Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss by Peter Criss

May 17, 2013 Christopher Long rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From his humble Italian/Catholic upbringing on the streets of Brooklyn to his meteoric ascent into rock's stratosphere and beyond, Peter Criss describes his outrageous life experiences — warts and all — in graphic detail. He pulls no punches as he seemingly drops a dime on everyone he's encountered over the years — including himself and the three other original Kiss members. By his own admission, we learn that Criss deals with some serious anger issues. Founding lead guitarist Ace Frehley is por...more From his humble Italian/Catholic upbringing on the streets of Brooklyn to his meteoric ascent into rock's stratosphere and beyond, Peter Criss describes his outrageous life experiences — warts and all — in graphic detail. He pulls no punches as he seemingly drops a dime on everyone he's encountered over the years — including himself and the three other original Kiss members. By his own admission, we learn that Criss deals with some serious anger issues. Founding lead guitarist Ace Frehley is portrayed as a Nazi-obsessed chronic masturbater. Co-founder and bassist Gene Simmons reportedly is such a sex-addicted maniac that during particularly severe flare-ups, herpes sores can cover most of his body. And Criss further claims that frontman Paul Stanley has wrestled with lifelong sexual orientation issues.

Despite his willingness to come clean regarding personal demons (i.e. infidelity, wife beating, drugs and alcohol), Criss' scale of judgment is often unbalanced. He openly questions Paul Stanley's sexual preference early in the story, revealing the frontman's unique talent for creating detailed drawings of penises. Yet his own, more disturbing behavior, as well as that of Ace Frehley gets a pass: "Ace and I became famous for taking out our dicks at the drop of a hat. Then we'd grab each other's dicks. It wasn't sexual, just stupid adolescent tomfoolery." What? Not sexual? Hang on there, fella. Where I come from that ain't called, "tomfoolery," that's called gay. I'm not judging, I'm just saying.

Criss recounts a particular Kiss road story from the mid '70s in which he and Frehley got a young female after-show guest bombed beyond the point of consciousness. They covered the girl with bologna and sandwich condiments, then proceeded to put her seemingly lifeless naked body into the hotel elevator and hit the button for the lobby. It was disturbing tales such as this that frequently made me feel like a dope for having gleefully guzzled so much Kiss Kool-Aid for so many years.

I found Criss' conversational, no-nonsense style to be quite engaging. However, I was a bit disappointed that such a successful and talented (sixty-six-year-old) man still resorts to juvenile name-calling. I believe that referring to people as "fags" and "whores" and prefacing every reference to Simmons and Stanley with, "those pricks" or "those fuck faces," only compromises Criss' credibility. And his countless references to women as "pussy" was insulting and just plain creepy. That type of language was crass even back in the '70s.

I can only imagine that jamming a near fifty-year career into 370 pages was no easy feat. Hence, Criss' story is fast-paced and he often quickly glosses over prime eras. And although Criss did successfully touch on most aspects of his life, many holes remained in his story. Jeanette Frehley receives "special thanks" in the Acknowledgments, but she is only briefly referenced one time in the rest of the book. I'd be interested in gaining further insight into their friendship. Clearly Criss enjoyed close personal relationships with Kiss manager Bill Aucoin, Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart and songwriter/producer Sean Delaney — key players in the Kiss story who all died way too young. However, Criss makes no mention of their passing. And if Paul McCartney had rescued me during any kind of accident, I certainly would have devoted more than a casual, one paragraph description of the experience. But I commend Criss for taking the time to give credit where it's due — shining light on the creative Kiss contributions of Aucoin and Delaney.

It seems that perhaps the greatest source of darkness in Criss' life was, and may continue to be, not sex, drugs or rock and roll, but the emotional damage caused by religion. Guilt, condemnation and punishment, was beat into him practically from birth by priests, nuns and even well-intending family members.

Fortunately, Jesus Christ served as THE ultimate, perfect and final sacrifice. He paid for ALL sins — past, present and future when the religious people of his day crucified him.

