Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante recently shared his admiration for KISS legend Peter Criss. He highlighted the drummer’s distinctive vocal contributions to the band in a heartfelt post on Instagram.
Benante’s comments came after meeting with Criss, whom he described as both a drumming hero and huge legend. The Anthrax drummer reflected on Criss’s impact on his own musical development and praised the KISS icon’s distinctive vocal style.
“Tonight was pretty special – a drumming hero and a huge legend came to see us… Peter Criss! When I think of KISS, I immediately go to the heyday and the 4 iconic members- Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace,” Benante said. “I didn’t like just one or 2 of them, I loved them all!”
Benante went on to detail how Criss influenced his drumming career and technique.
“Peter Criss inspired me as a drummer – his drumming on albums like ‘Dressed to Kill,’ ‘Alive,’ ‘Rock and Roll Over,’ ‘Alive 2’ helped shape the drummer I became,” he continued. “His playing on Alive is phenomenal, the drum solo on 100,000years is so damn musical. I asked him about the flanger sound on it. I always thought he played with the flanger, the flanger didn’t play him.”
The conversation between the two drummers covered various aspects of KISS’s recording history and live performances.
“We had such a great conversation tonight, it was so interesting to hear him speak about the recording sessions and the shows back then,” Benante said. “I always loved when Peter would sing a Kiss song -he had this raspy voice that Kicked ass. He played some of his new album and I think it sounds great. I also thought his voice never sounded better. I was happy that he was proud of it and that he was excited for everyone to hear it.”
Benante concluded his post by confirming a long-debated detail about KISS’s discography. He stated that Criss does indeed play on side 4 of “Alive 2.”
Benante’s praise for Criss’s vocal abilities highlights an often-overlooked aspect of the drummer’s contributions to KISS’s success. Criss played a crucial role in shaping the band’s sound through his distinctive singing voice, extending far beyond his drumming prowess.
Peter Criss’s impact on KISS extended far beyond his drumming skills. He donned the iconic “Catman” persona and provided lead vocals on several of the band’s most memorable tracks. The Long Island Music Hall of Fame noted that his most notable vocal contribution was “Beth,” which he co-wrote. The song became KISS’s highest-charting single, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a People’s Choice Award.
Following his departure from KISS, Criss faced significant challenges in establishing a successful solo career. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that he released albums like “Out of Control” and “Let Me Rock You.” However, he struggled to achieve the commercial success he had enjoyed with KISS. Despite these setbacks, he eventually returned briefly to the band in the late 1990s during their reunion tour.
Criss’s enduring influence on rock music was formally recognized when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside his KISS bandmates. Wikipedia documented that this honor cemented his place in rock history and acknowledged his contributions to one of the most successful and influential bands of the 1970s and beyond.
The meeting between Benante and Criss represents a passing of the torch between generations of rock drummers. The Anthrax musician continues to champion the legacy of one of his earliest influences. Criss’s combination of powerful drumming and distinctive vocals helped establish the template for theatrical rock that KISS would become famous for worldwide.
