Peter Criss

Peter Criss (born George Peter John Criscuola--pronounced "Chris-cola"-- on December 20, 1945), is an American musician best known as co-founder, drummer, vocalist for the rock band KISS. Peter Criss established the "cat" character for his KISS persona.
The young Criss was a gang member in his teen years, according to an article in Spin Magazine, and as he tells the story, when his grandmother caught him making weapons for a rumble, she broke a broomstick over his head. He is the eldest of the five children of Joseph and Loretta Criscuola in Brooklyn, New York.

Despite his hoodlum mentality, he was also an avid art student and a jazz aficionado. While playing with bandleader Joey Greco, Criss ended up studying under his idol, Gene Krupa, at the Metropole Club in New York. This blossomed into an active musical career as he went on to play jazz and rock with a number of bands in New York and New Jersey throughout the 1960s.

Criss was involved with a number of bands throughout the mid-to-late 1960s. In late 1960s, Criss joined Chelsea, who had a two-album deal with Decca Records. The group released a self-titled album in 1970. The group never recorded a second album, and in August 1971 became Lips (a trio consisting of Criss, as well as Chelsea bandmates Michael Benvenga and Stan Penridge). By the Spring of 1973, Lips was just the duo of Criss and Penridge.

Contrary to the story that has been recited by fans and by the band for years, there was never an ad placed that said "Drummer willing to do anything to make it." The ad was answered by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, who were looking for new members for their band, Wicked Lester. Ace Frehley was added to the lineup in December 1972, and the band was renamed KISS later that month.

KISS released their self-titled debut in February of 1974. Throughout his KISS career, Criss was lead vocalist on several notable songs including "Black Diamond", "Hard Luck Woman", and their breakthrough hit "Beth". Many of Criss' contributions to KISS were written with the help of Stan Penridge, who was a bandmate of Criss' in Chelsea and Lips.

Read more

Peter Criss website

KISS Peter Criss Drum Solo 1/25/1976