27 Facts About Peter Criss

Peter Criss was an avid art student and a swing aficionado.

Peter Criss was involved with several bands through the mid- to late 1960s, starting with the Barracudas from 1962 to 1966 and including Chelsea, who had a two-album deal with Decca Records; the group released a self-titled album in 1970.

Peter Criss had collaborated on a demo originally titled "Beck", a song that was eventually reworked to become the ballad "Beth", a Top 10 hit for Kiss on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No 7 in 1976.

The song was actually written before Peter Criss had joined Kiss, while he was still a member of Chelsea.

Peter Criss came up with the melody for the song while on a train to New York City from New Jersey where the band practiced.

Anton Fig, who played on Ace Frehley's 1978 solo album, was hired as session drummer for Dynasty and Unmasked but did not tour; Peter Criss performed on the Dynasty tour and Eric Carr on the tour for Unmasked.

At the time, the reasons Peter Criss was fired from Kiss were never made public, although it was obvious that his relationship with his bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley was not good at the time.

Gene Simmons has said Peter Criss was fired; Paul Stanley discussed Peter Criss's departure in several interviews, including the commentary on Kissology 2.

Ace Frehley in his 2011 book, No Regrets, and he stated that Peter Criss was fired during a band meeting in which Frehley, Simmons, Stanley and manager Bill Aucoin voted Peter Criss out of the band.

Peter Criss came to the video shoot knowing it was the last time he would appear with KISS.

In March 1980, Peter Criss began recording his second solo album, Out of Control.

Peter Criss played with Los Angeles Balls of Fire from the spring of 1986 to December 1986, with Jane Booke on lead vocals, Bobby Raylove on bass, and JP on guitar, who currently plays for Buckner Funken Jazz in Denver, Colorado.

Balls of Fire played only seven shows before Peter Criss left the band.

Peter Criss mentioned his dream of one day opening his own recording studio and starting a Catman Records label.

Phil Donahue had both men on his show where the real Peter Criss confronted the impostor.

In 1995, Peter Criss appeared at the official Kiss Konvention in Los Angeles that led to the Kiss live performance that was recorded for MTV Unplugged.

Peter Criss played drums on only one track on the album, although Peter Criss did have one lead vocal and a co-vocal taking turns in the verses with the rest of the band for the song "You Wanted the Best".

Peter Criss left over a contract dispute and was replaced by Eric Singer in 2001.

Peter Criss rejoined the band in late 2002 and appeared on the Kiss Symphony: Alive IV DVD and CD before departing from Kiss again in March 2004.

Peter Criss was replaced by Singer, who assumed the "Catman" persona.

Peter Criss said of Kiss performing with replacements for Ace Frehley and himself:.

Since 2004, Peter Criss has kept his public appearances to a minimum.

Peter Criss released a solo album, titled One for All, in July 2007 on Silvercat Records.

Peter Criss performed his last solo show on June 17,2017, in New York City at the Cutting Room.

Peter Criss released his autobiography, Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss, co-written with author Larry Sloman, in late 2012.

In 2017, Peter Criss made the decision to retire from touring at the age of 71.

Peter Criss played the role of Mike in the motion picture about the JFK assassination, Frame of Mind.