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.
Rock Me Baby
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, who you been seein' since your man's gone
Tellin' all those cheap, cheap lies, you
Hopin' that his eyes won't see through you, yeah
Well baby, I can play it, there's something I just got to do
I got to slumpin' and you know that it's true
You got the sure shockin', hit rockin' movements
Come on and rock me till I'm ready to rock (rock me, baby)
Rock me till I'm ready to drop
Baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone (man's gone)
Baby, who you been seein' since your man's gone (man's gone)
Tellin' everybody that you just don't
Really need love from anyone
Baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone (man's gone)
Baby, who you been seein' since your man gone (man's gone)
Rock me till I'm ready to rock (rock me, baby)
Rock me till I'm ready to drop
Baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone (man's gone)
Hey baby, who you been seein' since your man gone (man's gone)
I'm sayin' baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone
(Baby, who you been lovin')
Ooh honey, who you been seein' since your man gone
(Baby, who you been lovin')
I'm sayin' baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone
(Baby, who you been lovin')
Honey who you been sleepin' with, your man's gone
(Baby, who you been lovin')
Baby, who you been walkin' with, your man's gone
(Baby, who you been lovin')
Honey, who you been lovin'
"Rock Me Baby" is a classic rock song by Peter Criss. In the song, Criss is questioning his lover's fidelity since her man is gone. He accuses her of telling cheap lies, hoping that he wouldn't see through her feelings. The singer then admits his intentions to 'play it' while complimenting his lover, saying that her sure-shocking, hit-rocking movements are going to blow his blues away. He requests his lover to rock him until he is ready to drop. He asks her about who she has been loving and seeing since her man is gone.
In the song, Criss is trying to lure his lover into his arms, asking her about who she has been with since her man is gone. He is confident that he can rock her, and her movements will blow his blues away. He wants to be loved by his lover and forget about the pain caused by his past relationships. The song portrays a man who is seeking love and affection from his current lover and is trying to forget his past pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, who you been lovin' since your man's gone
Asking the partner about their current romantic affairs after their ex-partner has left.
Baby, who you been seein' since your man's gone
Inquiring the partner about any new person they might be seeing after the ex-partner's departure.
Tellin' all those cheap, cheap lies, you; Hopin' that his eyes won't see through you, yeah
Pointing out how the partner tries to deceive everyone by telling cheap lies, hoping that nobody will see the truth.
Well baby, I can play it, there's something I just got to do; I got to slumpin' and you know that it's true
Asserting the ability to play music and expressing the desire to dance to the partner's beats.
You got the sure shockin', hit rockin' movements; You're gonna blow my blues away
Praising the partner's amazing dance skills and how it can uplift the mood and make him feel happy.
Come on and rock me till I'm ready to rock (rock me, baby); Rock me till I'm ready to drop
Asking the partner to continue dancing until he can dance no more and enjoys the dance.
Tellin' everybody that you just don't; Really need love from anyone
Not believing the partner's statement that they don't need love from anyone.
Honey who you been sleepin' with, your man's gone; Baby, who you been walkin' with, your man's gone; Honey, who you been lovin'
Repeating the same questions asked earlier, emphasising the curiosity to know about the partner's current romantic affairs.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SEAN DELANEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind