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.
Don't You Let Me Down
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you leave me lonely (don't you leave me lonely)
Don't you run around
I said baby (baby) when I'm on the ground, yeah
(When I'm on the ground)
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
Ooh, you know I'm feelin' sorry
Ooh, looks like there's no tomorrow
There's no tomorrow without you
Baby (baby) don't you let me down (don't you let me down)
Don't you leave me lonely (don't you leave me lonely)
Or run around
I said baby (baby) when I'm on the ground, yeah
(When I'm on the ground)
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
Ooh, remember when you smile so bright
Raise my heart up to my throat
Ooh, sure took hard times to drag me down
So darlin' brighten up all of my hopes
Baby (baby) when I'm on the ground, yeah
(When I'm on the ground)
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin' down, down, down
Fallin'
The song “Don’t You Let Me Down” by Peter Criss speaks to a person or a lover asking them not to let them down. The song begins with a plea from the singer to the lover, imploring the lover not to leave them lonely or run around. The singer also mentions that when they are on the ground, they try to keep their chin up but feel as though they are falling farther down, indicating that they are experiencing some form of hardship or difficulty in their life.
The chorus of the song repeats the plea to the lover to not let them down and to stay with them, as the singer cannot imagine a tomorrow without the lover. The singer reminisces on the times when the lover made them smile and elevated their heart, and hopes that the lover can brighten up all of their hopes and bring them out of their current struggles.
Overall, the song is a plea to a lover to stay and provide support, as the singer is experiencing hardship and cannot imagine a future without the lover. The song is an emotional appeal to not let the singer down, and to help them through their difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, don't you let me down (don't you let me down)
Please don't disappoint or fail me
Don't you leave me lonely (don't you leave me lonely)
Don't abandon me and leave me feeling alone
Don't you run around
Don't cheat on me or play games with me
I said baby (baby) when I'm on the ground, yeah (When I'm on the ground)
When I'm feeling low and defeated
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
I'm trying to stay positive even though I feel like I'm sinking deeper into problems
Ooh, you know I'm feelin' sorry
I am expressing remorse or sadness
But I know that won't do
I understand that simply feeling bad won't solve anything
Ooh, looks like there's no tomorrow
It seems like there is no future or hope without you
There's no tomorrow without you
My future and happiness depend on you
Ooh, remember when you smile so bright
I recall the times when you made me so happy
Raise my heart up to my throat
You made me feel such strong emotions and excitement
Ooh, sure took hard times to drag me down
Difficulties and troubles have brought me down
So darlin' brighten up all of my hopes
Please restore my faith and optimism
Try to keep my chin up, feel I'm fallin' farther down
I'm doing my best to stay positive, but it's getting harder
Fallin' down, down, down
I feel like I'm spiraling out of control
Fallin' down, down, down
I can't seem to stop the downward momentum
Fallin' down, down, down
I'm continuing to struggle and lose ground
Fallin' down, down, down
I'm experiencing a painful and difficult fall
Fallin' down, down, down
It's a helpless feeling as I fall deeper and deeper
Fallin' down, down, down
I'm losing hope and struggling to get back up
Fallin' down, down, down
The situation is overwhelming and seemingly unavoidable
Fallin' down, down, down
The repetition emphasizes the intensity and depth of the fall
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: PETER CRISS, STANLEY PENRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tp3922
Contrary to what was said by the press, even though, this album didn't have a big charting single ... it still managed to crank out sells.
All four albums shipped 1.25 million copies each, with no return unsold units by the end of 1979.
By far, the biggest seller of the four was Ace Frehley - the surprise 2nd place spot goes to Peter Criss and with less than 1000 copies fewer sells 3rd place goes to Gene Simmons - which last spot goes to Paul Stanley whose album pulls out only a few extra thousand from the original shipped record.
That's correct - KISS - set a record at the time with 5 million units shipped in preorder sells to record stores around the country.
This is my favorite song from this this album and was my favorite album of all solo albums from KISS in 1978.
@microwavedmetal
As a new kiss fan (I’ve been listening for 4 yrs) I love how each album just fits me somehow. Every is so beautiful. I don’t know why Peter’s didn’t take off like it should. His voice is so beautiful and unique from kiss. You can see his heart in every song. He writes from that lover boy side of himself. It’s honestly beautiful. As manly as Pete looks he’s definitely got a soft heart.
@Domenic.
I absolutely love this song 🎵 ❤️
@suzanneanthony7471
Great song. Peter is awesome.
@Tabris93
I don't understand all the negativity. I love this album, and this song is absolutely beautiful. Wasn't the point of the albums to showcase the difference between them? How boring would it be if they released four single albums that all sounded like KISS?
@lorenraymond742
sorry to say , but thay do sound like kiss !!! with the mask ! take it off & it could of been anyone, we would of never known @ all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@craighaanen4795
@Loren Raymond Not even close this doesn’t sound like kiss this sounds like Peter Chris doing the Beth song Peter knows how to do ballads and he knows how to do good rock music it doesn’t sound like kiss at all it sounds totally like Peter Chris which is exactly why he kind of left the band because he wanted to explore his own music and I’m glad that he did because to be honest Peter Criss did a lot better being outside the band Danny ever could’ve been being inside the band he’s a much better musician then people give him credit for
@Domenic.
I love his lp
@careful__Icarus
Peter's solo lp is my favorite,then Gene's. New York Groove,and Ace in general, is overrated but his next. Paul's might as well have been a KISS record.
@MochiiiUwUxx
Peter was and is my favorite kiss member👌 alwways!!!(:
@mr.tuttifrutti9280
Hello, Daniella! 🍓🍊🍉🍒 Mine are Peter and Ace