHE!!!
@@manolokonosko2868 I know! Boys settle down.
@Donnell Okafor ha ha ha you're correct cause I don't play at all.
He may not have been in great shape at the time but to say he never played well is simply an ignorant statement. His work in the heyday of KISS is absolutely fantastic. It wasn't super flashy, but it was tasteful and full of character. Something a lot of drummers today could / should learn from. It was simply a stupid, ignorant statement. @@hollyknightofficialyoutube8622
Her comments were uncalled for, and I'm not even a KISS fan. Come on, Eddie.
You can hear Eddie about to jump in there right after she said it.
I take what she said about Peter with a grain of salt. Peter and Ace were both very unhappy in kiss at that point. Also, Paul and Gene were helping her out.
Peter was and is a drummer that plays by feel. He’s not a music reader. What he played on the albums was the right fit for that time. He was a good drummer and he is undeniably a rock star who will be remembered for decades to come.
I couldn’t even get through this lol Peter bashing yea that gets old , kiss was never the same without him because it was a special chemistry
You are correct. It’s just enough. I get it…you’re selling a book.
You got that right! Amen Brother !
I agree with you spoken like a true KISS fan.
Also after hearing over and over from him Eddie seems to have such a dislike for the band.
I don't know about this chick ,but imo. Peter was a dang decent drummer , my by far favorite singer in this Peter got grit and more soul and I like that
"this chick"is me and I'm in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
If Holly is as talented as she says, why does she feel the need to bash Peter Criss? At her age, she shouldn't be so bitter and have some kind of an ego to try and prove things to people all the time
She's a typical session player. They're not cool enough to be public figures, so they wallow in jealousy behind the curtain. Sure, they make money. But, if you ask them if to choose between fame & fortune, 99% of them would choose fame. She's jealous of Peter's fame.
Thanks for the video! Unlike some other fans, I really enjoy "Unmasked." Yes, it's unlike some of their other music, but I enjoy a wide variety of genres and good on them for trying something different. I'd read that Anton Fig actually played on that album, instead of Peter Criss. Not really surprising, since Peter Criss was gone after that. I had no idea about Holly Knight's keyboards. Now, I need to listen to that album again.
It's not that kiss fans don't like Unmasked.I ALSO LOVE IT! I think it's mainly the comment this obscure keyboardist Made about Peter.
The 100,000 Years drum solo was the best. Then Paul rapping with the crowd !
That KISS’s best moment. Then God of Thunder drum solo - so cool.
This chick plays keyboards on the lousy Unmasked album ? Whatever honey.
She's not only written more hits than Ace & Peter combined but has a net worth that far exceeds both of them combined as well.
@@thetruth7231 you must be her. 😂😂😂
@@thetruth7231 What hit songs ? Nothing tops 100,000 Years 🎶😛🎶
@@seagullpoet what hit songs? go ahead and google it....worth almost 200 million and written more hits than Ace & Peter combined....100,000 years is generic...there's a reason why every single kiss tribute clown can play it with no problem....
@@thetruth7231 oh yeah that's right. I got all my Holly whoevers albums that I play all the time. 🤣
Holly is awesome she rocks
Session players, like this woman, are just jealous of the attention guys like Peter get. She's probably made a lot of money in her time, behind the scenes. No need to bash Peter because no one's coming up to you & asking for your autograph. Be happy you had a career, & leave it at that. This woman, & others like her, are petty AF.
Saved her check stubs 🤣
I guarantee you that at present, she is worth more than Peter. Her songs get used all the time in movies and commercials. She might be resentful for other reasons, but money isn't likely to be one of them.
@@flazjsg I didn't say anything about money. I said, she's probably jealous of the ATTENTION (fame) that a "lesser" musician like Peter gets.
Cracks me up how everyone gives credit to Gene for discovering Van Halen 🤣🤣🤣 Like they would never be discovered 🤡
Well he did
But he did soooo....
Says the guy who chose Anthony Weiner’s online alter ego nickname for his own
Gene will never let us forget it either
@@trevornever27 Van Halen won't either.It'll be on the back of their debut release FOREVER!
Holly Co wrote Hide your Heart along with Desmond Child.
And Molly Hatchet performed it 1000 times better than Kisd
Anyone who knows music understands there is a feel to playing and then there is a technical aspect to it. The standard everyone applies to the studio is the Beatles. Ringo Starr is an amazing drummer that had tremendous feel for whatever the band was creating. He also received direction from both Lennon and McCartney on what they were looking for. But he was not a technically proficient drummer. McCartney never trashed his band members on their ability. He worked within the framework of what they could do as a band. It speaks for itself. Today KISS tours and performs their songs not of the past 40 years, but of the first eight. That should tell you something right there. Stanley and Simmons should take better notes from their personal heroes.