The ONLY way to the Father is through the Son (JOHN 3:16 / 1 JOHN 5:12) Rosaries do nothing. And I certainly mean no disrespect, but praying to Mary is as effective as praying to an Ace Frehley action figure. That's all a product of man-made religion. What I'm talking about is relationship — a unique and personal connection with God the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is the greatest gift ever offered to man. It's available to us ALL — and it's absolutely FREE!

And contrary to Criss' assertions, God does NOT place cancer or any sickness on people for any reason. To think otherwise is to buy into more religion — another lie sent straight from the pit of Hell. I'd be delighted to offer encouragement, inspiration and guidance based on the Word of God to anyone in need. I'm easily accessible: AuthorChristopherLong@yahoo.com

In sum, Peter Criss exceeded my expectations. "Makeup to Breakup" is a highly entertaining read throughout. And although many aspects of Criss' story are certainly disturbing, "Makeup to Breakup" stands out as the second-best of the Kiss bios — right behind CK Lendt's "Kiss and Sell."

-Christopher Long
(October 2012)
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Apr 13, 2013 Nycdreamin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Original Kiss drummer Peter "The Cat Man" Criss had been promising and or, depending on how one looks at it, threatening, to write his autobiography since around 1987 or so. After several well-reported starts, stops and rewrites, finally, in October 2012 his long-promised literary project saw light of day, much to the delight and amusement of the legions of loyal Kiss Army members around the globe.

Peter's book and his version of the events of his time with Kiss and beyond is the third to be rele...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Jeff Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

if you're only a casual KISS fan, or someone who only vaguely identifies with the hits, you'll never understand what's so awesome about this book.
But if you're a lifer like me, someone who's been all in since you were six, someone who loved and followed the band through thick and thin, someone who's read countless interviews, watched all the videos, seen them in concert countless times - in short, someone who really knows rhe dysfunctional relationships in the band - then you will LOVE this book...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Rod rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is officially the nastiest book i've ever read - and that's not a good thing. I was really looking forward to some serious thoughts on drumming from the most well known tubthumper in the World, but it was not to be. Peter seldom mentions the craft of drumming and hardware choices - unless it somehow reflects on his ego (pride) and money. What size drums does he prefer? What materials? Skins? Recording techniques? He'd rather talk about groupies/cocaine/and owed money.

Quote from page 365:
"I'...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Tony rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read all of the 'KISS' books to date and, up until Ace's book, they all seemed to pull their punches. Peter's book is by far the best book on the subject. I was greatly influenced by KISS in the '70s to pick up an old guitar wedged in a basement closet and teach myself to play. I wanted to believe that they were larger than life...different than any other band...untouchable by the entrapments of the industry. $immons made sure he kept that image as part of the hype. I knew better.
Makeup to...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Albert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was a huge KISS fan in 5th grade, and must give them a lot of credit for corrupting me with a passion for rock music that still pervades my everyday life. I can't say that my love of KISS is still as great as it was then, but still, I couldn't resist wanting to read some good rock and roll dirt from a band that surely played up the rock and roll clichés, perhaps even creating some of their own along the way. After reading this Peter Criss account, I can say that it certainly lives up to these...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Babuir rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can assure you of one thing after reading this: KISS is dead to me.

When Gene first did his autobiography, that's when the magic of what KISS WAS started to dwindle. I kept up with the music but was never back to the level of being infatuated with them again. For a long time, I have listened to both sides of the debate of Gene/Paul vs. Ace/Peter, and I have come to the following conclusion (even without an autobiography from Paul): These are four of the most despicable, disrespectful, venomous,...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Christopher Obert rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013

All I can say is WOW! I thought that Ace Frehley’s book was going to be the “tell all” Kiss book with the wild stories. This book screams past Ace’s with more sex, more guns, more drugs and more behind the scene lies and betrayals. He tells all the stories, from the streets to the mansions. I have to be honest, some of the items I would rather not have known. After all, these four people are very special to me (and I’m sure to millions of other fans) but “let the truth be known” and it is time t...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Terry rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Peter Criss sure cries a lot. Seriously. At the drop of a hat, this guy is bawling. I'd say he cries about once every three pages.

I've read 3 KISS autobiographies and this is by far the worst. There are some interesting descriptions concerning Peter's departure from the group and his subsequent re-hiring(s) but it's mostly an inventory of the times he treated people like shit or people treated him like shit. With the former, he makes it right by saying, "Oh, I talked to God, cried a bit and I'm...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biog-autobiog, music

first off as the rating above showed I did enjoy this book...I am making this clear now as there is also much to gripe and moan about in regard to this book and the subjects mind set....but as Peter himself seems to enjoy a good moan that kind of seems fitting.
First off Peter comes across as having a massive ego and an overinflated view of his own self importance..in fact the only rock biography I have read which compares in regard ego is Donovans...even Gene comes across better than Pete in reg...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Sheila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grabbed this one because after wading through *The Devil in The White City*, I needed something easy and breezy.

Peter Criss is the whiniest sack of sorry I've ever seen. Waaah! I'm nobody! Waaah! I'm too famous! Waaah! Gene Simmons is a bully! Waaah! I quit Kiss! ForEVER! Waaah! I'm broke! Why is my solo career not happening? Waaah! I'm in rehab, recovering from my 5g/day coke habit! Waaah! I didn't make any money off the 1st reunion tour! I quit Kiss! ForEVER! Waaah! I didn't make any money of...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Jeff Sylvester rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While this book is better than Frehley's "No Regrets", it is still pretty lame. The only thing I sort of liked is that Peter seems to have cleaned up in the end with a greater appreciation for the simple things whether in love or materialism. So, it seems that as a guy, he has concluded life with a happy ending, which is nice to hear.

But as far as the KISS heyday goes, much of the book is a spool about his superficial and reckless money, drug and sex decisions. Throughout the book he moans abou...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Freda mans rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a book written by Peter Criss. It documents his whole life, from a little lad banging on his moms pots to a grown man playing venues to millions. Makeup to Breakup is a no-holds-barred version of Peter Criss's experiences within and without a band. He tells it like it is, all of it. From growing up in Brooklyn to being a founding member of Kiss, and even his experiences around his hit song, "Beth". A shocking tell all story from one of the greatest drummers of our time.

I have been a fan...more

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May 14, 2013 Alessandro Maiucchi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ho finito di leggere Make up or break up, l'autobiografia di Peter Criss, il batterista originale dei Kiss, quello col trucco da gatto per intenderci. Una lettura davvero interessante, a mio avviso migliore di No regrets, quella scritta da Ace Frehley (il chitarrista solista). Peter narra le sue origini nei quartieri poveri di NYC, la sua famiglia di origine italiana (il nome vero infatti è Crisscoula), le gang di quartiere degli anni '60, le prime band fino all'incontro con Paul Stanley e Gene...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Stephen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rock-n-roll

SPOILER ALERT: Peter Criss does not like Paul Stanley nor is he rather fond of Gene Simmons. Now that this is established, you are going to hear Peter mention this. A lot. Now that's not to say I blame him. If I was screwed over half as bad as he claims Gene and Paul screwed him over, I'd be upset too. But pointing out the evils of Simmanley (my new term for Peter's version of evil Paul and Gene) over and over again, it becomes kind of numb.

By now we're all familiar with the story of KISS (and...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Allison rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non, rock

I've had a love/hate relationship with KISS since I was 12 years old, but I've always rooted for the underdog, so was curious to read the drummer's memoir (as drummers are notoriously left out of the spotlight). When the book started with four pages of acknowledgements, with Criss thanking everyone from the people who have photographed him, the associations he belongs to, and Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it through. But there is something about rock autobiograp...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir

Unlike some other sex, drugs & rock and roll memoirs I've read, this one smacks of honesty, introspection and up-close stories of the times and the music. A must-read for any KISS fan; Peter has some stories to tell, and guaranteed some you've never heard before. Entertaining throughout.

