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.
Tossin' And Turnin'
Peter Criss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just a-thinkin' 'bout you
Baby, things weren't right
'Cause I was
Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin' all night
I kicked the blankets on the floor
Turned my pillow upside down
'Cause I was
Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin' all night
Jumped out of bed, turned on the lights
Pulled down the shade, went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade, turned down the lights
I jumped back in the bed, was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was strikin' three
Couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman on the street
'Cause I was
Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin' all night
Jumped out of bed, turned on the lights
Pulled down the shade, went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade, turned down the lights
Jumped back in the bed, was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was strikin' three
Couldn't get you off my mind
I heard the milkman on the street
'Cause I was
Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin' all night
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Turnin' and tossin' (turnin' and tossin')
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Turnin' and tossin' (tossin' and turnin')
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin'), oh
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Turnin' and tossin' (tossin' and turnin')
(Tossin' and turnin')
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Turnin' and tossin' (tossin' and turnin')
(Tossin' and turnin')
Peter Criss's song "Tossin' And Turnin'" is about a sleepless night he had due to his thoughts and worries about his love interest. He kicks the blankets on the floor and turns his pillow upside down but still couldn't fall asleep. He even got out of bed and went to the kitchen for a bite but couldn't shake off the feeling of restlessness. He hears the milkman on the street and the clock striking three, but his thoughts kept him awake. The chorus repeats the phrase "Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'" to showcase the cycle of his sleeplessness.
The song captures the universal feeling of insomnia caused by anxiety and thoughts after a bad day or an unresolved tension with someone. The lyrics are simple yet effective, as they communicate the agony of being unable to fall asleep.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't sleep at all last night
Peter Criss had difficulty sleeping throughout the night
Just a-thinkin' 'bout you
He couldn't stop thinking about his lover
Baby, things weren't right
Something wasn't right with their relationship
'Cause I was
His thoughts and feelings caused his restlessness
Tossin' and turnin', turnin' and tossin'
He was restless and kept changing positions in bed
Tossin' and turnin', tossin' and turnin' all night
His restlessness persisted throughout the entire night
I kicked the blankets on the floor
Peter Criss kicked off his blankets onto the ground
Turned my pillow upside down
He turned his pillow over to try and get more comfortable
I never felt this way before
He hasn't experienced this level of restlessness before
Jumped out of bed, turned on the lights
He got out of bed and turned on the lights in frustration
Pulled down the shade, went to the kitchen for a bite
To calm himself down, he went to the kitchen to eat something
Rolled up the shade, turned down the lights
After snacking, he adjusted the lighting in his room
I jumped back in the bed, was the middle of the night
He got back in bed, but it was still the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was strikin' three
The clock downstairs indicated that it was 3 AM
Couldn't get you off my mind
His lover was still on his mind and keeping him restless
I heard the milkman on the street
Even the noise outside from the milkman was enough to keep him awake
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
The chorus repeats to emphasize his persistent restlessness
Turnin' and tossin' (turnin' and tossin')
Continuing with the repetitive chorus
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
More emphasis on his restlessness
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Continuing with the chorus
Turnin' and tossin' (tossin' and turnin')
Emphasizing his endless cycle of restlessness
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
Continuing with the repetitive chorus
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin'), oh
Adding a lingering emphasis on his persistent restlessness
Tossin' and turnin' (tossin' and turnin')
The chorus repeats to emphasize his persistent restlessness
Turnin' and tossin' (tossin' and turnin')
Continuing with the repetitive chorus
(Tossin' and turnin')
Final emphasis on his restless state
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITCHIE ADAMS, MALOU RENE, RICHARD A ZIEGLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind