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.
Tears
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I'll never see the light
You turned another stone
He makes your wrongs all right
Another well laid plan
Somehow it brings you home
But I know tonight for sure
And the damage they do
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
That I cried all the years
Can we make a new start
Out of all the girls I've had at my knees
You're the only one who can bring me to these
Tears
A master of the beat
You got my love in your hands
A killer of the streets
You got your, your action plan
But somewhere in your heart
There must be a place for me
Cause sweetheart I think I see
I see those tears
And the damage they do
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
That I cried all the years
Can we make a new start
Out of all the girls I've had at my knees
You're the only one who can bring me to these
Tears
Out of all the girls I've had at my knees
You're the only one
You're the only one
Out of all the girls I've had at my knees
You're the only one who can bring me to these
Tears
And the damage they do
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
That I cried all the years
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
And the damage they do You're breaking my heart
With these tears
That I cried all the years
You're breaking my heart
With these tears
The lyrics of Peter Criss's song, Tears, seems to be about unrequited love or lost love. The singer is left alone, and he thinks he will never see the light. The person he loves has moved on and found someone who makes her wrong things right. He tries to play it cool by calling it a well-laid plan, but deep down, he knows that he is heartbroken. He sees the tears of the person he loves and the damage they cause. He wants to make a new start, but he is not sure if it is possible. He finds that out of all the women he has ever been with, the person he loves is the only one who can bring him to tears.
The lyrics describe a complex range of emotions that come with heartbreak. The person he loves has moved on, but he still holds a special place for her in his heart. He seems to be grappling with his feelings and trying to understand why he is so drawn to this person. The lyrics are a mix of sadness and longing, and they are an honest account of how one can feel when they lose someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
You left me here alone
You abandoned me and now I am by myself
I guess I'll never see the light
I am hopeless and cannot see a positive future
You turned another stone
You found someone new to be with
He makes your wrongs all right
He compensates for your mistakes
Another well laid plan
Yet another scheme you have set in motion
Somehow it brings you home
Your plans always lead you back to me
But I know tonight for sure
I am certain about what I am going to express now
I see those tears
I notice your crying
And the damage they do
They hurt me and have a negative impact
You're breaking my heart
You are causing me emotional pain
With these tears
Because of your crying
That I cried all the years
I spent years crying because of you
Can we make a new start
Can we start over and move on from this?
Out of all the girls I've had at my knees
Of all the women who have come to me, hoping to be with me
You're the only one who can bring me to these
You are the only one who can make me feel this way
Tears
Crying
A master of the beat
An expert at making music
You got my love in your hands
You have won my affection over
A killer of the streets
Someone who is great at entertaining on the streets
You got your, your action plan
You have your own agenda
But somewhere in your heart
There must be a small part of you
There must be a place for me
You still have feelings for me
Cause sweetheart I think I see
Because I believe I just saw it in your eyes
You're the only one
You are my one and only
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE FALSIA, STEPHEN SINCLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Margaret Ayers
I love anything Peter Criss does.
Foxy Lady
I love this song ! The demo with Vinnie Vincent's voice is the best version, in my opinion ! ❤️
Enio Bernardo Almeida Pereira
Eu concordo com você!
Ricardo Massa
Amo muito esse material do Peter, musicas lindas que parecem parar no tempo como nuvens......
Rodrigo Sá
Essa música do Peter Criss é simplesmente sensacional!!
Enio Bernardo Almeida Pereira
Se não me engano, ela é do Vinnie Vincent.
Johnny Dark
Masterpiece by Vinnie Vincent !
John Penza
Let Me Rock you is a great album. I love this song.
Larry Fleetwood
Has a good New York vibe to it.
Missciadra
Todos los que amamos a KISS en verdad tenemos que ser sinceros que Peter Criss fue un pilar en la banda...puede ser que los posteriores bateristas fueron técnicamente mejores pero Peter tuvo un impacto fenomenal con los fans...además, no era malo en la batería....quiza él no era tan heavy..pero tenía hermosas canciones que dieron a KISS un complemento a su estilo de música...esta canción está preciosa...