So, I’ve been on break.  From writing in this blog, from running on the elliptical, from doing yardwork- three things I was doing pretty regularly there for a while.  There are several possible factors- the heavy rain in July and August had me almost depressed, Monika’s surgeries brought a radical transformation, and the Clams continue to play live more than usual.  I’ve also been going through a massive Kinks phase, and it seems the only thing I really DO feel like doing is listening to their music.

I’ve NOT been on a break from reading rock n roll memoirs.  Of course, because of the Kinks phase I recently read “X-Ray” and “Kink,” Ray and Dave Davies’ books respectively.

But in order to keep some continuity here I want to touch on the Peter Criss memoir, “Makeup to Breakup-My life in and out of KISS,”  which I had eagerly anticipated after reading Ace Frehley’s book, “No Regrets,”  last year.   Peter’s book, as I had expected, contains heartfelt, honest yet somewhat defensive response to Gene Simmons’ accusations in his book, “KISS and Makeup.”  Still with me?

Peter always seemed to be the most hard scrabble member of KISS, having grown up in a tough section of New York, escaping gang life through music.  At the time Paul and Gene recruited him for KISS, he was the most veteran musician, having played in at least a dozen bands before then, and having recorded at least a couple albums.  He even studied jazz drums with Gene Krupa, which is evident in Peter’s drumming, with his ‘ghost notes’ and jazz fills.  This, along with his distinctive raspy voice gives KISS a unique sound- Peter was arguably the best singer in KISS, although his drumming isn’t quite as definitive as Ace’s solos.

Neither Ace’s or Peter’s books are as definitive as Gene’s, who although crass and opinionated is obviously the least burned out, and probably the most educated.  I listened back to their music about a year ago, when I read Ace’s book, and the albums with the original band still rock.  Ace’s solos are awesome-I can remember them all note for note.  His solos make even their weaker songs crackle.   Gene Simmons obviously was the band’s driving force and his demon character permeates their image, lyrics and music.  Gene’s solo album is a delight, with as many different styles as songs.  It’s odd, but Paul Stanley’s songs (and his solo album for that matter) now strike me as the least interesting, even though many of his songs, like “I Want You” and “Love Gun” absolutely personify KISS for me.   I do not wait with baited breath for his inevitable book, (although I’ll read it as soon as it comes out.)

I was really looking forward to Peter’s book, since I always thought he was the most human of the band after the original lineup disintegrated, and I knew he would be pissed off about Gene’s book.  Mostly I was not disappointed, and I will say it’s required reading for any hardcore KISS fan, like I was from 1975 to 1980 or so.  His early life is interesting, and you get the sense that he was a family man for most of his career.  He was the only one who was married before he was in KISS, although there is no shortage of groupie stories here, which at times are entirely too graphic.  He also details his terrible cocaine addiction, which in addition to a bad car wreck he had in Los Angeles definitely contributed to him being the first of the original band members to leave.

Like Ace, at a certain point Peter felt he had lost himself to the Cat Man, KISS, makeup, cocaine, sex, alcohol, and all the pitfalls of rock stardom;  unlike Gene,  who reveled in being the Demon, and was basically a teetotaler all his life.  One of the funnier stories Peter tells is about when Gene ate hash brownies and spent hours with him on the phone acting uncharacteristically philosophical and profound.  When he sobered up a day or so later he swore he would never touch drugs again.  Peter also fills us in on the weird homeless person who impersonated him back in the 90’s as well as his battle with breast cancer.

I recommend “KISS: Behind the Mask”, their authorized biography, for more objective bios of Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter.