Criss dumped from Kiss tour
Published March 04, 2004
Trouble abrewing in the Kiss camp (the band, not the radio station).
Apparently founding drummer Peter Criss has not had his contract renewed,
meaning he won't be appearing on the band's up coming world tour. Criss
originally left the band in 1980 but rejoined Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley
in 1996. Although he doesn't appear on all of Kiss' subsequent recorded releases, he has toured with Kiss over the last few years and performed on their Kiss Alive IV album with the Melbourne Symphony.
Confirming he is unlikely to appear on the upcoming tour Criss wrote on his
website this week: "Today, my contract ran out. No one, again no-one has called me or my attorney about an extension for future touring. As a founding member I find this to be disrespectful to me and to the fans that have made us one of the biggest bands in the world" he writes. "You will always get the truth from me; I have no reason to lie to the people that gave me such a wonderful life. And that's the god's honest truth".
From: CMU
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Criss dumped from Kiss tour
- Published: March 04, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
- Marty Dodge's BC Writer page
- Marty Dodge's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
The addition of Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer in the place of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss is a great move for the band as far as onstage shows and touring goes. I am a huge fan of Ace and Peter and got to see them both in 2000 while they were on tour. It seems thought that Peter's skills have deteriorated over time and he never really was the best drummer in the world anyway, though I thought he was when I was younger. Eric is an awesome drummer with energy and Tommy is a great lead guitarists that can really put forth more energy onstage and seems to get along better with the rest of the band. I like them in the make-up, it was a good move.
I don't have a problem with Tommy and Eric wearing the makeup because they both hold true to the Kiss mystique and they are both awesome. Music certainly NEEDS a kick in the ass right now and Kiss did it before maybe they can do it again. But should they decide to remove the makeup.. no problem they will still be the greatest show on earth.
I think Paul and Gene should start giving thought to replacing themselves in the band, they can't do it forever and I would like to see Kiss live on. Of course they would have to be very careful about who they chose.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/13375)
In 1976 I was in the 6th grade and KISS ruled my life. Ace was definitely my favorite, Gene probably my least favorite.
I had never seen them live till the Reunion Tour a few years back and it was 1976 all over again. So much fun those great old songs. The album Psycho Circus was good but not great and I was a bit dissapointed.
I saw the Final Farewell tour in Ft Worth and it was great too. I was sitting up front and even have a guitar pic from Ace!
I totally believe that Gene and Paul (love you guys) should NOT tour with people in Ace and Peter make up. But should take off their make up and tour as they did in the 80s. Peter apparently (like Ace) has had his share of demons and IMO was never a great musician. Gene and Paul can tour without him but need to do so in a way that respects their amazing past without making it seem that Ace and Peter could be played by anybody wearing clown white body paint.