Peter's first solo album came out in 1978 along with the other three member's solo albums. Although receiving major play for the retro rock n roll tune "Tossin' and Turnin'", the album was the least favorite of the four, in large part because it strayed away from the 'Kiss sound' and focused on the slower, more chill sounds that Criss favored. Criss grew up listening to crooners such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Said facts were a sign of how the four band members had significantly drifted apart, as Criss' vision differed greatly from his associates.
In 1979, KISS released 'Dynasty'. Criss's only contribution to the album was the track "Dirty Livin'", which featured him on lead vocals. Kiss used a session drummer, the famous Anton Fig, for the rest of the album. Although Criss' aforementioned tune received kudos, the end of his role in the band was clearly coming. Despite materialistic success, his personal life also appeared in turmoil.
Criss left Kiss in 1980, with the drug and alcohol abuse plaguing his life as well as musical differences coming to a head. He started a solo career that led to sporadic touring and three additional studio releases. Some of those releases received some critical praise, such as the appropriately titled 'Let Me Rock You' (compared by Allmusic to "catnip" for the ears) that featured help from no less than Kiss' Gene Simmons.
Yet Criss had many demons to deal with. Even though Criss was featured on the 'Unmasked' album cover, he did not play a single beat on the album. The band replaced him with musician Eric Carr. Tragedy struck when Carr passed away from cancer-related complications on November 24, 1991. Kiss as a very idea, let alone a band, appeared in jeopardy. Though the group brought in Eric Singer to replace Carr, their commercial and critical fortunes had waned much from their 70s heyday.
In 1995, Criss was asked to sing with Kiss (then made up of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick, and Singer) at a Kiss Convention which ignited a spark of the idea of a reunion of the four original members. He sang "Hard Luck Woman" and "Nothin' to Lose." Later on that year, Criss joined Kiss and Ace Frehley for an acoustic session for MTV's Unplugged Series. He sang and played four songs: "Beth", "2,000 Man", "Nothin' to Lose", and "Rock and Roll All Nite".
This was the "icing on the cake" because, a year later, Criss, Frehley, Stanley, and Simmons donned the war paint (which Kiss hadn't worn since 1983) and put their larger than life boots back on for a Reunion Tour, which was the biggest tour in the world at the time. Criss was ecstatic to play with Kiss again. Criss and the others released 'Psycho Circus' in 1998. Like in the past, Criss and Frehley were credited on the album, but session drummers were used for most of the album. Criss sang the Beth-esque track "I Finally Found my Way", written by Paul Stanley.
Two years later, in 2000-2001, Kiss announced their Farewell Tour, which also became a huge series of events. About 3/4 into the tour, Criss was becoming unhappy with his salary and he was also tired of playing two hour shows every night. On the night Kiss played Trenton, New Jersey, Criss had a "tear" pasted on his face. Many people say this was a sign that Criss wasn't coming back because for the next show, Kiss had to bring back Eric Singer, who put on the 'Cat Man' make-up and finished the tour (since Simmons and Stanley owned the make-up designs, Criss couldn't stop them).
Kiss was silent in 2002, but then, in 2003, Kiss planned a once in a life-time concert event with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Criss was back behind the skins (some say they needed him to sing "Black Diamond" and "Beth", which were symphony worthy). Criss then stayed with Kiss to play on the World Dominination Tour along side Aerosmith (since the set was 80 minutes, Criss had an easier time playing). After the tour, Criss called it quits again, but on far better terms than in the old days.
On April 11, 2014, Kiss was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Earning an enthusiastic audience response when they appeared, the original band members reunited once again. Though the rockers did not perform, they all showed up in person to accept their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the 29th annual induction ceremony and thanked their fans.
Bad Boys
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a lady dressed in black
She sure looked strange to me
I said, baby where's a hot place to go
She said Ruby's ain't for me
I said, mama I can go anywhere I please
I been to places that would bring the devil to his knees
Don't go where the bad boys go
If you can't fight
Don't go where the bad boys go
When it's late night
[Verse]
She looked at me with her coal black eyes
As she took me by the hand
She said Ruby's just ain't the place
You see it's more like another land
And as we stood outside the door
You could smell it in the air
You could hear the screams and feel the heat
But I really didn't care
She kept telling me
Don't go where the bad boys go
If you can't fight
Don't go where the bad boys go
When it's late night
[Solo]
And as she pushed me through the door
The place was bright with flames
She said I tried to warn you boy
Cause Ruby is my name
I should have listened when she said
Don't go where the bad boys go
If you can't fight
Don't go where the bad boys go
When it's late night
Don't go where the bad boys go
If you can't fight
Don't go where the bad boys go
When it's late night
I don't wanna hear it again
Don't go where the bad boys go
If you can't fight
Don't go where the bad boys go
When it's late night
The lyrics to Peter Criss's Bad Boys tell the story of a man’s encounter with a woman dressed in black who warns him not to go where the bad boys go if he can’t fight. Despite her warning, he insists he can go anywhere and has been to places that would bring the devil to his knees. The woman takes him to Ruby’s, a place that she warns him is more like another land. As they stand outside, you can hear screams and feel the heat. The woman warns him again not to go inside, but he doesn't listen and she pushes him through the door. Inside, the place is bright with flames and she tells him that she tried to warn him since Ruby is her name.