You can also look at Led Zeppelin deciding to call time after Bonhams death. Plant remarked without Bonham the stuff Jimmy and I wrote would not have worked . Once Johm mastered his part everything else would fall into place.
So tired of the "Peter sucked" bit. Peter was a damn good drummer and he put the groove in those early Kiss tunes. He became a useless drug addict in the end (79/80), but please stop bashing his ability as a drummer.
For the record, Unmasked is one of my favourite Kiss albums.
Torpedo girl
who cares about you're opinion? album sucks donkey balls cept 1 Gene song
You can tell Eddie doesn't like that she is giving Paul and Gene so much love
I gave "love "to Ace too. I didnt with Peter because he was gone at that point and I never met him.
So you didn't want credit. You made a mutual agreement and continued to play for them. Congrats! You got what you wanted.
She didn’t really trash Peter Kris. His battles with substance abuse that rendered him unable to perform at a high level are well documented. I doubt he’d even be offended by her comments.
“Peter Criss never played that well and they know it.”
That is trashing Peter. What wouldn’t be trashing him would be “Peter wasn’t playing that well” - present tense, not “never”.
I always thought the keyboard solo on "Easy as it seems" was great. Sounds much cooler now that I know it was played by Holly.
I always thought the entire Unmasked album is unlistenable. Dynasy has a couple songs I can hear without puking.
Great track & guitar solo❤
thank you
@@Mozart1220 haha
Eddie texted the album the other day. And went to its wedding.
Unfortunately she is wrong. Kiss had many songs in the 80s that were MIDDLE of the road. Gene was dedicated to his movie career, Paul had to take the lead in that time, Bruce (as nice of a guy as he was) is a role playing musician in the band and then they had Eric Carr who was an incredible drummer who would have been a success after Paul was allegedly going to kick him out in favor of Eric Singer anyway. I remember this very well as a young KISS fan who was only in his single digits when he became a fan of the makeup wearing beasts!!! As I recall, after LIU it became a routine run of the mill album after album until they went back to their black leather roots with Revenge. Then, it was too late, the world was in "Nirvana Mode"... all the Alternative music coming out.. so what did KISS do??? Follow that Trend as they followed the trend in the 80's. Let's face it... The ORIGINAL MAKEUP WEARING KISS is where their bread was buttered so to speak.
In response to the many comments, I think your loyalty to Peter Criss is understandable. I apologize to those who were offended.
This is how obvious the drumming difference was. I was 13 when Dynasty came out and I remember saying to my buddy “Wow Peter Criss has either gotten really good or they used a studio guy”. Then when “Unmasked” came out I heard the groove on “Torpedo Girl” and I said NO WAY thats Peter. I loved PC from 74-77 but the fame and drugs and booze and circus life they lived got in the way of making the music.
100% the same reaction I had. As a kid I told my buddies that the drums didn't sound like Peter Criss on both Dynasty and Unmasked. They thought I was stupid for even suggesting that.
@@froggy5935 I grew up playing drums and guitar and it was pretty obvious. I still dig old KISS stuff, brings back memories of seeing them in 77. 🤟🏼🤟🏼
I don't think we know what was going on at the time of Unmasked with Peter. It's believed generally he was erratic at this time and wether he wanted to play these songs anymore with Kiss or they wanted him to be there is still speculation. But they used his producer and that's the wildest part.
Cocaine was going...up his nose
Peter Criss is a legend . Who is she. Who Cares about some Obscure keyboardist from 40 years ago. Never even heard of her before this interview. Gene was probably just trying to nail her lol. Peter Criss is the man...
Yes defo Not a blip on the radar of anyone of rock n roll consequence Gene defo wdv ploughed her from behind as she played
Trunk starts every sentence with “ I”
Loved Peter Criss. No one could beat him. He's the Cat Man. He has that raspy sound in his voice that makes Black Diamond sound so good. And he adds soul to it. I saw them back in the 70s, he was a strong, great drummer. And it was he that put Beth on the charts.
I wouldn't say she bashes Peter, Anton is a much better drummer than 80% of all drummers.
Peter criss is awesome.....
100,000 years on ALIVE is one of the best drum solos ever
In the Dynasty album, Anton Fig plays drums in all album except in the song Dirty Livin', the only song performed by Peter Criss on drums and vocals.
Criss INVENTED the Catman, created the persona, designed the makeup and he WAS, IS and forever WILL BE the Catman..........
