I Don't Remember

So interesting how the mind works! I stumbled upon this page - https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/tourbooks/tourbook_1976_ontour2.php. I remember owning this tour book. I remember Earl and Sheila Billington - good friends of my parents - went to see KISS in Cedar Rapids and then they gave me the tour book from that concert. I remember separating the book into single pages and using Scotch tape to put some of the pages on my bedroom wall. I remember many of the pages in that tour book except for page 6 - https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/tourbooks/1976_ontour/tourbook_1976ontour_page06.jpg and page 11 - https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/tourbooks/1976_ontour/tourbook_1976ontour_page11.jpg. I know I had pages 5 and page 12 on my bedroom wall because I wanted every picture of Peter Criss I could find. The picture in the lower right of Peter Criss actually was the first time I ever saw a drummer with a cymbal and an upside down cymbal on the same stand.

KISS in 1990

The video below includes a drum solo by the late and great Eric Carr. While I never had the opportunity to see Eric Carr in concert, I have seen KISS twice: 

1. 1992 at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, IA - for more information about this concert, see https://prhmusic.blogspot.com/2023/04/kiss-in-cedar-rapids-in-1992.html 
2. 2017 at Chicago Open Air in Bridgeview, IL - for more information about this concert, see https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/2017/2017-0714.php
   

Eric Singer played drums at both of those concerts. It's funny to me that when I was growing up, both Peter Criss and Eric Carr were drummers I respected. In my drumming, I never want to copy what any other drummer is playing - I strive to adapt what I hear a drummer play and incorporate their ideas into my drumming style. I will never deny the influence of both Peter Criss and Eric Carr in my drumming - I just wish I had seen both of these drummers play live. It is something I will always wish I had done.

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https://youtu.be/ QnPZ1ZIyRKk - KISS Live in Detroit 1990 - Hot in the Shade Tour

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Peter Criss is a Big Influence on my Drumming

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Peter Criss An Inside Look at the Former Kiss Drummer

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Peter Criss Explains the Past

Peter Criss on Eddie Trunk

Peter Criss Explains Why He Didn't Play on Dynasty

Exit Catman 30 Years Ago Today

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How Peter Criss Screwed Up Kiss' Original Lineup

How Onstage Sabotage by Peter Criss Ended Kiss' Original Lineup

Sigh.

Peter Criss screwed up playing the drums because of his cocaine addiction.

In other news, this is Paul Stanley's book "Face the Music" except for Disc 1, which does not appear to exist on youtube.com:

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Woman Ignores Legendary Drummer 2 Times as PC Goes Crazy on DW Drums

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The Stage was Sacred

Criss IS KISS

No KISSing in 2016 Because I was KISSed in 1992

On Tuesday night, I had the video at the end of this post playing in the background as I completed some basic chores around the house. It had never been my intention to listen to the entire video - who has 43:03 to waste on KISS after all - but it was one of those things - I couldn't stop listening. There are so many funny quotes in this video, but my favorite is when Paul Stanley talks about Peter Criss's inability to sing and the quip about carrying a tune in a bucket. This is jumping ahead in the video to right before Stanley says that.

As for the rest of the video, it's unlikely that I would be able to properly summarize the entire video in less than a couple of paragraphs. I have other priorities. Is it worth listening to the entire video? Perhaps if you are a KISS fan (as I am). I grew up listening to Peter Criss play drums and often cite "Destroyer" as my all-time favorite KISS release. There are always two sides to every story and I realize that. Hearing this video makes me better understand why Gene, Paul, Peter, and Ace couldn't be on the same stage together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Hearing all of this from Stanley's perspective makes me think about how painful it would have been to do that, especially if even a smidgen of what Stanley says is true.

On Friday, August 5, 2016, at 8 PM, KISS' "The Freedom to Rock Tour" stops in Moline, IL, with special guest Caleb Johnson (who I have never heard of). Tickets are on sale now for these prices:

• $39.50
• $59.50
• $89.50
• $125.00

While I would love to go see the band, the fact remains that I would not be seeing the original members (Gene, Paul, Peter, and Ace) at that concert - I'd be seeing Gene & Paul & Eric Singer & Tommy Thayer. While that in and of itself would be awesome - after all, we are talking about the legendary KISS - I am thinking that I've seen Gene & Paul in concert before so it's not the highest priority to see them again. It was back on November 15, 1992, on the Revenge tour. It's funny whenever I think about that concert.

• Earlier in the day, Kyle Oyloe (RIP brother) and I drove to Urbana. I was auditioning to play drums in a band and Kyle was going to play guitar. By the way, at the audition, I could not play "Sunshine of Your Love," which is why I was adamant about adding that tune to the set list in Lou's Classic Ride - I wanted to redeem myself from that audition.

The bottom line is that I'm unlikely to ever see KISS in concert again. Out of the 16 tunes they played in Tuscon on the first night of the tour, I've heard them play 8 of the songs before, if the setlist on Wikipedia is to be believed:

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1992 Set list

1. Creatures of the Night
2. Deuce
3. I Just Wanna
4. Unholy
5. Parasite
6. Heaven's on Fire
7. Domino
8. Watchin' You
9. Hotter Than Hell
10. Firehouse
11. I Want You
12. Forever
13. War Machine
14. Rock and Roll All Nite
15. Lick It Up
16. Take It Off
17. Strutter
18. I Love It Loud
19. Detroit Rock City
20. Shout It Out Loud
21. God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II
22. Love Gun
23. Star Spangled Banner

2016 Set list for the Tucson concert:

1. Detroit Rock City
2. Deuce
3. Shout It Out Loud
4. Creatures of the Night
5. War Machine
6. Psycho Circus
7. Calling Dr. Love
8. Shock Me
9. Cold Gin
10. Lick It Up
11. I Love It Loud
12. 100,000 Years
13. Love Gun
14. Black Diamond
    Encore:
15. Beth
16. Rock and Roll All Nite

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Well, let's see, have I stuck to my guiding principle at work when I write technical information that each page should have a single topic? Nope! I give myself a pass. Anyways, after all of that, here is the 43:03 minute video where Paul Stanley talks about being in a band with Peter Criss.

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Peter Criss STILL has it

Editor's Note: This is the first post ever with the label "Peter Criss".

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When it comes to playing drums, Peter Criss in KISS was a major influence. I cannot count the number of times I sat in Tom McElmeels' basement, listening to "God of Thunder" from his brother Mike's "Alive II" LP. Of course, that is the song on that LP that has Peter Criss' drum solo. KISS albums like "Destroyer" & "Double Platinum" allowed me to immerse myself even further. I especially remember how mesmerizing "100,000 Years" and "Makin' Love" were to me as a drummer.

All of that to build up to this link of Peter Criss playing a short drum solo: Peter Criss drum solo

All these years later, Peter Criss mesmerizes me when he play drums.