Peter Criss on the Nightmare of KISS Recording Psycho Circus

In this video we take a look at an interview that Peter Criss gave about recording the Psycho Circus album back in 1998 with KISS. Peter talks about how well things were going before during the Reunion tour and how it all shifted rapidly afterwards. This interview is from an appearance Peter made on Eddie Trunk around 2004.
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#acefrehley #genesimmons #petercriss #paulstanley #tommythayer #ericcarr #ericsinger #brucekulick #kiss #kissband #kissendoftheroadtour #eddietrunk
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Peter Criss on the Nightmare of KISS Recording Psycho Circus

[@rocowolf918]

I’m glad I saw the original line up on the reunion tour.Ace and Peter were my favorites anyway.

[@Miamiborne1969]

Ya it was awesome

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

I discovered KISS when I was 16 years old. I was in a major teen angst/depression thing then, I know, whatever. However, KISS's music made me feel Alive again! So, I will always love ALL of them! We need more Peace and love now!

[@briandarazs6620]

When it comes to these guys who knows what the truth is. They each got their own version. Nothing but a soap opera.

[@margaretayers9430]

Well when you have two of them namely Gene Simmons wanting to lord over everyone what else do you expect to happen. The fact remains that the two MOST talented members ok Kiss quit because they weren't treated properly. Their make us was ripped off by two wannabes, and in the Paul Stanley was having to lip sync because his voice was shot!

[@viking_2112]

If you're going on talent, the most talented member of kiss was Eric carr

[@ThoArtOne]

@@viking_2112 which songs did he write?

[@Yocpucup]

I love peters voice and drumming he is unique

[@ferniegutierrez1053]

I got to see kiss in the reunion tour and the first farewell tour, and that to me is kiss. I finally got to see Peter Paul Ace and Gene. I've seen tons of concerts and man, the best shows I've ever seen. Never had interest to see them again.

[@MetalSalvation]

That first reunion show I saw in summer '96 was definitely surreal...magical. The Circus tour was cool too, definitely better than Farewell though Farewell had better pyro.

[@IRSFRAUDEXPOSED]

show i though id never see and i took my 4 year old . peter had a smile a mile wide, a year later he was not so happy and barely hitting just going thru motions . obvious they screwed him yet again

[@Seacai150]

Same. It became a mockery after that tour.

[@Playitstraight44]

Its so easy to see how Paul and Gene took advantage of these guys. I always shook my head when Paul would bring up money issues, like Ace and Peter should have always settled for what they were offered. That was such a demeaning position to take given the reunion saved everyone's arse. KISS were a dead property in sans makeup with grunge taking over. No one would have accepted an Eric Singer or Tommy Thayer in makeup in 1996. In fact Eric Singer was kicked out of the band in favor or Peter Criss for that very reason. Paul hates the fact that the two men he deplores the most are the ones he must always defer to in history for help making them big and saving them when their careers were nearly over. Its a bitter pill to swallow which is why he tries so hard to diminish their contributions.

[@pattyskiss2me1]

You nailed it!!!

[@ericmalone3213]

Paul also hates the fact that the most radio-friendly KISS, "Beth" & "Hard Luck Woman", feature Peter Criss, not Paul, on lead vocal.

[@pattyskiss2me1]

@@ericmalone3213 Exactly. Paul was the last member to get a top 20 song in 79 with IWMFLY. Not something to brag about I guess lol, but whoever put out the KISS Meets the Phantom cover chose only Gene and Peter. I'm sure Peter was very hard to work with but we've seen/heard how Paul and Gene are too.