If you were ever a fan of the band, this will show you the dark side behind the fortune and fame, whether you like it or not - and Peter doesn't spare himeself. He doesn't really come off a whole lot better...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WOW.
I have been a KISS fan since 1978, when I was 10. I read Gene's book when it came out, and Ace's as well. Peter has been promising a book for almost 10 years. Well, here it is, and it does not disappoint.
Gene's book pulled no punches. He painted Ace and Peter in a certain light, and sometimes a not so nice one.
All in all, Peter's version is a lot like Gene's. True, Peter puts HIS spin on certain events. Bit for the most part, if it's in Gene's book, it's in Peter's as well-with Peter's vi...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Joe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Most of the time when a former member of a famous band writes a tell-all memoir, he paints himself as the good guy, the levelheaded one, the one dude who was sane in the whole crazy bunch. Thus it was with Sammy Hagar's book about his career and time with Van Halen, and thus it is with Peter Criss of KISS. Sure, Criss cops to more substance abuse, irresponsible sexual hijinks and general bad behavior than Hagar does, but the reader still gets the sense that there are at least three other sides t...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Jeff McCormack rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biographical, music, read-2012

Okay, I am a pretty huge Kiss fan. They were the first band I got into as a young kid of 11 years-old. I discovered the band in 1977 right around the time Kiss Alive II was released, and I heard it at a friend's house. I promptly went out and purchased their latest studio album Love Gun, and became an instant fan. Prior to that, it was music like the Grease soundtrack, and the Bee Gees, and other poppy disco stuff of the time. So, Kiss was my first taste of hard rock, and I consumed all they had...more Okay, I am a pretty huge Kiss fan. They were the first band I got into as a young kid of 11 years-old. I discovered the band in 1977 right around the time Kiss Alive II was released, and I heard it at a friend's house. I promptly went out and purchased their latest studio album Love Gun, and became an instant fan. Prior to that, it was music like the Grease soundtrack, and the Bee Gees, and other poppy disco stuff of the time. So, Kiss was my first taste of hard rock, and I consumed all they had.

They were my first concert experience, seeing the Dynasty tour in 1979 and many times after that. The only thing I really knew about the band was what I saw. Not an avid reader, nor a real follower of the latest tabloid/magazine world, I did not spend much time following the behind the scenes publicized dirt. They were super heroes to me - amazing musicians who put on a great show.

Now, 35 years later, I am still a big fan. I have all of their albums, I have a bunch of merchandise too. I follow them religiously to a degree. Obviously I like hundreds of other bands now, but still Kiss ranks up their as a key player in my eye. I have followed the solo stuff, I have followed the former members (Ace & Peter), but still, only paid a small amount of attention to the publicized dirt.

I bought Gene's biography, but never read it. I did read his other book, Sex, Money, Kiss, which I laughed off as just a bunch of his egotistical self-centered money-hungry crap that it was. I read Ace's biography a few months back, and it really focused a lot more on his own personal struggle. The early formative years of Kiss were brought to life as seen through his eyes, but overall, the book seemed more centered around his own personal dark struggles, with not quite as much bad-mouthing as we find in this book by Peter.

After finishing Peter's book, I have to say, my opinion on the band is drastically twisted. I am torn between two opinions. First, on one side, Peter was self-destructing and a real arrogant jerk who seemed to care less about others or even himself. With the amount of drugs and trash that he got into, just like I felt with Ace's book, it is surprising these two are still alive. Peter made so many bad decisions, he acted so ignorantly, impulsively, and abusively that it makes me despise him for the most part, and I often feel like he got what he deserved. Before, during and after Kiss, he just always seemed like a jerk.

On the other hand though, after hearing the horrible stuff that Gene and Paul put him through, I can almost feel sorry for him, and that stuff makes me lose all respect for and despise them. But still, I see two sides fighting head-to-head, with Peter being a jerk, and Paul/Gene also being major jerks continually. It is hard to tell if this was cause and effect or not. As a musician myself, I can relate to some of the behind the scenes aspects of it. If I were like Gene, a sober, serious musicians looking at the business aspect of all that gets done (which I do tend to be), would I react the same way if a member of my band was a drugged out jerk-wad always getting in trouble and soiling the band's name and image? Probably so.

