Gary Graff of Billboard reports:
[Original KISS drummer Peter Criss] will be releasing his first new album in 18 years today (December 19th) and, come [then on December 20th], celebrates his 80th birthday. It’s all a “never in my wildest dreams” proposition, Criss says…
“I’m not tooting my horn, but I really worked hard for this,” Criss tells Billboard via phone from his home in New Jersey, where he recorded portions of the new Peter Criss album. “I started at 10 years old. I’m a musician and always a musician first. I’m about music, not about anything more than that. So I never expected all of this. I thought the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (induction, in 2014) was, ‘Holy mackerel…’ This is just a blessing from God.”
Criss, who was born Peter George John Criscoula and raised in Brooklyn, actually started work on Peter Criss during 2008, shortly after the release of his fifth solo album, One For All, in the summer of 2007 but shelved the recordings at the time. During the pandemic, however, guitarist and co-writer Mike McLaughlin phoned and said, according to Criss, “‘Cat, you should listen to that album we started. It’s a good album.’ I started listening and, ‘Yeah, this is a really good album. We’ve really got something here.’” That notion was also supported by his friend, current Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5, whom Criss considers “like my son.”
“I was in California and played it for Johnny and he said, ‘Peter, this is a great album. You’ve got to finish it.’ ‘You really love it, John?’ ‘Are you serious? Yeah! I want to be on it!’ So, ‘OK, I guess we’re gonna do this.’”
Criss and co-producer Barry Pointer wound up deconstructing the 2008 recordings, keeping the drum tracks Criss had laid down at the time but bringing in McLaughlin and bassist Billy Sheehan to record new parts and adding keyboards by longtime friend Paul Shaffer and backing vocals. John 5 plays on three of the 11 tracks, and Criss replaced all of his scratch vocals during the past couple of years. The album’s package design was done by Matt Montgomery, aka Piggy D. of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie’s bands, who also plays bass on the track Cheaper to Keep Her…
…[Other songs on the album include]: Rock, Rockin’ Rock & Roll, Hard Rock Knockers, Creepy Crawlers, Rubberneckin, Murder, Justice, For the Money and Walking on Water…
Promotion plans for Peter Criss are a somewhat up in the air. He’ll sign copies of the album at Rough Trade Below in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza, and Criss is looking at signing events in other cities in the new year. He acknowledges that at his age and after several shoulder surgeries “it’s taking a little more time to get around the (drums),” but he doesn’t rule out playing live to support the album…
…In the meantime Criss is still basking in the glow of the Kennedy Center Honors, which took place on December 7th in Washington, D.C., where KISS was feted by magician Cris Angel and performances from Garth Brooks (Shout It Out Loud), Marcus King (Criss’ signature song Beth) and Cheap Trick (Rock and Roll All Nite). “It was great. It was an honor,” says Criss, who served three tenures with KISS, departing for good — again acrimoniously — in 2004. He appeared amicably with bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in D.C. but acknowledges that “we don’t keep in touch.”
Nevertheless, he adds, “I’m a kid from the streets of Brooklyn. I grew up in a cold-water flat with…seven of us. So coming from a tough neighborhood to standing in the Oval Office with the president was quite a thrill. I’m a big history buff; I couldn’t believe I was in the room where Roosevelt, Lincoln, Kennedy…all these great presidents were. You can feel the vibes. Only four other bands got this award, and here we are, KISS. That was something…”
…Making the occasion bittersweet, however, was KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s absence following his death on October 16th at the age of 74, following a fall in his home studio three weeks prior. “That was really hard for me,” says Criss, who spoke to Frehley shortly before his passing. “He was so excited. He was like, ‘Wow Cat, I can’t believe we’re getting this award.’ I haven’t heard him that excited for a while. He was getting ready to tour again, working on his new album…He was really up.” Criss says Frehley’s daughter Monique accepted his medal during the White House presentation, while her mother and Frehley’s widow Jeanette was also in attendance.
“I got to sit next to Ace’s empty chair, where his medal was,” Criss says. “I’m still mourning over him. I can’t believe he’s gone. We were extremely close. It’s been very hard.”
Read the entire article at Billboard.
The Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS and Paramount+ on December 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.
One Response
I really hope the songs are good ,sounds like the playing will be top notch , im rooting for Pete