[@ericmalone3213]

@@pattyskiss2me1 Ah, yes, when KISS went disco. I always thought Paul Stanley should have saved his Desmond Child IWMFLY collaboration for a solo album, it certainly wasn't proper KISS material. KISS should have stayed with the black and silver simpler costumes & not worried about trying to blend in with the zeitgeist of the time and make their music sound like the hits of the period. One aspect to consider, as to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley being control freaks, is that when the success and big money came their way, their manager, Bill Aucoin, and his boyfriend Sean Delaney, who played a huge part in the KISS aesthetic (he never gets enough credit), got heavy into cocaine. Bill Aucion took to freebasing. And Ace & Peter also got into the devil's dandruff. Bob Ezrin was big into coke while producing Destroyer. With Gene and Paul being the only two guys not snaffling the Columbian marching powder, there were, obviously, a lot of psychological disadvantages, problems, and resentments. When your management and half your band are heavy into coke, the so-called "team effort" is drastically compromised, hence, the control freak disposition arising from the two KISS members who weren't whacked-out on coke every day and night.

[@dwightrenfield2241]

It wasn’t demeaning - they hadn’t been in the band for more than a decade AND they ended up making millions. They were no longer full partners. Boo hoo. Peter took advantage of Kiss in 1980 when he still got paid as a full member when he wasn’t even in the band anymore. Cry me a river…..

[@robertkees6048]

Recording Psycho Circus couldn't have been a worse nightmare than having to listen to it.

[@kmjr2400]

My personal favorite singer in KISS !!!

[@shawncosmos5431]

Ego’s are a weird thing. I played drums in a few local bands. Small Bars. Tiny crowds.. I had the perfect house for rehearsals in each one and was happy to share it. I also had an enclosed trailer and truck to haul it and had put together a very nice PA system. In each band either the lead guitarist or lead singer started the ‘my band’ ‘we’re doing this’ bs. Not one time did I ever say ‘I’m supplying all this so its my way’ I love to play. Love a team attitude…We made enough money to maintain the gear. Barely! At my level it was all about fun. When this ego bs reared its ugly head then I would pull rank. I’d get rid of the problem. Start over…

[@danriley5848]

I'm glad that I was able to see the reunion tour which was great and the band is best with the original 4, period.

[@jayfry-tv]

The CAT!!! Nobody has his rasp or the swing ⚡️⚡️

[@dorothygarrison4659]

I absolutely love Peter criss

[@EikeMenzel]

❤ *KISS* ❤ Peter & Ace didn't appear enough at Psycho Circus, that's why I can say: "We, the Fans, are Fooled!😮

[@flyingburritobro68]

But it was Ok when you were fooled when Ace didn’t play on most of the studio side of Alive II or Creatures even though his photo was on the cover. Criss didn’t play on all but one song on Dynasty and nothing on Unmasked but his photo was on the albums

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

It was never ok but this is how Gene and Paul wanted it and how they wanted the world to be fooled by it all.

[@EikeMenzel]

@@flyingburritobro68 there was *no* photo used for the Unmasked cover! Although it was Producer Vini Poncia who decided that he couldn't use Peters Drumming parts. On both Dynasty and Unmasked. That Time the Brand hoped Peter Criss will get well soon after a car accident but it went wrong and that Time the Brand had to fullfill it's Contract, so Anton Fig was Drummer with a Phantom Position. Well, you're Right about Ace and Alive II's Studiobonustracks excerpt *Rocket ride* (done by Ace & Anton only) 😊 The *CotN* - Situation was different. Ace wanted to leave the Brand and doesn't play on but it was McGee's Decision to Use a Covershot with Ace because of Contracts. 🤔 But To say *This is a Reunion* and then to record with other studiocracks and than lieing to anybody "Thhis is *KISS* pure!", thAt is foolin' the Fans!

[@EikeMenzel]

You got *Into the Void* and the B-Side *In your Face* done by *KISS* but you Release an Album *Psycho Circus* and not only a Single, an Album full of Fakes because it isn't *KISS* that's the wrong Part of all the fault decisions which Stanley & Simmons made that Time... 😮 The Truth hurts and that is why it took 11 years to do *Sonic Boom* and three more for *Monster* and for a real *KISS - Fan* like me *KISS* Story ends with *Carnival of Souls (the final Sessions)* (1997)...

[@craigsteinman9807]

Destroyer was the most popular album..but imo the original Lp was the best..so raw and hard...so diverse was every song nothing sounded the same ..

