Eric Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Carr
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Eric Carr c. 1990
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Charles Caravello |
| Also known as | "The Fox" |
| Born | July 12, 1950 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 1991 (aged 41) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1965–1991 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Kiss |
Paul Charles Caravello (born July 12, 1950 – died November 24, 1991) was an American musician. He was best known as Eric Carr, the drummer for the famous rock band Kiss. He joined Kiss in 1980 after their first drummer, Peter Criss, left the band. Eric chose the stage name "Eric Carr" and took on the character of The Fox. He played with Kiss until he passed away from heart cancer in 1991, at the age of 41.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Eric Carr was born Paul Charles Caravello on July 12, 1950, in New York City. He grew up in Brooklyn. As a child, he spent a lot of time by himself, playing with toys.
He went to the High School of Art and Design. At first, he wanted to be a cartoonist. But he soon changed his mind and decided to study photography instead. Eric was a big fan of the Beatles. He even tried to style his curly hair like Ringo Starr's.
After high school, Eric started playing drums with different bands. They mostly played popular songs from the radio. His first band was The Cellarmen, formed in 1965 with his friends. They played in local clubs in Brooklyn and Queens.
Later, he joined a band called Salt & Pepper in 1970. This band played many types of music. In 1973, they changed their name to Creation and started playing disco music. In 1974, a fire happened at a club where they were playing. Eric helped save one of the band's singers. The band continued playing and even opened for famous artists like Stevie Wonder.
By 1979, Eric was feeling a bit down about his music career. He was making very little money. He even thought about quitting music entirely. But then, a friend told him that Kiss needed a new drummer.
Joining Kiss
The Audition Process
Eric decided to try out for Kiss. He sent them a special cassette tape. It had Kiss's song "Shandi" but with his own singing instead of Paul Stanley's. He put his application in a bright orange folder to make it stand out.
When he arrived for the audition, he saw the members of Kiss without their makeup. This was very rare! Eric was the last drummer to audition. He felt confident and even asked the band members to sign his list of Kiss songs. He knew the songs very well, even better than the band sometimes!
Kiss wanted a new drummer who wasn't famous yet. This helped keep the mystery around the band. When Eric joined, they even made him seem a few years younger. This was to help fans connect with him as a new, young member.
Becoming The Fox
After Eric got the job, the band needed to create his stage character and name. Gene Simmons said Eric first thought of "Rusty Blade." But Eric carefully chose "Eric Carr" to sound good with the other band members' names. He picked "Carr" from his last name, Caravello, and "Eric" from a list his girlfriend gave him.
For his stage look, Eric first tried "The Hawk." But it looked too much like Big Bird! So, Eric quickly came up with the idea for "The Fox." Gene Simmons liked it, and "The Fox" was born.
Eric Carr was introduced to the public on a TV show in September 1980. His first concert with Kiss was on July 25, 1980, in New York City. His parents were there, but they had to keep his secret! After joining Kiss, Eric even did a few stove repair jobs. For Christmas in 1980, Kiss bought him a Porsche car.
His "Fox" makeup was a big part of his look for three years. In 1983, Kiss famously took off their makeup on MTV. This was a big change for the band. Eric was worried Kiss might end, but the band became popular again. Fans loved Eric because he was friendly and easy to talk to. He answered more fan mail than other band members. Even though he replaced an original member, fans really liked his personality and drumming skills.
Eric Carr's Time in Kiss
Eric's first album with Kiss was Music from "The Elder" in 1981. He helped write the song "Under the Rose," which was different for Kiss. He also helped write other songs like "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" and "No, No, No." He found writing lyrics harder than writing music.
Besides drumming, Eric could also play guitar, bass, and piano. He sang background vocals and sometimes lead vocals. He sang "Black Diamond" and "Young and Wasted" live. His first studio lead vocal was a new version of "Beth" for the 1988 album Smashes, Thrashes & Hits.
In 1989, he recorded a song called "Little Caesar" for the album Hot in the Shade. He played drums and bass on it. Eric's last live performance with Kiss was on November 9, 1990, in New York City.
As a newer member, Eric was a paid employee. He didn't have the same voting rights or share of profits as the original four members. This made him feel left out and unhappy at times. He felt he was treated like a "second-class" member.
Eric's last recording with Kiss was for the song "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II". He sang backing vocals on it. The last time he worked with Kiss was in July 1991, when they filmed the music video for that song. Eric's last public appearance with the band was at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1991.
Musical Style and Influences
Eric Carr was known as a very powerful drummer. He had a strong, hard-hitting style. He was one of the first drummers to use the loud, deep snare drum sound that became popular in the 1980s.
He told Kiss that he could play many styles, from heavy metal to pop. He looked up to drummers like John Bonham (from Led Zeppelin) and Keith Moon (from The Who).