Were Gene and Paul reacting to the horrible lifestyles of Peter and Ace, and that pressure caused more tension backlash from Peter and Ace? That seems to be the story we hear from one side. But Peter's story at times makes you feel Gene and Paul were abusive from the start, regardless of the drugs, etc. My real question is, with the amount of drugs and alcohol that Peter and Ace claim to have been constantly consuming all those years, how could they really remember very much about all of these details as they claim to in their books? Maybe their perspective is greatly clouded by their activity, and so they think things were worse than they were. It is tough to really say, since it becomes just his word against his word against his word. Now Paul is working on his biography, so we can soon add a fourth version. Paul and Gene were sober, so could their telling be more accurate? Or are they just twisting it to make their selves look good. Were they taking advantage of the always drugged up guys all along?

Peter seemed fairly clean and sober during the reunion tour, so for sure it seems they really screwed him and Ace during that time period, making Gene and Paul out as simply appalling people, which seems to be not just coming from Peter's words only. The trail of disgruntled former Kiss members can attest to there being some kind of real issue with the Gene/Paul team. I will chime in on the current replacement members wearing the Cat and Spaceman makeup - it is despicable and reprehensible. I have seen the band live twice with the new guys (I know, somewhat hypocritical to do that), and the band as a unit is amazing, and the new music they make is great. But there would have been no sense of fun lost at ALL if Tommy and Eric had their own characters, just like Eric Carr and Vinnie had. I believe it would have been a much more professional and honorable thing for them to have done, rather than allowing new people to wear the characters of the original members. After reading this book, I see this action as purposely being a personal attack against Peter and Ace - again, showing Gene and Paul to be truly horrible people.

I have followed all of the seasons of Gene's Family Jewels show, and have gotten to somewhat know the man more than I have from just years of listening to his music. I found him to be quite human and loveable, and at times felt sorry for him on the show. Occasionally you get a peak at the hard-edged business man on the show, but these books show more of that side than the show ever does. The show gives us some of the silliness and family side of things, but at times I feel it might be scripted and set to be more entertainment than true reality. Peter's book takes away all of that love-ability that I built up from his show, and flushes it down the toilet. Gene comes out as a truly scumbag, bottom-feeding, womanizing, self-gratifying despicable character.

In the end, Peter is/was a self-destructive, horrible person who made a lot of bad mistakes, abused himself and others frequently, and did a lot of wrong to a lot of people for a lot of years. It sounds like now he is on the road to settling down from that lifestyle, and the last section of the book discussing his relationship with God is a promising step forward, but the damage done in his wake is a long way from being rectified, and he still comes out looking like a bad guy through this all. So, he has opened the door to really reveal the filth that was his own life, and in the process whines incessantly about how he was treated.

The fantasy is gone - the band Kiss will now forever be tainted in my mind. No longer are they just this cool, mysterious band of larger-than-life excitement on stage, but they are now a bunch of low-life self-pleasing jerks who only look out for their own best interests regardless of who they have to plow over to get what they want. Maybe this is nothing new for a rock band, but it really destroys the view of my first-loved rock band. Will I still listen to them? Yes, absolutely - the fantasy lives on in the music, tainted as my mind may be now. (less)

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Jan 30, 2013 David Fuller rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: music, biography

Founding Kiss drummer Peter Criss has been promising to release a tell-all autobiography for decades, and now he's finally done it. (Ironically, it comes a year later than fellow Kiss founder Ace Frehley's No Regrets.) The question is whether what he has to tell illuminates anything about the early years of Kiss or his life after he quit the band in 1980.

He begins with what he describes as one of the lowest points in his life, namely seeing his modest apartment shattered in the 1994 Los Angeles...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Steve Isaak rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Makeup is a breeze-through, sex-, drugs- and redemption-suffusive read. Criss's rise-and-fall pattern is familiar, but the details of Criss's life, as well as his tumultuous interaction with his bandmates, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, are interesting.

The only time I didn't enjoy Makeup was when I read the next-to-last chapter where Criss (with Sloman's help) becomes mawkish about his faith in Jesus Christ. Given his earlier, flow-effective mentions of his Catholic faith, this Jesu...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Daniel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In a moment of clear-thinking best described by the pixies as "crystalline," I decided not to post the following status updates to my very own Facebook page:

Even without any friends I still lead a full rich life of abject sensorial encompassment. I wish Mary Hart would return my fan letters.

Even been misdiagnosed? I have a cruel and callous heart awash in brittle apathy and insincere mannerism. I don't have morning sickness.