[@Vonhoganschmidt-13]

Truth

[@dorothygarrison4659]

Peter Criss has always been my favorite

[@user-we7rf6ib8z]

He’ll drop whatever he’s doing to talk to a fan. He was awesome to me and my family when we met him.

[@russfleming3169]

peter criss and ace are the spirit of kiss..paul and gene are the money men.

[@user-mx1fn5fi9i]

He definitely seems to conduct himself with the most class.1

[@andrewharper1609]

I got into KISS at university and saw them live on Psycho Circus' London stop. It was phenomenal even though they didn't bring the circus acts to Europe with them. It's a shame now things panned out afterwards but there we go.

[@thecollective1584]

I was a HUGE Kiss fan from the 70's. I enjoyed every album they ever did... except "Hot in the Shade". I purchased "Psycho Circus", listened to it once, and tossed it out the window.

[@JacksonAxe]

I have all their albums up to and including Hot In The Shade. I think you should give Silver Spoon and King of Hearts from that album another chance. 🙂

[@thecollective1584]

@@JacksonAxe Albums and songs are different things. Example: I am a MASSIVE Maiden fan. Possibly the one true POS they've ever done was Virtual XI. Blaze's singing was substandard, the sings were "who cares"... Hqving said that, "The Clansman" is truly inspired, and is the only saving grace from that album. Unfortunately, polishing a turd doesn't make it anything other than a turd. Now, do the same with Hot.....

[@raymorrow170]

@tachyon. Those two songs you just named are THE BEST TWO on that album.!! I'm with you on that.! PAUL STARCHILD STANLEY FAN 4 LIFE.,!!

[@zmaninpgh]

I haven’t even listened all the way through that album that Tommy Farren Eric singer did with them that had modern day delight on it. Sonic boom I guess it was called. I have it but don’t listen to it. I have psycho Circus but don’t listen to that either. When peters and Gene’s solo albums came out in ‘78 I listened to the once and threw them away, on vinyl. I didn’t like a single song on peters solo album and the only song I like on Gene’s was radioactive. But between Ace and Paul’s original solo LPs sometimes I think one is better than the other but they were both at least equal in my honest opinion…

[@Rock4UNow]

The last time all four original members of Kiss performed together was the North Charleston show in 2000. That was the end of KISS.

[@shawnstewart4332]

1000% agree

[@ConcertFootageNate]

Yep!!

[@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364]

That was just a rehash for cash. The band broke up in 1979. Everything after that was either bs or a substitute.

[@thelearninghistorian]

Lol

[@RuiSantos-ex3vr]

Not the end of Kiss,50 yrs later they accomplished what they were after,and that was glory!! Without the other 2 losers!!!

[@ErnieLanham]

I was SOOO EXCITED for the first kiss Album in 17 years....I was beyond thrilled. I was FURIOUS that gene and Paul actually thought that "the fans won't notice Peter and ace aren't playing "....are you kidding me?...I can IMMEDIATELY Pick aces playing out!!!

[@SirManfly]

Tommy was great on that album !!

[@raymorrow170]

Tommy Who.?😅

[@SirManfly]

@@raymorrow170 You know the sober guy who was burning it up onstage with KISS while Ace was drunk and lying in some gutter somewhere....

[@janetevis1735]

Paul Stanley is a control freak!!!

[@chrissimons9733]

As a long time fan i have always thought they made Peter out to be a bad guy ..but wow did he Rock what a drummer!!!

[@dalemcmillen5065]

Peter is known for his brutal take but we all know it comes straight from his heart. The guy isn't known to do the sly cunning ways like Paul or Gene or even ace. Peter is all heart and soul

[@dwightrenfield2241]

He doesn’t always tell the truth.

[@robertbenotti]

You read his book right? It was a blame everyone else book.

[@MetalSalvation]

@@dwightrenfield2241 Misremembering isn't the same as lying...even if what you're saying were true, he's still 1000 times more honest than Eisen & Witz have ever been and will ever be.

