Peter Criss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Criss
Criss in 1995
Background information
Birth name	George Peter John Criscuola
Also known as	"The Catman"
Born	(1945-12-20) December 20, 1945 (age 79) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock heavy metal jazz swing
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums percussion vocals
Years active	1964–2017 2025–present

George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), known as Peter Criss, is an American musician. He is famous as a co-founder and the original drummer for the hard rock band Kiss. Criss created the "Catman" character for his stage performances with Kiss. In 2014, he was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kiss.

Peter Criss's Early Life

Criss was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Loretta and Joseph Criscuola, raised him and his four younger siblings. He grew up in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn. As a child, he was interested in art and loved swing music. Peter Criss studied drumming with his hero, Gene Krupa, at the Metropole Club in New York.

Music Career Journey

Starting with Chelsea

Peter Criss played in several bands in the 1960s. One of these bands was Chelsea. They signed a deal with Decca Records and released an album in 1970. After Chelsea, Criss formed a trio called Lips in 1971. This group later became a duo with just Criss and his bandmate Stan Penridge.

Joining the Band Kiss

The Catman

After his band Lips ended, Criss put an advertisement in Rolling Stone magazine. It said he was an "experienced rock & roll drummer looking for an original group." Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons saw his ad. They were looking for new members for their band. Ace Frehley joined them in December 1972. Soon after, the band was named Kiss.

Gene Simmons later shared how he met Criss. He said he called Criss after seeing the ad. Criss was at a party but took the call. Simmons then went to a club in Brooklyn to meet him. When Criss started to sing, Simmons and Stanley were very impressed. They knew he was the right drummer for their band.

Kiss released their first album, Kiss, in February 1974. On most Kiss albums, Paul and Gene sang the main parts. However, Peter Criss also sang one or two songs. Some of his most popular songs with Kiss include "Black Diamond", "Hard Luck Woman", and "Beth".

"Beth" became a Top 10 hit for Kiss in 1976. It reached number 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song is still the highest-charting song for Kiss in the United States. It even won them a People's Choice Award in 1977. Criss helped write "Beth" before he even joined Kiss. He came up with the melody while traveling on a train.

Leaving Kiss

On the 1979 album Dynasty, Peter Criss only played on one song he wrote, "Dirty Livin'". He did not play on the 1980 album Unmasked. However, he was still shown on the album covers and in music videos for those albums. Another drummer, Anton Fig, played drums on those albums.

At the time, the reasons for Criss leaving Kiss were not made public. But it was clear that his relationship with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley was difficult. Gene Simmons has said that Criss was fired from the band. Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley have also talked about Criss's departure. Criss, however, has always said that he chose to quit the band.

The music video for "Shandi" was filmed after the decision was made for Criss to leave. Paul Stanley said that Criss knew it was his last time appearing with Kiss. Criss officially left Kiss on May 18, 1980. Kiss then found a new drummer, Eric Carr, to replace him.

Starting a Solo Career

In March 1980, Criss began working on his second solo album, Out of Control. It was released later that year but did not sell well. His next album, Let Me Rock You (1982), also did not become a big hit. This album showed Criss without his Kiss makeup.

Through the 1980s and early 1990s, Criss played with several different bands. One band was called The Keep, which included former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John. Another band was "Criss," which released an album called Cat #1 in 1994.

Impersonation Incident

In 1991, a man named Christopher Dickinson pretended to be Peter Criss. Dickinson even gave an interview to a magazine, claiming he was homeless. The real Peter Criss appeared on a TV show called The Phil Donahue Show to confront the impostor.

Returning to Kiss

Criss performing with Kiss in 1977

In 1995, Peter Criss attended a Kiss fan convention. This led to a special live performance for MTV. On February 28, 1996, the original members of Kiss surprised everyone at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. They appeared in their full makeup and costumes for the first time since 1979.

In April 1996, Kiss announced a reunion tour with all four original members. The 1996–97 Alive/Worldwide Tour was a huge success. The reunited Kiss then released a studio album in 1998 called Psycho Circus. On this album, Criss played drums on only one song. However, he sang lead on a song called "I Finally Found My Way." He also shared vocals on "You Wanted the Best."

Second and Third Departures

Criss left Kiss again in 2001 due to a contract disagreement. Eric Singer replaced him. Criss rejoined the band in late 2002. He appeared on the Kiss Symphony: Alive IV DVD and CD. But he left Kiss again in March 2004. The band decided not to renew his contract after their tour. Eric Singer once again took on the "Catman" persona. Criss has said that no matter who wears the makeup, it's not the original band.

Life After 2004

Since 2004, Peter Criss has mostly stayed out of the public eye. He lives in Wall Township, New Jersey. He released a solo album called One for All in July 2007. He performed his last solo concert on June 17, 2017, in New York City.

In April 2025, it was announced that Criss would release a new hard rock solo album. This album is set to be released in the fall of 2025.

Peter Criss's Personal Life

Peter Criss has been married three times. He married Lydia Di Leonardo (1970–1979), Debra Jensen (1979–1994), and Gigi Criss (since May 1998). He has one daughter, born in 1981.

In 2008, Criss was diagnosed with breast cancer. He found a lump on his chest while working out. He was successfully treated with surgery.

Criss released his autobiography, Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss, in late 2012. In 2017, at the age of 71, Criss retired from touring.

Acting Roles

Besides playing himself in movies like Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978) and Detroit Rock City (1999), Criss has also acted in a few TV shows.

In 2002, he appeared in two episodes of the HBO prison drama Oz. He played an inmate named Martin Montgomery. He also played a role in the movie Frame of Mind. Criss also had a cameo role in an episode of the TV series Millennium in 1998.

Music Albums

See also

In Spanish: Peter Criss para niños