One mau say: "Well there were 13 different Superman" or "There were 10 Batman" on the screen.....
Yes! That's true.
But remember that Zorro, Batman, Iron Man are all ficctional characters. Any artist can perform the role.
The Catman IS A REAL PERSON!!!! Too different from "The Phantom of the Opera" (e.g.)..... By the way - even Paul performed the Phantom.
Peter Criss is a GENIUS, a talented musician, and amazing artist, a wonderful performer and a great singer.
No substitutes!!!!
Peter’s groove on Dr Love is just great stuff.
Peter Criss will always be the quintessential KISS drummer. Bar-none he helped define the original lasting KISS sound we in our youth and to this day still embrace as what KISS is supposed to play and sound like. The 'Unmasked' record is now 43 years old, and by some estimation it has not aged well, an album Peter Criss was entirely absent from. The Gene and Paul axis was beginning to apply itself at that time, in hindsight who can really blame them for wanting (or attempting) to make KISS a more musically/commercially accessible popular act. In 1980 disco was still king, Vini Poncia was a known disco producer, and with this rather light-pop sounding album and no North American KISS tour, the band lost serious street-cred gained from the 70s. Peter Criss, nor Holly Knight had nothing to do with the failure of Unmasked amongst the KISS faithful back-in-the-day.
Peter was a great drummer listen to room service and his voice back then was a driving force
Love Peters solo album❤🎉
You’re the only one.
@@TheGodYouWishYouKnewNo, I like it to.
People comparing/rating him like he's supposed to the greatest ever or something, I don't think he ever claimed to be. He was a competent, solid drummer that fit them, then he wasted it. Simple. Great singer too.
Nailed it.
UNMASKED IS A GREAT ALBLUM FRONT TO BACK
I was the ultimate kiss fan...was.
I was there from the beginning... 1973. I was 12 years old. Now I'm 62 and I just have to tell you, I'm a bit disappointed.
All of the bashing they've done over the past 30 years, I mean, come on.
Enough already.
Nobody is perfect. No matter how much a star you"think" you are.
We're all human.
It's this kind of thing that made me give away my entire collection to a thrift store.
I kept the first live album and a black light poster.
That was it.
Now ABBA owns KISS 💋
Anyone who thinks Peter Criss is a crappy drummer needs to listen to "Parasite" on the first live album closer.
Peter Criss from '74-'76 was a better drummer than everybody except Billy Cobham and Cozy Powell...but KISStards can't name 5 songs that either of them played. P.S. F Holly Knight. P.P.S. Peter was a good singer back then too.
So true, all anyone has to do is listen to Kiss live from Paris.
@@darylhall2198 That's a good show! Peter's drumming at the Cobo Hall shows from '76 are off the chain as well.
@@rockinyouallnight He was so good. And peters had nerve problems in his arms and hands since the late 70s. If more people knew that maybe they would cut him more slack.
@coogan8825 yep.
You are aware that the Wanton Song and Achilles Last Stand, not to mention all of 2112 were recorded during that period, aren't you? Get ahold of yourself.
Forward thinking no credit 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 women have such low bars up in here.
Unmasked ruled better than anything after revenge
And quite a few before Revenge.
You're nuts. Unmasked is god awful
Thats not saying much. And "I still say they suck" lol
Those pop songs and keyboards were the main reason fans were leaving in droves.
Peter was struggling with addiction at the time. He is and was a good drummer.
Peters problem is that he was no one special, but he thought he was someone special. If you read anything at all about Peter from those years, he is one of the most obnoxious people you would ever want to meet that is precisely why he doesn’t get any slack from anyone who was around him. If he had been just an average drummer but was kind and humble, and in reality about his actual abilities, you wouldn’t hear all the negativity you hear about the guy. If you want to have people say kind things about someone, then that person had to treat people kindly and Peter did not treat people kindly, and the fact that he used illegal drugs doesn’t absolve him of
Anything
@@Ryan2022 Ok fair enough. The only really special player in the original four was Ace. But he is no better than Peter in the personality department. And that leaves us with the two money grubbers. Were either of them a special talent? Not even close. They were four schlubs from New York that made it. Nothing more nothing less.
@@bbodinefan11 ha. All true. I think a lot of this stuff should be water under the bridge at this point. Peter Criss is 77 years old. I don’t think Paul and Gene go out of their way to bash Peter or Ace anymore. I don’t think they even think about them unless they’re asked then they give their honest opinion m. what it boils down to is they were just a rock band here for entertainment. I know people get all wrapped up in hero worship stuff, but I never did.
I theorize his car accident injuries effected his drumming permanently
@@themadmattster9647 i’m sure that didn’t help. He also smashed his hand through a mirror or something in a fit of rage.
