Peter Criss is The Catman: co-founder, drummer and singer in KISS. He was in the band from 1972 until 1980, and later returned for two more spells in the 1990s and 2000s.
Criss was born George Peter John Criscuola in Brooklyn, New York City on 20 December 1945. He grew up the oldest of five children in a Roman Catholic family.
In the late 1960s, Criss played in several club bands in New York, and eventually joined the band Chelsea. This later changed into Lips, which was first a trio and then a duo consisting of Criss and Stan Penridge.
In 1972, Criss auditioned for Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, who were looking to dump their band Wicked Lester and create a new group. He joined them as Peter Criss and the trio later recruited Ace Frehley and became KISS.
Criss invented the character of The Catman, where a feline make-up design combined with pyro and a levitating drum kit made him a powerful focal point of KISS’ live shows. He is also known for co-writing and singing Beth, one of KISS’ biggest hits, and for singing several of the band’s greatest songs, including Black Diamond, Nothin’ To Lose (co-sung with Simmons), Hard Luck Woman and Dirty Livin’.
Substance abuse and disillusionment led to Criss leaving KISS in 1980, and he spent the decade as an unsuccessful solo artist. In 1996 Criss returned to the group for a hugely successful reunion tour, but a contract dispute saw him leave again in 2001. He rejoined for a second time in 2002, but left for good in 2004.
Criss published his autobiography in 2012, titled Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of KISS.
STRANGE WAYS 