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.
24 Responses
I bought this album today. I think it’s a very good album. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Way to go Catman! And the Catman dedicated the album to Ace Frehley and a few others…awesome!
I gotta give a “shout out” to the independent record store I bought it from…Lou’s Records in Encinitas. Has been in business in the same city by the same owner for 45 years….and counting!
dude, were you at that Megadeth show on the Peace Sells tour when they played that movie theater in Encinitas?
Encinitas is the best place to live…Rattlehead, God Bless you, dude
were you in Snakebyte?
Socrates, no i was not at that Megadeth show at the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas. I had too much college stuff to do, but i regret not going cuz it would have been killer! That theater is the oldest theater in San Diego County, built in 1928, so I’m sure Megadeth had the walls rocking/shaking!
No, I was not in Snakebyte, They were probably the most popular heavy metal band in Encinitas in the 80s, often writing songs about all things Encinitas, inicluding a song about the La Paloma theater!
And i agree with you….Encinitas is the best place to live. And the beaches are the best!
How are you familiiar with my area?
I followed my girlfriend to CA in 1986 and we had a small apartment in Leucadia, only $400 a month, close to the beach. I had a job as a dishwasher, then prep cook at the Triton, where I worked my way up to $5.00 an hour, so I can’t imagine not going to Megadeth to study…that is impressive Rattlehead….However, you didn’t miss anything; Dave was not into it, I am pretty sure the band was messed up, I met them earlier in the day, and they were just looking for a fan to get them stoned, and I didn’t have anything. They didn’t give a shit about the show, the fans, none of it… the set was really brief….I said something to Dave earlier when he was walking outside, and he just muttered something at me…..”how’s the tour going?” I said, “Good, it’s almost over…” was all he said…sort of a scowl….lol
…Socrates, I remember the Triton Restaurant! It’s been gone for a while. Great location, right on the beach off Coast Highway! Did you ever go to Lou’s Records, or visit VG Donuts, while you were in Encinitas? I graduated from San Dieguito High School in Encinitas…not sure if you are familiar with the school.
I’m bummed I missed Megadeth at La Paloma, but based on your feedback, doesn’t seem like I really missed anything. Still, I wish I went…but school always came first. Snakebyte was really the only heavy metal band we had in Encinitas. Wally Passet was actually a pretty good vocalist for them. He also was the vocalist for the local band King Neptune. He was the “rock star” of Encinitas. Andy Milner was the bass player for Snakebyte. Andy Milner was the son of Martin Milner, who starred in the 70’s TV show “Adam -12”. I have one of the only Snakebyte album they released and one of the 7″ that King Neptune released.
My favorite local heavy metal band in the San Diego area was Bible Black. Perhaps you heard of them during your time in Encinitas?
it was the second time I had seen them, the first being opening for Motorhead at the Santa Monica Civic (Motorhead was so freaking loud) and there was a problem with Chris Poland being louder than Dave at that show, so when they played that theater, I couldn’t hear Chris that well, and the same when I saw them later open for Alice Cooper at Long Beach, and I talked to Chris after that Long Beach show when I ended up backstage for Alice’s birthday party, and I took the Greyhound from Leucadia by myself, and I ended up with a backstage pass I paid this guy 20 bucks for, and Chris said it was “politics” and he was not happy being in that situation. His guitar style was not common in heavy metal at all back then, and now it’s totally common…they were just ahead of their time. Song wise, I think their first record is their best one. Peace Sells is almost like a Def Leppard record compared to the first one. He was super cool to talk to. Dave is a weird dude…lol….but I end up rooting for him. He reminds me of this grumpy cat that doesn’t like to be bothered, and always lands on his feet.
I went to Lou’s all the time. I also worked at a restaurant in Encinitas that used to have live folk music, and the owners were great, generous. I would say I was a terrible employee at the Triton, but one day my manager calculated my check in front of me, and he was a nice person, but it was 4.99 not 5 and he goes, “so yeah, 5 dollars an hour.” Maybe they were doing that to everybody to save money…lol
I don’t remember Bible Black, or King Neptune or that singer…I remember now about that Adam 12 dude because he was bankrolling Snakebyte and paying this music instructor I talked to to help them… I don’t think they were heavy enough for me then… I was really into Dark Angel in 1986. At the Triton there were a couple great guitar players that worked in the kitchen….this kid I remember switched to bass because he said he wasn’t good enough on guitar, and he could play circles around most guitar players…lol…that was the music scene in the ’80s.
Overall the music is good. His voice sounds different. The raspiness is gone but he still sounds good for 80 years old. The lyrics are about the level that you’d expect from a 7th grader though. “I’ve been drinkin’ and I’ve been stinkin’” or on the song Hard Rock Knockers, “I like them big and I don’t care if you wear a wig.” But despite the lyrics, it’s a good record. Not earth shattering, but certainly much better than his last record “One For All.”
I’ll be looking for royalties with the mention of “Wig”
i’m looking forward to hearing it. it it’s good like you say it is, then he’ll be “juan for two!”
Thanks for your review , his rollout was pretty screwed up for sure, personally im way beyond moronic lyrics , I just cant take music seriously when a grown 80 yr old man is writing lyrics like that , he is not writing for young people hes writing for his fan base grown adults ,as a fan I believe we deserve better Pete ~
A lot of people are saying that KISS would have been better without Gene & Paul. THAT IS HERESY! They may suck as people, but there is no better singing/playing/writing duo in the history of rock music. Don’t @ me!
I’ve only listened to it nine or ten times so I need to get at least 50 more listens. But he hasn’t rocked this hard since CAT #1.
it’s a good time album; it’s him singing, not a computer simulation/auto tune; I liked it a lot, and I think it’s going to grow on me