[@MikeTyson-ws6oy]

Hay q sacar lo bueno , de esta reunión q fue los conciertos en directo y poderlos ver de nuevo juntos a los de la old school!!!!

[@hellboundTX333]

Gene and Paul never cared about the band.... only money. That's the KISS curse.

[@KingCobra3849]

The true nightmare is having to listen "I Finally Found My Way To You". Sounds like an alternate theme song for The Golden Girls lol.

[@ocgabe]

It sounds like a reject from "Music from The Elder", lol.

[@areyoudust1259]

Paul wrote that

[@andrewhatcher2702]

@@ocgabei was gonna say the same thing lmao

[@raymorrow170]

No. It's worse than The Elder.! Like that album.! Golden Girls fits better.!😅

[@patrickbevelock2171]

I'm team Peter all day

[@slasherdope8065]

Shoulda been him instead of Eric Carr

[@Rick5150]

We've all known you were on team Peter for a long time....

[@kevinchandler179]

Me too ✋️

[@pauldunlea3669]

I think Peter speaks truth about this Physcho Circus Album

[@sethcashman1011]

As a KISS fan since the 70s, quite honestly, I still have no idea who is telling the truth about what. It's all a bit Rashomonesque. What I do know is that I've loved Peter's contributions since the beginning. His drumming and vocals added so much to the band's visual and sonic identity.

[@glgl1327]

They should rename the album 'Circus Controlled By Psychos'

[@MetalSalvation]

Totally...

[@slasherdope8065]

Peter and Ace were not up to par. Anyone who says that reunion or farewell tour were great are fooling themselves. Ace and Peter were the WORST part of those tours

[@DannyPepprs]

@@slasherdope8065 I saw them in 2000 , you must have been high , great show

[@kevinchandler179]

​@slasherdope8065 Ha, my ass!!! Peter and Ace were the only ones who carried the other two delusional greedy assholes, and by the way the ones who carried them and made them famous in the original days!!!

[@TommyPons]

Paul saying " Do what I tell you to do" to Peter was the exact same thing he told me in regards to an illustration idea he had that they got me to do...The problem was was that Paul's idea was 💩 and I improvised; built on his original idea... he wasn't happy...lol.

[@marke8323]

I saw the Psycho Circus Tour, it was the the last one all 4 members did together...

[@jasonsmouse6570]

No, it wasn't.

[@41aragon]

When is there next Final Farewell tour?

[@toddjones6474]

I had the 36" tall dolls of the four of them. We had a house fire and one of the fireman thru gene out the window. Somehow poetic 😳

[@larrydell434]

My first KISS concert was the Dynasty tour 79, John Cougar opened for them. Des Moines, Iowa. The Pope was in town the same day, KISS dedicated a song to him LoL

[@Ricardo-go7yu]

Like the comedian Jim Norton said, Gene was a math teacher and 4-2=2. The division is better for 2. It multiplies better for 2.

[@dhenderson1810]

How come Gene and Paul never performed as a duet then? They needed other band members but didn't want to pay them.

[@zmaninpgh]

Wow I’ve never heard that one before!

[@ianheath4332]

No into the void is the best track we know why 😎

[@mastodon98]

Its not imo

[@JessieJames0317]

I disagree. Dreamin’, Within, and Psycho Circus are way better songs.

[@jerrybartlett273]

My favorite was when all four sang, you wanted the best

[@MetalSalvation]

@@jerrybartlett273 It's cool that they sung together but the song itself is pretty lousy except for the guitar solo part.

[@jerrybartlett273]

@@MetalSalvation they should have let Ace come back for there final shows. Ace wanted to.

[@dhenderson1810]

It was actually due to Peter Criss that they are called "KISS" because he was previously in a band called *Lips".

[@dwightrenfield2241]

Depends on whose story you believe.

[@montyrayza7220]

My favourite Kiss songs were always written and sang by Peter and Ace including Cold Gin written by Ace. My 2 favourite singers in Kiss were always Peter and Ace.