The meaning behind the song's lyrics could be open to interpretation but it seems like a cautionary tale about the dangers of the nightlife and not being aware of the consequences of one’s actions. The lyrics suggest that one shouldn't take risks without knowing the potential consequences of their choices. The woman dressed in black could represent someone who has been down that same road and can see the danger that lies ahead. However, the singer of the song chooses to ignore her warnings and travels down a path of destruction.
Interesting facts about the song Bad Boys include that it was the opening track of Peter Criss's 1980 solo album, Out of Control. This album is notable for being released during a time when KISS was on hiatus and all of its members were releasing solo albums. Bad Boys also contains a guitar solo by Vinnie Vincent, who went on to replace Ace Frehley in KISS. Another interesting fact is that the song was later covered by Ace Frehley, KISS's former lead guitarist. Additionally, the song was used in the movie “Bad Boys” released in 1983, which starred Sean Penn as a delinquent who gets sent to a juvenile detention center.
Chords:
The chord progression for the song is G, C, D, followed by a chromatic walkdown from C to G. The solo features guitar riffs in E minor, with some bends and vibrato techniques.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a lady dressed in black
I encountered a woman wearing black clothing
She sure looked strange to me
Her appearance was unusual and caught my attention
I said, baby where's a hot place to go
I asked her for a recommendation on where to go for a good time
She said Ruby's ain't for me
She informed me that Ruby's was not the right place for her
I said, mama I can go anywhere I please
I boasted that I can go to any location I want
I been to places that would bring the devil to his knees
I have experienced locations that are sinful and intense
She just looked at me and said
She simply stared at me before speaking
Don't go where the bad boys go
Do not go to locations frequented by dangerous individuals
If you can't fight
If you are not capable of defending yourself physically
When it's late night
During the late hours of the night
She looked at me with her coal black eyes
She gazed at me with her dark eyes
As she took me by the hand
She grabbed hold of my hand
She said Ruby's just ain't the place
She reiterated that Ruby's was not a suitable location
You see it's more like another land
The atmosphere at Ruby's is unlike anything else
And as we stood outside the door
While we were positioned outside the entrance
You could smell it in the air
The scent of the location was noticeable
You could hear the screams and feel the heat
The noise level and temperature were intense
But I really didn't care
I was not concerned with the intensity of the location
She kept telling me
She continued warning me
And as she pushed me through the door
As she guided me inside the establishment
The place was bright with flames
The establishment was brightly lit with flames
She said I tried to warn you boy
She reminded me that she had cautioned me earlier
I should have listened when she said
I realize now that I should have heeded her warning
I don't wanna hear it again
I do not desire to hear her warning again
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leigh Joel Fierman
It bothers me when Paul claims Peter is virtually talentless. I've always considered his style truly unique. He's a quality musician.
De Todo Un Poco
Catman one and only
P.J. Crabtree
A Very underrated Peter song!
Andrew Rulebreaker
LOVE Peter Criss. Soulfull voice
Izzy Murati
Peter Criss always took cocaine all the time UNDERSTOOD
Andrew Rulebreaker
@Izzy Murati so what,? What's the point?
KissU2345
This is a top tune. One of my ALL TIME favourites. Full bloody stop! I think this a good album, much better than Out of Control. Let it Go is the other winner there. I think except the title track Let me Rock You, I like them all. IT's not hard rock, but love the sleazy 80s atmosphere of it.
Terje Weum
Peter Criss 👍😎👍
Opaque47 ***
Agreed...much better than Out Of Control. Not only did Peter have a vocal coach for this album, the song-crafting took a step up thanks to some good outside contributors.
SquirrelMo60
The reason Peter is underrated isn't lack of talent. It's lack of advertising. It's lack of record company belief and maybe a bit of anti-Peter sentiment put there by people unknown.