Peter Criss, the Cat’s last scratch
Peter Crissthe cat, the catman. George Peter John Criscuolathis is the real name of the New York drummer of clear Italian origins, original member of Kisswhich turns 80 today. A venerable age that he intended to celebrate by releasing a solo album that bears his name, “Peter Criss”and arrives eighteen years after having published the previous solo album, “One for all”.
With a jazz background, Criss moved in that musical field until, in 1972, he came into contact with Gene Simmons And Paul Stanleywith the addition of the guitarist Ace Frehley here comes to life Kissone of the most successful rock bands of all time. To make themselves recognisable, in the glam rock period, the four decided to perform with their faces made up: Peter chose to be a cat.
The band’s success grew from album to album throughout the 1970s. With success also came temptations to which it is always very difficult to say no and, consequently, excesses. Peter Criss he was unable to keep his ‘passion’ for drugs at bay, so much so that in 1980 he was replaced behind the drums of Kiss from Eric Carr. Having left the group in 1980, Criss released the solo album “Out of control” repeated in 1982 by “Let me rock you”. Two absolutely forgettable albums. Just as (with all due respect that the case requires) the many bands in which he played outside of the band are unmissable Kiss.
After a good number of years had passed, Peter returned to team up with i in 1996 Kiss for a reunion kissed by success but tormented by more than one mainly contractual gender conflict that led Criss to say goodbye to his companions in 2001, only to backtrack and return with them the following year, and then leave definitively in 2004. Peter Criss appeared for the last time on stage together with the other three original members of Kiss – without however performing – when the group was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2014.
The present, as reported at the beginning, is called “Peter Criss” (written with Ss a la Kiss), a record in which he called to play alongside him Billy Sheehan And Matthew Montgomery (Piggy D.) on the bass, John 5 And Mike McLaughlin on guitar and Paul Shaffer on the piano. In addition to the choristers Dennis and Sharon Collins And Cat Manning of the CAT 5.
In an interview with The Music Universe about the album he said without hiding a trace of emotion: “Oh, my God. It took me a year. There’s some very political content, but I wrote a song called ‘Walking On Water’, which is about my battle with cancer. I’m a very religious guy. I’m a Catholic guy. I’ve got great musicians. I’ve got Paul Shaffer, Billy Sheehan, Mike McLaughlin and Johnny 5. So I’m very excited. It’s coming out on the 19th and my birthday is the 20th. I’ll be 80.”
It is significant that what will probably be the last album of a long and eventful career bears his name, just as the debut album released in 1978 also bore his name, when the four Kiss they decided to release four solo albums at the same time, each bearing their own name. For those who believe in these things it can also be understood and considered as a perfect closing of a circle.
Tracklist:
01. Rock, Rockin’, Rock & Roll (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
02. In The Dark (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
03. For The Money (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
04. Murder (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
05. Walking On Water (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
06. Creepy Crawlers (feat. John 5, Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
07. Justice (feat. John 5, Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
08. Cheaper To Keep Her (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
09. Sugar (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
10. Rubberneckin’ (feat. John 5, Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer)
11. Hard Rock Knockers (feat. Billy Sheehan and Paul Shaffer) (bonus track)
