Makeup to Breakup
My Life In and Out of Kiss
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3.9 • 36 Ratings
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
LEGENDARY founding KISS drummer Peter “Catman” Criss has lived an incredible life in music, from the streets of Brooklyn to the social clubs of New York City to the ultimate heights of rock ’n’ roll success and excess.
KISS formed in 1973 and broke new ground with their elaborate makeup, live theatrics, and powerful sound. The band emerged as one of the most iconic hard rock acts in music history. Peter Criss, the Catman, was the heartbeat of the group. From an elevated perch on his pyrotechnic drum riser, he had a unique vantage point on the greatest rock show of all time, with the KISS Army looking back at him night after night.
Peter Criscuola had come a long way from the homemade drum set he pounded on nonstop as a kid growing up in Brooklyn in the fifties. He endured lean years, street violence, and the rollercoaster music scene of the sixties, but he always knew he’d make it. Makeup to Breakup is Peter Criss’s eye-opening journey from the pledge to his ma that he’d one day play Madison Square Garden to doing just that. He conquered the rock world—composing and singing his band’s all-time biggest hit, “Beth” (1976)—but he also faced the perils of stardom and his own mortality, including drug abuse, treatment in 1982, near-suicides, two broken marriages, and a hard-won battle with breast cancer.
Criss opens up with a level of honesty and emotion previously unseen in any musician’s memoir. Makeup to Breakup is the definitive and heartfelt account of one of rock’s most iconic figures, and the importance of faith and family. Rock ’n’ roll has been chronicled many times, but never quite like this.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Criss, the original drummer of Kiss and the third member of the band to pen a memoir, delivers an entertaining autobiography written with Sloman, who coauthored Scar Tissue, the memoir by Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis. But while bass player Gene Simmons (KISS and Make Up) focused on the sex and lead guitarist Ace Frehley (No Regrets) detailed the drugs, the appealing part of Criss's account is that he keeps the focus on the rock and roll, which results in the best and most honest account of Kiss craziness during the band's heyday in the 1970s. Criss recounts the various tactics used by Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley to manipulate him and Frehley to achieve "the power that Gene and Paul always seemed to want to wield" and which led to Criss's 1979 departure from the band. But the book's most interesting section explores Criss's early life as a street punk turned hardcore jazz fan in the 1960s; this may be the first time the name Thelonious Monk has appeared in a book on Kiss.
Customer Reviews
Most insightful & honest account of KISS yet!
Well, as some people say, Peter does whine a lot and seems to blame a lot of people and after a bunch of years in the biz you'd think he would have learned a lesson or two….. while, yes this can get tiresome cause how can you feel sorry for a rock star with everything, it is understandable given many artists are tortured in their own way, but c'mon you'd think he'd have figured it out a bit sooner.
Beyond that I actually found that this book offered the best and most honest account of how life was in KISS - keep in mind it is his account of how things happened - but seemed to offer more details about the dirty little secrets that everyone wants to know and also the dirty little secrets that maybe fans don't want to hear about. Gotta give him thumbs up for at least putting this story on paper and letting people see inside the band (& him) with a richer accounts of the details. I read Ace's book and thought it was good too, but would have to say Peter's book is better since it feels a little more complete and seems to not omit some things (Did Ace really screw him over?). Gene's book is crap and is as fake as his so called reality show - avoid at all costs.
Peter's book is definitely worth a read & highly recommended for any KISS fan wanting the dirt on the band with a no holds barred account.
Glad I got to know Peter Criss
Wow, what a book! Thanks Peter for taking the time to write it. I am glad you survived everything life has thrown at you. I was fortunate to have met Peter once (which was a dream come true) and he was a humble person and took the time to say hello and snap a photo of him holding a stained glass piece we made for him. It was a thrill of a life time and checks off something from the old bucket list. Hope to see another book from you one day Pete.....thanks for all the great memories from this book and the years with KISS.
Cheers. Don B
Make Up To Break Up review
An inside look at Kiss from a different perspective. Kiss fans have all heard from Gene & Paul, but not Peter (and Ace). Word of caution, it's Peter's perspective, and he feels he got shafted! A lot of hurt pouring out, but one must keep in mind, he's been hurt by his own decisions and blames Gene, and to an extent Paul, for his poor choices. He slams people one moment, then praises them the next. I never cared for Peter much, but even after reading his contempt for Kiss, I actually feel sorry for him and hope his healing process continues, as you'll find out while reading. He should have used the last chapter as a first, to show he wants to forgive, and that way wouldn't come off so bitter. All this said, a great read. I never read much more than a music chart, let alone a book! Really enjoyed it and am currently reading Ace's book.