Excerpted from the February 1999 Cover Story Peter Criss—born Peter George Criscuola—is a true rock ‘n’ roll survivor. The Brooklyn-bred drummer, whose affinity for jazz prompted him to seek out Gene Krupa as a youth, ran an ad in Rolling Stone that changed his life when bassist Gene Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley decided to respond. The magic they made when they first played together as Kiss—along with lead guitarist Ace Frehley—was undeniable, and it never ceased to transmit to their audiences. Soon they were rich and famous. But the flip side of success was the lure of the much publicized demons: the abundant drugs and reckless lifestyle. Criss got caught up in it and admits that it contributed to the differences that caused his split from the band. Criss is thrilled that 1996 found the four original members of Kiss ready to reunite, and that the group was capable […]

August 2021 Issue