 |
Peter CrissMember of the group KISS
Date of Birth: 20.12.1945
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Peter Criss
Early Life and Musical InfluencesPeter Criss, born on December 20, 1947, is an American musician best known as the drummer of the American glam rock/metal band Kiss. His real name is Peter Crisskola, and he was born in Brooklyn. Growing up in a working-class family, Criss was sent to a Catholic school despite their financial struggles. However, he did not enjoy his time there and often found himself in trouble. He was kicked out of the choir for drinking all the wine while standing at the altar, and he was frequently locked in the bathroom for hours. Despite his rebellious nature, Criss had a deep love for music from a young age.
Early Career and Joining Kiss
Like many other kids in his neighborhood, Criss spent his time roaming the streets and dreamed of a future in rock music. He idolized Keith Richards and tried to emulate his style. However, Criss started his musical journey as a drummer since guitar and bass were not as popular at the time. He drew inspiration from Gene Krupa of Benny Goodman's band, a renowned drummer of the 1930s. Krupa's powerful and dramatic style greatly influenced Criss, and even after 40 years, traces of Krupa's virtuosity can be heard in Criss's drum solos.
Criss worked various jobs while pursuing his musical dreams and formed several bands, experimenting with different musical styles. He recorded an album with the band "Chelsea," but it quickly faded into obscurity among other more talented albums. After the disbandment of "Chelsea," Criss continued his search for compatible musicians to create a new group until he finally came across Kiss. Despite being married and facing financial struggles, Criss saw the opportunity to fulfill his musical aspirations and joined the band.
The "Catman" Image and Success with Kiss
Criss chose an unconventional symbol of self-expression on stage - the "Cat." While cats were often associated with the supernatural and sinister, their image was softened by the Morris Company, which specialized in cat food commercials on television. The effect Criss achieved by donning a cat costume and his overall appearance was both cute and silly. Perhaps that's why Criss became one of the most beloved members of Kiss, especially among teenagers, much like Ringo was for Beatles fans.
Explaining the reason behind his cat persona, Criss said, "My cat character partly stems from my personality. I'm just as curious and independent. One day, I was lying on my bed listening to music, and my cat sat across from me, staring right into my eyes. And I thought, how would it look if I attached his head to my body. That's how the idea was born." Regardless of the reason, the idea worked, and Criss became one of the most attractive and appealing members of the band. Instead of portraying the rough rock and roller image, he embraced the image of a soft musician, writing romantic ballads like "Beth."
Overall, Peter Criss's journey as a musician has been shaped by his passion for drums, his musical influences, and his unique cat persona on stage. With Kiss, he achieved great success and became an adored member of the band.