Thinking about replacing my "Talk American!" bumper sticker with a "Scan...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Andrew Parker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love KISS, I started playing drums at 8 because of them and Peter. I've played tons of shows and still play today. Music is part if who I am, KISS started it all for me and I will always be grateful to them for that.

Now for the book. I really enjoyed the book, well written. I don't know how much is true. The complaint I have is that this book just seems like a lot of sour grapes. I wasn't there so I have to take Peter's word for what he says went down.

My personal opinion is that ultimately P...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Stewart Summers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've never been a fan of KISS. But I admire how they created a brand that has stood the test of time. Rock bands have come and gone but here we are 40 years later and KISS continues to successfully tour the world.

Gene and Paul are the alpha KISS members as Glenn Frey and Don Henley are to The Eagles. Peter's take on his band mates reminded me of Don Felder's take on Glenn and Don.

I enjoyed reading about Peter's childhood, his growing up in Brooklyn, the great bands that inspired him and the fo...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Brian Schwartz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Peter Criss’ account of the rise and fall of KISS makes Simmons’ and Frehley’s look quite vanilla. While Simmons bragged about his sexual exploits, he was not nearly as graphic as Criss. He is unabashed in describing the sex and drugs that surrounded the band. While Gene and Ace complained about each other in their respective biographies, Criss is much more personal and biting in his comments about his former bandmates. Despite this overt bitterness and anger toward Stanley and Simmons, there is...more Peter Criss’ account of the rise and fall of KISS makes Simmons’ and Frehley’s look quite vanilla. While Simmons bragged about his sexual exploits, he was not nearly as graphic as Criss. He is unabashed in describing the sex and drugs that surrounded the band. While Gene and Ace complained about each other in their respective biographies, Criss is much more personal and biting in his comments about his former bandmates. Despite this overt bitterness and anger toward Stanley and Simmons, there is an underlying affection for their early years together when it was them versus the world.

FROM MAKEUP TO BREAKUP rewrites several chapters of KISS history and seems to be thoroughly honest, sincere, and emotional. Criss makes no bones about being a very emotional person with a hot temper and easily bruised feelings. That is reflected in the text of the book.

But there’s also an element of self-pity that does not reflect well on Peter Criss. Criss was a good, but not great drummer. His song writing skills were average and the material he recorded with KISS – with just a few exceptions – were usually the weakest material on their albums. Yet, he is quick to blame Stanley, Simmons, KISS management, the recording industry, his ex-wife and everybody around him for his musical failures.

I am a diehard KISS fan dating back to 1976 and quit following the band after the Dynasty album. I agree with Criss that the band went downhill after it lost its original lineup. It wasn’t that Criss was a better drummer than Eric Carr or Eric Singer. When Criss left, the chemistry of the band was destroyed with Stanley and Simmons calling all of the shots.

Aspiring musicians should read Peter Criss’ autobiography as a cautionary tale. KISS is not the only band to endure tensions over creativity and song writing credits. Most bands do. Great bands like The Who and Queen – two bands who battled internally constantly – keep it together by keeping their problems internal. Brian May of Queen and Roger Daltrey of The Who have both stated that that internal struggle, while being frustrating and painful, made their bands and their songs better. Stanley and Simmons, in their need to control KISS music, destroyed that internal tension that improves most bands.

MAKEUP TO BREAKUP is an easy, entertaining read. The narrative is raw, unpolished, and reflects Peter Criss’ personality as a tough guy from Brooklyn. While Simmons’ book seems to try hard to write a palatable, glossed over history of KISS and Frehley’s book talks mostly about his drug and booze binges, Criss comes across as the most honest and forthright – and probably the truest account of what happened to him and the band he helped make The Hottest Band In the World.(less)

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Apr 03, 2013 Paul Muteshi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, Peter Criss the drummer for KISS had one hell of a life. Say whatever u can about his sexual life but how many guys won't behave as such in his position? I totally pitied him at the end of the book. This is the founding member of one of the most famous band in the world, how do u treat him as such? Whereas u can argue that some of his problems with the band were inflicted by his bad decisions, for me still nothing justifies such unfair treatment meted on him! I thought his decision to come...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Glen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

George Peter John Criscuola was an Italian-American boy who grew up in a working class Brooklyn family during the 50s and 60s. He became Peter Criss, the drummer of the one time biggest band in the world KISS.