[@bigtommy9715]

Saddest thing is ace and Peter barely being on the album Only one song had all four of them. Playing on it Into the void

[@Luciddreamer007]

He slept in the same bed as his grandma 👵🏻 well into his teens - that’s from his book

[@adamrenfrow]

Peter Criss rules.

[@frankie467]

You mean the KISS album he only played one track on?

[@degatagauwatie4073]

I saw Kiss on their tenth-anniversary-tour. They were on the decline then, and there were few people there. Anyone was free to walk up to the front to see them. They cancelled a lot of shows due to poor ticket sales. Paul was throwing picks, which sailed over many peoples' heads and landed on the floor.

[@karlshuler1011]

The only reason KISS continued after the real farewell tour was because Paul lost half the reunion tour money in his divorce. Who is he trying to kid. How can a band sound better when you have two guys just copying the original members' original parts. They made a mockery of the band, especially once Paul couldn't sing live anymore.

[@jkunani9456]

Well, both Peter and Ace couldn’t play. Don’t kid yourself. 😊

[@donmurray8632]

You’re an idiot. Paul was KISS. While Ace and Peter drank themselves into the void and snorted half of Bolivia up their noses, Paul Stanley carried the band through the ‘80s-‘90s. And btw, I love “Psycho Circus”!

[@margaretayers9430]

I personally don't Ace and Peter. They were part of a band and it everyone should have a say. Gene and Paul wanted everyone to go along with them that is why Kiss wound up being two original members and two wannabes?

[@xRepoUKx]

​@@margaretayers9430if you're trying to say Ace can't play anymore then you need to check out his new CD.

[@JayLee-bv3vw]

​@@xRepoUKxThere's been some controversy surrounding Ace actually playing on the record. Actually seeing and hearing him play myself, he can't play to save his life.

[@user-rc1qq9pn7k]

Paul Stanley always wants control of everything he can't stand someone else to have anything

[@Sulee.0]

High ego ..

[@user-rc1qq9pn7k]

@@Sulee.0 egomaniac

[@user-rc1qq9pn7k]

If he can't control what other band members do or say he fires them

[@user-rc1qq9pn7k]

No he should be open to other people s ideas an that

[@MetalSalvation]

This is probably why Paul chose to do the guitar solo on the Animalize tour, because Vinnie upstaged him on the previous tour.

[@poeslanding]

I agree. It should’ve ended it after that. Paul’s voice went downhill and shortchanged the fans and I didn’t like that at all. Which is why I didn’t buy another ticket after the psycho Circus tour plus the prices obviously got out of control

[@garyhill2740]

"We want to end it before it gets driven into the ground, and people say 'why don't you stop already' "....... Exactly, Paul Stanley,...EXACTLY. But then.....you drove into the ground, without Ace and Peter, for another quarter of a century. And lost the respect of many, MANY fans.

[@berniecasey7592]

Im glad KISS is Over

[@dennisnorsherd2339]

I seen KISS twice in Windsor Ontario Canada's casino and though it was Eric and Tommy it would had been cool to had seen the first KISS. If what Paul said in his audio book Peter or Ace wasn't the easiest 2 to work with and according to Paul they tried everything to make things work but sad to say the antics of Ace for ex. really reminded me of how hard it was to work with J. Morrison during a tour. But also to I still do love Ace and Peter. It would had been nice.

[@andrewbroughton65]

"I would never let My fans think that it was Me playing when it wasn't " ..Where was all His caring about the fans being deceived back when He never played on Dynasty & Unmasked ?.

[@nelsonporter8387]

That wasn’t Peter’s doing

[@jasonl1942]

You must be deaf if you missed the part about paul and gene controlling everything....

[@dwightrenfield2241]

Yeah, but Pete talks a big game about being honest and “all in for the fans” when he’s really just another hypocrite.

[@christrudell7966]

IMO Peter Criss was the best player on the Reunion Tour.

[@Geraldo-ro9rc]

He was great and in shape.

[@MetalSalvation]

To be honest, they all could've played better...haha, but the shows were great nonetheless.

[@dwightrenfield2241]

Best player? Give me a break.

