Welcome to the 9 Lives of Peter Criss

Taken from the Peter Criss Biography page

While Peter was only 18 at the time he became involved with Joey Greco, around 1963, this was not his first band, just his first 'proper' musical experience in an environment with a serious working band. According to Peter in interviews, his first band had been formed in 1958, and was called The Stars, but as a youngster the importance of this band can probably be limited to it being his first band, and the level of seriousness is probably the opposite of what one could really consider being a band. This "band" performed the variety of doo-wop that was popular at the time, and seems to be more of a bunch of friends getting together on street corners to entertain themselves with music. It is also around this time that "his father gave him an old Army marching band snare drum" (Bob Roderick). Peter seems to have stayed with Joey Greco for a while, perhaps it was difficult for Peter to leave a situation where he had access to his idol. Peter did leave and Joey Greco's band world become Joey Greco and the Showmen and back Johnny Halliday, the French Elvis. By 1966 Peter had moved on to a non-Jazz cover band, The Barracudas, a cellar band built on a saxophone, guitar and drums, which performed more current cover material including, in particular, popular material by The Beatles and the late-Richie Valens. With this sort of material the band was soon playing the Brooklyn club scene with the bland mix of cover material. So like the other members of the future KISS, even the Beatles could affect the jazzman! While it has been rumored that The Barracudas allegedly cut a private 7" single, this has never been substantiated, and seems doubtful. Peter's involvement in the band was short-lived as he moved on to another band with yet another different style, in 1967. Why he left The Barracudas is not clear, but there are unsubstantiated rumors that Peter had wanted to be the front-man behind the drums, something which did not sit well with the rest of the band, regardless of their being happy with his style, method, and sound. The next band, The Brotherhood, with Angelo Opper (Bass), Joey Lucenti (Guitar/Vocals), Pepi Generelli (Keyboards), Tommy Ventimiglia (Horns), only lasted a year, yet Peter has fond memories of the experience. This band moved from pop covers to R&B soul and played the New York circuit along with working with Billy Joel's band, The Hassles. By late 1968 it was time to move on again, and Peter joined Chelsea, the band for which he would be best known by KISS fans prior to joining KISS.

very cool info!

Thanks. It is pretty cool info isnt it.

I love the fact that when he was 18 he was in a band called "The Stars"

Kinda summed up his attitude towards making it to the big time.

As for myself, we joked about calling our band, "Free Beer" so on the marquee at the bar it would read, 'Tonight only, Free Beer."