You can take the kid out of Brooklyn, but not Brooklyn out of the kid. That becomes very clear with his lack of pomp or pretense in this book. The man is who he is and I believe honestly recounts his perception of his journey from boy to drummer in KISS to life after KISS warts and all. I...more George Peter John Criscuola was an Italian-American boy who grew up in a working class Brooklyn family during the 50s and 60s. He became Peter Criss, the drummer of the one time biggest band in the world KISS.

You can take the kid out of Brooklyn, but not Brooklyn out of the kid. That becomes very clear with his lack of pomp or pretense in this book. The man is who he is and I believe honestly recounts his perception of his journey from boy to drummer in KISS to life after KISS warts and all. I would say he is almost too honest at times for his, and his band mates own good, That honesty however makes for an interesting and entertaining read.

After reading the books by Gene, Ace and Peter two things come through. The first is how different from each other the members of KISS are and became. Secondly how the facts of things are not necessarily disputed as much as the perceptions of why and how they happened.

For instance Gene makes the point that Peter's substance abuse caused issues in the band which made it difficult to continue with him. Peter admits to his substance abuse issues and difficulties between the members which affected the band. Peter however seems to perceive that some of his issues were a means of coping with how he was treated within the band and the general direction of the band. The fact that Peter's substance abuse occurred and affected the band is never disputed by anyone. It's this sort of difference in perception that helps the reader of all the books get a feel for what really happened. Like most things the truth lies somewhere in the middle of multiple accounts and this book adds another point to plot that middle/truth from.

For some KISS fans this "truth" may be akin to looking behind the scenes at Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean in a way that destroys the illusion. For me, a KISS fan who was losing interest on the same timeline as Peter was, and who is still loves early KISS, this book provides a worthwhile account of their struggle early on.

I look forward to Paul's book to once again add another take on the history of KISS. Hey Gene when Paul's book is ready maybe you should make nice with Peter and Ace, change the covers of all the books to look like the solo album covers, bundle them and sell them with the normal KISS markup to chumps like me;)

PS Gene, you're welcome...again.(less)

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Nov 27, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The original drummer for KISS holds nothing back here. From sordid sex stories (his vivid descriptions will stay with me for a long time, I fear) to the combative dynamics at play within KISS, Criss reveals more than Gene Simmons or Ace Frehley did in their books. If Paul Stanley ever writes his own book, it better be damn juicy to top MAKEUP TO BREAKUP.

Yes, Criss is a selfish, overindulgent whiner with anger issues. Yes, he overstates his role in KISS, despite the success of "Beth." Yes, his a...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Dachokie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: music-entertainment

Exposé or Therapy Session?

Just a hunch, but 50% of Americans probably will admit they like Kiss … and the other 50% are lying. After 40 years, this band has covered just about every aspect of entertainment imaginable, so its reach is quite profound (globally). I confess that I am a recovering Kiss fan who has thankfully been in remission since 1980. Initially hooked on the “Alive II” album, I was an actual member of the Kiss Army in the 70s (still have the welcoming kit), saw them perform in 197...more Exposé or Therapy Session?

Just a hunch, but 50% of Americans probably will admit they like Kiss … and the other 50% are lying. After 40 years, this band has covered just about every aspect of entertainment imaginable, so its reach is quite profound (globally). I confess that I am a recovering Kiss fan who has thankfully been in remission since 1980. Initially hooked on the “Alive II” album, I was an actual member of the Kiss Army in the 70s (still have the welcoming kit), saw them perform in 1979 (a friend of mine retrieved one of Peter Criss’ drumsticks that night) and was one of 5 people who actually bought Gene Simmons’ solo album. While Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are arguably the “faces” of Kiss, it was Peter Criss’ song “Beth” that really put the spotlight on the band. Always in the background, Criss never seemed to have a voice outside singing “Beth” and “Hard Luck Woman” … until now. In MAKEUP TO BREAKUP, the man spills his guts, whines about everything, cries an ocean and exposes the filth that hides under the band’s painted faces. The book offers a little bit of something for everyone: violence, sex, greed, back-stabbing, front-stabbing, humor and heartbreak.