Eric was also a big fan of The Beatles and their drummer, Ringo Starr. He said he loved how Ringo moved and the feeling of the rhythm. He even styled his hair like Ringo's in high school. Eric also liked Ginger Baker and John Bonham for their double bass drumming. He enjoyed all kinds of music, including folk and R&B. Gene Simmons said that Eric's powerful drumming made Kiss a heavier band.
Illness and Passing
In February 1991, Eric Carr started feeling unwell. Doctors found that he had heart cancer. In April 1991, he had surgeries to remove tumors from his heart and lungs.
While Eric was recovering, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons brought in another drummer, Eric Singer, to record new songs for the upcoming Kiss album, Revenge. Eric Carr wanted to return to the band after his surgeries. Stanley and Simmons said they told him to focus on getting better, and he could return when he was healthy.
By mid-1991, Kiss was filming the music video for "God Gave Rock and Roll to You II". Even though he was very sick, Eric asked to be in the video. They agreed. He flew to Los Angeles in July 1991. He had lost his hair from chemotherapy and wore a wig. After the video, he went back to New York for more treatments. He was too weak to play drums for the Revenge album, so Eric Singer played on those tracks.
Eric's last public appearance with Kiss was at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1991. Soon after, he had a medical emergency and was rushed to the hospital. He later had a brain hemorrhage and never woke up. Eric Carr passed away on November 24, 1991, at age 41. He died on the same day as Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.
Eric's family decided to open his funeral service to the public. He is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh, New York.
Legacy and Tributes
Music and Cartoons
After Eric's passing, his former Kiss bandmate Bruce Kulick and Eric's family released his solo album in 1999. It was called Rockology. This album featured many demo songs that Eric and Bruce worked on together. It included songs where Eric sang lead vocals and played bass and drums.
The album also had a song called "Tiara," which Eric wrote for a children's cartoon show he planned. The show was called Rockheads and was about a rock band with different characters. In 2011, Eric's family released another album of his unreleased songs called Unfinished Business.
Remembering Eric
As a tribute, Kiss's 1992 album Revenge included a drum solo called "Carr Jam 1981." This was a jam session Eric recorded earlier. The Revenge album was also dedicated to Eric Carr.
In 1992, a special radio tribute called Eric Carr: The Memorial Tribute was broadcast. It featured an interview with Eric and details about his projects. It was later released as a special two-tape set.
Ace Frehley, a former Kiss guitarist, often played a song called "Breakout" during his solo concerts and dedicated it to Eric. He also dedicated his 2009 album Anomaly to Eric.
In 2007, the Kissology II DVD collection included a hidden video of Eric. It showed him in his hospital bed, thanking fans for their support.
A book about Eric's life and music, titled The Eric Carr Story, was released in 2011. On August 13, 2011, a tribute concert called Night of the Fox: The Eric Carr Tribute Concert was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Fifteen years after his Kiss debut, Eric was honored. He was added to the Rock Walk Hall of Fame at Guitar Center in Hollywood. His parents accepted a plaque in his honor. Eric's acknowledgment was a bronze plaque with his name, autograph, and his Fox makeup symbol.
In July 2005, Eric Carr was voted the tenth best drummer of all time by Planet Rock. He was one of only two American drummers on that list.
Discography
With Kiss
- 1981: Music from "The Elder"
- 1982: Killers – compilation album with 4 new songs
- 1982: Creatures of the Night
- 1983: Lick It Up
- 1984: Animalize
- 1985: Asylum
- 1987: Crazy Nights
- 1988: Chikara
- 1988: Smashes, Thrashes & Hits – compilation album with 2 new songs, vocals on "Beth" remake
- 1989: Hot in the Shade
- 1992: Revenge – backing vocals on "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II", drums on "Carr Jam 1981"
- 1996: You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! – drums on "New York Groove"
- 2001: The Box Set
- 2002: The Very Best of Kiss
- 2004: The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection
- 2005: Gold
Kiss Video Albums
- 1985: Animalize Live Uncensored
- 1987: Exposed
- 1988: Crazy Nights
- 1994: Kiss My ...: The Video
- 2007: Kissology Volume Two: 1978–1991
Solo Albums
- 1999: Rockology
- 2011: Unfinished Business
Other Music Projects
- 1979: Lightning (Lightning) – backing vocals and drums
- 1983: Bryan Adams (Cuts Like a Knife) – co-wrote "Don't Leave Me Lonely"
- 1984: Wendy O. Williams (WOW) – co-wrote "Ain't None of Your Business", drums on "Legends Never Die"
- 1987: Frehley's Comet (Frehley's Comet) – co-wrote "Breakout"
- 1998: Garbo Talks (Garbo Talks) – drums on "Game of Love"
- 2000: Various artists (Prophecy: A Tribute to Eric Carr) – drums on "Your Turn to Cry"
- 2008: Faith Circus (Faith Circus) – co-wrote "Can You Feel It"
Images for kids
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Eric Carr in his 1967 high school yearbook
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See also
In Spanish: Eric Carr para niños