[@74Diamondgirl]

I believe him.

[@user-rc1qq9pn7k]

Paul Stanley is a control freak

[@nickiredzone1977]

Did he raise he was "pro active" at all?

[@BNatoAk]

You were hired as an employee, Peter should of seen that coming. Regardless, Peter can drum kiss songs but by no means is a writer. Ace could have this argument way before Peter.

[@Ohionortheast]

I will never understand what Paul was thinking why would you reunite the hottest band in the land then not let them play on the record

[@Tricky2002]

Paul and Gene were thinking about MONEY. After the wildly successful Reunion tour, they expected a Reunion album to be HUGE - and they didn't want Ace nor Peter to make any money off of it.

[@RedhawksReport]

Into the void is the only song i like off of Psycho Circus.

[@breedentc]

I’m confused; did Peter Criss not play on Destroyer?

[@kevinchandler179]

Yes, Peter definitely played on Destroyer!!!

[@degatagauwatie4073]

The video game was just an average first-person shooter. But what it was a serious missed opportunity. Most of it was played without the Kiss characters, and had little to do with Kiss. You played as a black guy, an Asian guy, a mixed race guy and a Caucasian guy. They could have included a lot more of the actual Kiss members, and most of the time, you could easily forget that it was a Kiss game.

[@41aragon]

Peter, out of the 4 versions of truth is probably the closest to the actual truth because he had the least to lose in doing so. I love Ace but i don't think he remembers the 70s for the most part. Gene can't have KISS without Paul and vice versa.

[@kskisser]

Saw them on the farewell tour and even though I was in heaven with all four members together I could tell that something was off. There was obvious tension between the band members and it just seemed like it was a money grab in the end.

[@Thomas-cx6cb]

i agree with Peter on "Destroyer" having been their masterpiece - still today - second to none - right after it i´d rate Alive 2. the sec. best.

[@kevinchandler179]

Actually, the original album was the best, but didn't get the credit and sell well, till everyone realized how great they were live!!!

[@vickimilligan1138]

I Agree with Peter. So sad two people want to be the overlords.(Gene & Paul)..

[@alexandrostsipras8787]

Only I can say that Psycho Circus was the Destroyer from the 90,s.

[@jonathanlenz1870]

Paul had been carrying the legacy of that band squarely on his shoulders for 15+ years by the time the reunion happened. He deserved to call the shots, Peter would have done well to fall in line and enjoy the ride.

[@christine3043]

That was Paul’s choice. The band was essentially non existent at the time of the reunion. As usual Paul saw dollar signs and wanted to get back to being relevant. Paul is forever the victim.

[@Grodd70]

Yeah, and those shoulders didn't have to carry much. I was (key word) an avid Kiss fan at a time in the 80's when that was about as "un cool" as you could get. Those shows had if you were lucky had 3 to 5 thousand people. A far far cry of what the mid 70's and later reunion shows would look like. When the band got back together was when Kiss started seeing real attendance and $$$. So one could also argue if Kiss just would have stopped after Ace and Peter left instead of limping along the Re-union would have been even bigger.

[@CrazyCooter-ld6sz]

It's weird I have never heard this record. I heard some people like it and I think it has two different covers.

[@mikewendeln5218]

Don’t bother.

[@brianzirkle1641]

It’s pretty bad. Even Ace’s song is mediocre, but maybe the best on the album. A huge drop off from Revenge (which I don’t think aged very well either).

[@timothycrawford3476]

The story i always heard was that Ace and Paul couldn't play any other songs, i heard Paul was acting crazy with his new lady, and Ace was just Ace, lol. Everyone tells something different, i only can say i saw them at the reunion shows, and it was great.

[@JorgWalter-ip1rs]

You can say whatever you want! Ace was a goo leadguitar player and Peter fitted perfectly for Kiss, but without Paul Stanley there would have been no success! He wrote the best songs, he was the best singer, he was the perfect frontman and he nailed a rhythm guitar that was awesome! All the speculations are useless, we havn't been there! And all of them where lying to us in the past! For me Kiss ended with 'the elder'! From creatures on they were a heavy metal band which they havn't been before! They were a hard rock band! And that was what i loved!