While I’ve read a significant number of books that reveal the predictable depravity of rock and roll bands (including Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue and Guns n’ Roses), none have matched disgusting, deplorable world of Kiss as described by Peter Criss … Motley Crue’s world is summer band camp by comparison. But, while Peter Criss’ significance is dictated by his experience as Kiss’ “Catman”, there is a whole lot more to the man’s life and he has no problem telling us … about everything. I found his book to be an interesting read in more ways than one. Criss comes across as a refreshingly honest individual with a somewhat fascinating life story. Sure he has an axe to grind and seems to relish in revealing the dirt on his former band members, ex-wives and acquaintances … it’s a huge selling point. Where MAKEUP TO BREAKUP differs from other tell-all books is that it deviates from the typical “they’re bad and I’m good” mantra. Criss openly admits he has been a seriously flawed individual throughout his life and while some may interpret this as making excuses, I find him accepting responsibility for most all of his actions and poor decisions. While convincingly presenting Simmons, Stanley and Frehely to be total buffoons, he willingly confesses to being one as well. In fact, Peter Criss is less God-like rock star and more “stupid human” by his own admission.

The book’s two running themes are music and women, with drugs and alcohol serving as the constant backdrop. Criss details life being a young street tough in New York struggling to make it big as a musician. Things really get interesting when he meets Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the two-headed hydra that has been both a blessing and a bane most of his adult life. Kiss fans may not appreciate the manner these two are portrayed throughout the book: Simmons, a disgusting and despicable creep and Stanley, an insecure, effeminate joke. Ace Frehely gets some love from Criss as a co-victim of the Simmons-Stanley hydra, but eventually throws him under the bus as a drug-addled “waistoid”. While Criss (somewhat annoyingly) portrays himself as a victim throughout his tenure in Kiss, seeing Gene Simmons as himself on television (“Celebrity Apprentice” and “Family Jewels”) lends credibility to Criss’ claims. The hilarious and decadent stories about his days with Kiss are the best parts of the book ... some will likely make readers cringe. He doesn’t shy away from humiliating Simmons or Frehley by detailing their sexual proclivities … readers may never look at those two the same again. Not to be short-changed Stanley constantly gets the “he might be gay” treatment throughout; Criss even recalls one of the front-man’s favorite activities was “shopping for fabrics.” The on-and-off again saga with his band-mates definitely gets old over time and comes across like episodes of “Dallas” (with Simmons being JR Ewing, of course). But, we all get the idea that the band was never the unified group it appeared to be.

The storyline of the women in Peter Criss’ life is just as troublesome as his life with Kiss. The man openly admits his insecurity and a need to be married always led him to relationships that were doomed to fail. Drugs and alcohol issues exacerbate insecurities and incite destructive, violent reactions (such as firing a .38 at his television to “off” an actor his wife thought was attractive). Readers get a heavy dose of drug-fueled one-nighters, details of his sex life with his wives and even an account or two of impotence. While this is typical fare for rock star memoirs, I admit I felt a little embarrassed for Criss and his penchant for revealing so many personal details, but give him credit for having the guts to do so. His introspective approach to his relationships and the numerous mistakes he’s made all come across as some sort of healing process … with the added entertainment benefit.

Overall, MAKEUP TO BREAKUP is immersive and enjoyable … an easy, entertaining read. Typical sex, drugs and rock n’ roll recipe with better ingredients. I always felt Peter Criss was the unsung hero of the band, always overshadowed by the other three … it is nice to hear his side of the story. While I am sure the veracity of some stories will be challenged by his band-mates, they still seem genuine. If there was one thing that prevented this book from being outstanding, it was the underlying whiny tone (especially the last several chapters) and his penchant of being victimized in almost every facet of his life (even his bout with breast cancer is a little too sappy). So vulnerable and weak at times, I don’t think there is a single chapter in the book where he doesn’t admit crying his eyes out at some point. But, in the end the storytelling won me over. I guess it is time to dust off the “Alive” and “Alive II” albums again.
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