:25 actually, Eddie…Paul Stanley mentions that she played keys on Unmasked, in his book.
Eddie, being such a big KISS fan, why would you not speak up for Peter here? Very disappointing.
How much was the cheque for?
Funny how various band members criticize Peters drumming but most fans call bs on that ..
Learn to play drums, and then you will understand why Peter is not one to look up to if you want to be a great drummer.
@@simpleplandrummer I do play drums and Peter is fine. It's like saying Ringo sucked because he couldn't play a Rush song. Watch the "Get Back" movie. Early on that song has a basic beat like anything else and the song is OK. Later there is the
bumb badda bump" snare run and the song WAKES UP AND DRIVES. Listen to "Rain". PLus Paul and John both said that Pet best was OK, but when Ringo sat in, they all played at another level. The difference between a drummer that can keep a beat and one that makes the entire band better is practically unnoticeable to the public, but the BAND can feel it. I have been a "weekend warrior" for 45 years, I know.
Syncin, When are you gonna be on Eddie’s show again? He’s free fall tomorrow! #scabkiss #cheetahkriss #syncinstanleyismakingkisssingliveagain
Eddie hates the Gene was a good guy narrative
One Catman his name is Peter ,and to compare yourself to him you better think again lol
There's only one Catman!
And his name is Peter Criss.
There were more than a few musicians who helped kiss out. Even on the road under or behind the stage.
Mhm.....Many musicians in the KISS kitchen.
Hmm,lies; in the studio, yes, not on the road
@@jjrj8568 Obviously what I meant...
So sick of hearing Peter wasnt that good..he was an animal in the 70s..
You think a young Paul and Gene would hire a drummer that sucked?? It was make it or bust, they wouldn’t have some shit drummer in the band , something that would destroy their dreams..
He was the best drummer for the band , never will be any better for kiss.
i know who peter criss is . i have no idea who this broad is and don't really care.
Don't care what anyone says I'll take black diamond era kiss when Peter and ace was running on full.
Agreed!! The real KISS!🔥🔥🔥🔥
I’m with you.
Lots of love for Peter in these comments, I don't give a sh*t about him.
Politics and band drama aside, what a lot of KISS fans refuse to accept is that Peter is simply a mediocre drummer who was in an enormously popular band. Once that was established, KISS was a business, and the "bosses" of that business wanted to do whatever they could to make that business flourish. Having someone with a better feel , a better sound, a better comprehension for music and able to learn parts faster and record them more precisely made perfect sense. But fans wind up concocting an emotional connection. KISS is their friends. They want to believe there's a comradery. They want to see them as the comic book heroes the band created. But they're just guys putting on a show in a effort to make a lot of money. They do it well. And business is business.
@Nelson Mediocre, my ass; up through ‘78 before car accidents and drugs hampered him, PC was not only the best drummer for KISS, but a double-threat powerhouse behind the kit- both vocally and whilst pounding the skins!..
Ok So She Played some keyboards ! She also seems '' Full Of Herself '' What Else Has She Achieved Musically ?
Bashes? Please!!
I love my Dynasty and Unmasked. You got the most Ace songs too
People keep saying that KISS never would have been as big without Ace and Peter?🤷♂️
Wrong!
They could have been even bigger than they were.
Ego is one thing to deal with.
Drugs and alcohol a whole different story.
Peter was always difficult to deal with. Ace always just wanted to live the "rock star" lifestyle.
Never heard of her. Peter is a legend.
Neither have I until now - but we’ve heard songs she’s co-written and sung by others thousands of times
New Olympic event Peter criss knocking. God leave him alone he was and always will be the original drummer and God bless him for that.
Not that I believe Peter to be a great drummer from a musical POV but I don't understand how Peter can absolutely smash it on the Alive II studio recordings, best playing of his career - but then be 'unfit' to play a year later.
Wait , what? I didn't bash Peter. I was referring to Dynasty and Unmasked - and the fact that Anton recorded the drums even though Peter was credited as the drummer. If you listen to both drummers around THAT time period, it's rather obvious it's two different drummers, but I didn't put down Peter, I just praised Anton for being that good and he is !
I like the way this video ended. She was going on about how she was a successful songwriter and how she played on Paul's solo album, and Eddie Trunk was like Hmmmm. Like he was about to say, "Who cares?" Lol
Ha! Ha!
Shes just playing the Gene/Paul record. She got no credit because Gene and Paul wanted all the money for themselves. Peter is a legend that helped launch the inferior talents of Gene and Paul . Ace n Peter are the reason Kiss was so good back then.