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Even in 2004 Peter's cracking up about Paul saying we want to end it before it becomes an embarrassment!

[@johnroberts6753]

It was Bruce fairbrain the producer who said they couldn't play. Said they were not up to it.

[@SoloSi2024]

It's also the best track on the album!

[@damnyankeefl]

into the void was the only song on that album that i really liked.

[@stephenfwadsworth9565]

Anyone, owned or have played the PC Game?

[@brockwallace4661]

Without Peter and Ace, they are a cover band.

[@metalzonemt-2]

Funny you should say that. I listened to Ace's gig few weeks ago, he played one song from his new album, one Frehley's Comet song and the rest of the set was Kiss songs (Maybe there was one from the '78 album, can't remember). Kiss plays full set of Kiss songs, and you call THEM a cover band?

[@RedhawksReport]

I love the original members but to blame it on control issue is to simplify it. Ace and Peter weren't exactly god's best children. substance abuse, alcohol abuse, car crashes etc. I understand Peter's frustration at the same time, who in their right mind would trust them again?

[@johnnyf8227]

20 years later cmon dude it’d never would have worked.

[@davidbreen6335]

Talking about the reunion tour, I heard that behind Ace and Peter’s back Gene and Paul were securing the copyrights to all of the characters in Kiss including Space Ace, and Cat Man which would mean that they could use them however they wanted to hence why you have Tommy and Eric who toured with those characters. It also meant that neither Ace or Peter could use the characters without paying royalties to Gene and Paul. so this whole time that Peter is talking about how grateful he was to be back in the band and how he wanted to fix his mistakes Paul and Gene are doing this sleazy stuff out him and Ace. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Paul Stanley and Jean Simmons are two of the biggest assholes on the planet.

[@bsenka]

I have always shaken my head at bands that use different musicians in the studio (claiming that the actual band member wasn't capable of playing that music) only to turn around and expect that same band member to play those songs live. KISS is far from the only band to have done this, and it just makes no sense.

[@stevieRay3211]

I wish Kiss would have paid me not to play on their records. I have no problem looking in the mirror and seeing a mountain of money.

[@jonnybarnard8578]

I thought that was Eddie Trunk. Aint seen that guy since they did That Metal Show over a decade ago lol

[@ree397]

I played in a band with a "Gene" and "Paul." Horrible!! I know exactly what Peter means.

[@hungfao]

We are one....and yet, they can't seem to come together.

[@davidalangay1186]

KISS should have hung it up after the first so-called farewell tour. They basically broke their promise not to outstay their welcome and by the end of this second farewell tour they were a cover band of themselves. They weren't even really singing on stage by this point. KISS fans were paying big money for KISS kareoke. Not sorry for saying that.

[@Pamplemousse82322]

Into The Void is the only classic Kiss sounding song on that record.

[@K31T4]

This is what happens when you sign your rights away. Love you Peter, but it's the truth.

[@Tricky2002]

Peter did sell his 1/4 share of KISS to Paul and Gene in 1987 - when the makeup era was long gone and the current KISS wasn't exactly setting the world on fire. But that has very little to do with Paul and Gene not using him or Ace on the so-called "Reunion" studio album.

[@K31T4]

@@Tricky2002 It has everything and more to do with it. You cannot say it has VERY LITTLE, that's farcical.

[@Tricky2002]

@@K31T4 Alright. So Peter sold his rights away in 1987. (And Ace sold his in 1996, as part of his Reunion deal.) That means Paul and Gene are the sole owners of KISS and make all the final decisions. KISS (That's Paul and Gene) decide to make a new studio album to follow up on the success of the massively successful Reunion tour - that was only possible because of Ace and Peter. They tout this as "the first studio album from the original members of KISS since Love Gun." Except, it is not. They use session players and pay Ace and Peter a flat rate for the little work they did do so that they wouldn't have to pay royalties. (Paul and Gene expected this album to be HUGE, and didn't want Ace or Peter to get any of it.) Peter nor Ace couldn't do anything about it because there isn't an album in their employment contracts. In the end, the FANS get cheated out of a true Reunion album from the original members of KISS. THAT is what Peter is referring to, and THAT is what started the downfall of the original KISS the second time.

