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.
Easy Thing
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is so hard to find
When love, such an easy thing
Such an easy thing
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah
Words, words are so hard
Words are so hard to find
When love, such an easy thing
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah
When you find your love
Will you know it's real
When you lose it all
Will you really feel love
Love, love is so hard
Love is so hard to find
Cause love's such an easy thing
Such an easy thing
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah
When you find your love
Will you know it's real
When you lose it all
Will you really feel love
Love, love is so hard
Love is so hard to find
Cause love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah (love)
Love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah (love, love is so easy to lose)
Love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah (love)
Love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Such an easy thing to lose, (love, love is so easy to lose)
In Peter Criss's song "Easy Thing", love is portrayed as both hard to find and easy to lose. The lyrics repeatedly emphasize the difficulty of finding love and the ease with which it can slip away. The song talks about how challenging it is to find the right words to express love, but yet love itself is so simple. It poses a thought-provoking question: when you find love, will you recognize it as real, and when you lose it, will you truly feel love?
Throughout the song, love is portrayed as a tangible, almost physical object that we need to hold on to tightly, but the elusive nature of it means that it can slip through our fingers like sand. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, conveying a fundamental truth about human relationships. Love is not just a feeling, it's also a choice and requires perseverance to keep it alive.
Overall, this song is a reflection on how love is both beautiful and fragile, yet one of the most important things we can experience in life. It's a reminder that to truly appreciate and hold onto love, we need to be intentional, persistent, and patient.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, love is so hard
Finding true love can be a difficult and challenging task
Love is so hard to find
It's not easy to find someone you truly love
When love, such an easy thing
Love, on the other hand, should be an effortless and straightforward experience
Such an easy thing
Love should come naturally and without much effort
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah
However, it's so easy to lose love once you've found it
Words, words are so hard
Expressing your feelings through words is a daunting and complex task
Words are so hard to find
It's not easy to find the right words to express your emotions
When love, such an easy thing
Despite the difficulties of finding the right words, expressing love should still be an effortless experience
When you find your love
Once you've found someone to love
Will you know it's real
It's important to recognize true love and not confuse it with infatuation or something temporary
When you lose it all
In the event that you lose the one you love
Will you really feel love
You will truly understand the depth of your love for them only in their absence
Love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Love should be an easy and natural part of life
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Love doesn't require much effort or complication
Love (love) such an easy thing to lose, yeah (love)
Despite its simplicity, love is something that's fragile and can easily slip away
Love (love) such an easy thing (so easy)
Love should come naturally and effortlessly
Such an easy thing (love is so easy)
Love doesn't necessarily require grand gestures or huge displays of affection
Such an easy thing to lose, yeah (love, love is so easy to lose)
But the downside of this simplicity is that love can be lost so easily
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER CRISS, STANLEY PENRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gregggaldo9181
My daughter wants this to be our Father/Daughter dance at her wedding next month.....beautiful song, and I know I raised her right because she loves KISS as much as I do!!
@gabstanace2
Most beautiful song from the KISS solo records, along with Gene Simmons' "See You Tonite". Nostalgic gems.
@tgnomechaser
agree. See You Tonight is such an amazing song.
@michealcolon455
This was my mother's favorite song. I always think of my mother. When I hear this song. She was beautiful person
@pjbrown4736
If it was on a proper KISS record, it could have been a hit.
@VegasX900
I can just hear it over and over again. Damn I just love the song. Such true meaning. Long live Peter Criss!
@lourdesnishimura607
Belíssima música parabéns Peter Cris
@gabrielclaudio889
Se uma pessoa tá deprimida por um término de relacionamento e vai ouvir esse álbum do Peter Criss, meu amigo, o maluco se mata kkkkkkkkkkkk
@ricardooliveira901
kkkkk
@BryanX64
Beautiful track. The album much like The Elder are so under-appreciated just because they weren’t albums people wanted to hear at that time.