The Original “Cat Man” Himself, Peter Criss, Celebrated his 78th Birthday Recently
To celebrate Peter Criss‘s 78th birthday on December 20, the original KISS drummer’s wife Gigi threw him a surprise party.
Gigi uploaded photos and video of the event to Peter’s official web site and wrote: “This year, I threw Peter a surprise birthday party in Florida. Peter and I were there on holiday and he was totally surprised when he walked into the restaurant and Team Catman was there waiting for him to celebrate his birthday. He said it was a birthday he will never forget and he was very touched that everyone came to Florida to surprise him. Thank you, Team Catman. You made Peter‘s birthday very special.”
Peter Criss bid farewell to KISS in 1980, embarking on a musical journey that saw collaboration with various bands and the release of solo albums. His reunion with KISS occurred during a tour in the 1990s and, more recently, in 2004, only to be succeeded by Eric Singer.
Beyond his drumming role in KISS, Peter took on lead vocal duties for several of the band’s iconic tracks, such as “Beth,” “Black Diamond,” and “Hard Luck Woman.”
Recognized as the “Catman,” Criss unveiled his ultimate solo endeavor, “One For All,” in 2007. This marked his inaugural venture into self-production. Collaborating with guest musicians, including keyboardist Paul Shaffer and bassist Will Lee from “Late Night With David Letterman,” the album showcased a diverse musical palette, spanning rock, jazz, blues, and Broadway. Noteworthy covers like “What A Difference A Day Makes” and “Send In The Clowns” added depth to the collection.
Peter Criss staged what was declared as his conclusive full U.S. concert at the Cutting Room in New York City in June 2017.