[@E.C.2]

​@@Tricky2002Was Ace forced to sell his rights away in 1996?

[@Tricky2002]

@@E.C.2 Pretty much. If he didn't sell his makeup rights, he would not have been able to participate in the Reunion tour.

[@dorothygarrison4659]

I've seen kiss and without Peter Criss it sucked

[@garyamaral1648]

The original farewell tour should have been it. End where you started. Full circle.

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

Paul is just too controlling to let anyone else with talent have the spotlight. You Wanted The Best had all four on vocals but Peter didn't even play drums. Its a decent album but it was the end of the real KISS. I agree with Peter that Destroyer is the best album

[@dwayneard5997]

Nothing like the "Original" members of KISS with both..Ace and Peter ! Gene and Paul should have found a way to make it work.... For the money and for the Fans !!! Mr Dilly being one of them !!🎸😎😔

[@gregcrane4953]

Peter was lucky Gene and Paul were in control. Peter has proven he's out of control.

[@candancelinzay2552]

Funny you say that because Peter's first post-Kiss solo album was called Out Of Control.

[@gregcrane4953]

@@candancelinzay2552 yup.

[@Tricky2002]

But Peter was NOT "out of control" at this point in KISStory. Unlike Ace, Peter was always on time, clean and sober. He was even voted MVP of the band for his hard work and dedication for making the Reunion tour the major success is became.

[@donniedarko979]

Or so the machine tells you so.

[@gregcrane4953]

@@donniedarko979 yours.

[@Jayhawk9]

If you look up the word narcissist you will see a pic of Gene and Paul. I’m still amazed that grown ass men will defend Kiss with lyrics such as “Let me put my log in your fire place”and “put your hand in my pocket and grab a hold of my rocket” And many other horrible cheesy lyrics

[@user-yk4gd1fl4z]

Worst music and particularly lyrics in the history of music. Especially the lyrics. Putrid embarrassing grade school garbage. All of em.

[@jondunmore4268]

...never mentioning how much of a nightmare it must have been for Paul and Gene to deal with Peter Criss ...

[@ThoArtOne]

yeah, to pay him a fare share would be heartbreaking for G&P

[@jondunmore4268]

@@ThoArtOne - Let's get this straight: they paid him a fair share!!! He got greedy and wanted the same amount that G&P were making! The frickin audacity! *Who in their right mind would pay an employee (who has been away from the company for 17 years) the same amount as the CEOs?*

[@trance9158]

This disc was such a disappointment. I pretty much gave up on kiss after this.

[@romangarcia608]

yeah me too; i had been riding a huge KISS high too after being able to see them twice as the original 4…major letdown and i never liked them as much after this record.

[@E.C.2]

I was the told the 00 reunion tour was awesome.

[@1000poundsguitar]

Peter and Ace are Kiss. Sorry. It’s the truth. I’m glad the farce is over.

[@user-mx1fn5fi9i]

That album never sat right

[@MetalSalvation]

It has a few decent songs, but yes something always felt off about it.

[@user-mx1fn5fi9i]

And I fully blame Paul stanley.

[@ericmalone3213]

Peter should be relieved not to have been involved in the worst crap KISS ever recorded.

[@Chicken_Wing91]

I mean the only song the whole original band played on that album together was “into the void”

[@LEIFanevret]

In my opinion best years of the band and albums 75-77 not to forget creatures and lick it up in the eightees

[@jigawho]

Always upsetting lol

[@ontheroadwithyode390]

Psycho Circus was pathetic. Even that name was pathetic. I can't believe they beat that dead horse for another 28 years. They were my favorite band when I was a kid. They turn it into an absolute embarrassment.

[@semmcstevenson]

Peter didn’t even play on that album other than 1 track……so…..