Whatever Happened to Kiss Drummer Peter Criss?

Peter Criss has always occupied a complicated, emotional place in the Kiss story. He was the Catman, the band’s co-founder and the soulful voice behind “Beth,” Kiss’ biggest US hit; however, things weren’t always easy with his bandmates. Criss, who turned 80 on December 20, 2025, reunited with his former bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on December 7 to receive the Kennedy Center Honors, despite leaving the band in 2004.

Why did Peter Criss leave Kiss?

Criss’s first departure from Kiss in 1980 was the result of a long breakdown rather than a single dramatic exit. By the time the band released Dynasty in 1979, he played drums only on his own song, “Dirty Livin’,” and did not perform at all on Unmasked the following year, even though he still appeared on album covers and in promotional videos. The specific reasons for his departure were never made public, but it was clear that his relationship with Simmons and Stanley was not good at the time.

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It has been said that his substance abuse problems at the time were also a cause of problems between him and his bandmates. Simmons and Stanley have both said Criss was fired, while Criss has consistently maintained that he quit. However, he returned for the mid-1990s reunion that brought the original lineup back together in makeup and onstage for the massively successful Alive/Worldwide Tour.

Even during that era, however, his role was limited. On 1998’s Psycho Circus, Criss played drums on only one track and contributed vocals to two songs. Further contract disputes led to his departure in 2001, a brief return in late 2002, and a final exit in March 2004, when the band chose not to renew his contract, marking both financial and creative conflicts.

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Where is Peter Criss today?

After stepping away from Kiss, Criss gradually retreated from public life. He released his autobiography, Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss, in 2012 and officially retired from touring in 2017. For years, his appearances were rare, making his reemergence in 2025 especially meaningful. He has now announced a new self-titled solo album, scheduled for release on December 19, 2025, just one day before his 80th birthday.

Criss’s presence at the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7, 2025, marked a rare reunion. Criss joined Simmons and Stanley on the red carpet in Washington, D.C., publicly reuniting as the last three living original members of Kiss. Criss said about the event, according to Blabbermouth.net, “A dream. I’m a big history kid, so we got here early. I wanted to see where Lincoln was assassinated, which was very heavy. I had tears. We went over where he passed. Then we went to the archives, which no one’s allowed. And I saw Declaration Of [Independence], all these amazing things, all this great stuff. I’m a big history kid, so it’s been cool. I’m a kid from the streets of Brooklyn. I never thought ever I’d be doing something like this. And it’s been such a good year. I have a new album coming out December 19th. My birthday’s the 20th. I’m turning 80, and here I am at the Kennedy Center. Wow. So it’s been a really ‘wow’ year for me. I’m a very Catholic kid, so I’m gonna go to church all week next week when I get home … God couldn’t have given me more stuff, for a kid from the streets of Brooklyn. I can’t believe I was in the White House. Holy mackerel, the White House.”

KISS Reunites After Ace Frehley's Death as Gene Simmons Makes Bold Claim

Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss were celebrated at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.

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