Former KISS Drummer Peter Criss Reveals Near-Suicide Attempt

Posted on Oct 24th 2012 11:15AM by Amy Sciarretto Comments

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

Former KISS drummer Peter Criss aka the Catman has made a shocking revelation in his new book, Peter Criss Makeup to Breakup. The skinsman shared details of his near-suicide attempt, which took place in 1994.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in 1994 that injured almost 9,000 people, Criss had shoved a .357 Magnum down his throat and was preparing to pull the trigger.

It wasn't his compassion for his fellow suffering man which caused him the most despair. The drummer felt like he had nothing to live for due to his position in life at the time. But he quickly amended his thoughts, and not a moment too soon.

What stopped him? Thoughts of his mom, dad and daughter.

Criss was distraught after $100,000 he had tucked in a bag behind an armoire fell during the quake. It was all that remained after squandering a fortune that at one point had topped out at nearly $12 million.

"The whole room stank from death," the skins smasher wrote about the state of his apartment, post-natural disaster.

Many of his personal effects of great emotional significance were strewn about and shattered. He continued, "I thought to myself, 'Why should I keep going?' I was in the middle of recording a new album, but fucking whoop-de-do; I was on TNT, a clown label. Then I started talking to myself, like in that Peggy Lee song 'Is That All There Is.' What do you really have to live for? Your two marriages have gone to shit. You hardly see your daughter. You got a hundred grand, but you were worth twelve-some-odd million at one point in your life."

He yanked the gun out of his mouth after the thoughts of family sprung to his mind. Good choice, Mr. Criss.

Peter Criss Makeup to Breakup is out now and available on Amazon.

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45 Comments

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Dave

This guys almost as ugly as Gene Simmoms himself!

October 27 2012 at 9:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Linda Balzano

NOT the greatest rock band in the world. so LOW on the list my goodness maybe the bottom!

October 25 2012 at 3:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Linda Balzano's comment
azsunteck

You obviously know absolutely nothing about Rock n Roll. Your ignorance should be an embarrassment to you. But obviously Not. However for the rest of us we just think your an idiot.

October 25 2012 at 4:41 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Linda Balzano

who cares! sow/reap! wahhhhhh ! crybaby!

October 25 2012 at 3:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
blueydamgirl

Who cares??????

October 25 2012 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
beverlyamy1

the greatest rock band in the world,too bad most of you people on here posting negative things about them never really understood rock music.they forgot more about rock and roll than most of you clowns will ever know.peace.

October 25 2012 at 1:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tmktwo@gmail.com

most overrated band of all time.

October 25 2012 at 1:15 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tmktwo@gmail.com's comment
beverlyamy1

im sure they dont sleep at night because you dont like them.

October 25 2012 at 1:59 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
moore240

this has been on the posts for days more frivolous tabloid trash from H P

October 25 2012 at 11:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
j3zim

If he died Gene Simmons was going to sell little pieces of his body as souveneirs on QVC.

October 25 2012 at 10:39 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Alphonso Carioti

Beth I hear you calling...

October 25 2012 at 8:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jmchladek

While I admit I haven't been a member of the KISS Army for very long (I got into them heavily about ten years ago) they were part of my childhood in the 1970s and influenced my love of heavy metal music. I knew both Peter and Ace had their substance abuse demons to overcome. We now know how bad Peter's demons got and it is likely that Ace had a few as well that he hasn't gone public with. But at least both got to wear the makeup once again, at least for awhile (I got to see Peter as the Catman on tour with KISS in 2003, including his rendition of "Beth").

It just goes to show that while money can bring ephemoral happiness, it can also be the root of other problems. Granted I am not suggesting being poor mind you, but it has to be taken in proper context. When we die, we can't take it with us. Family, friends... relationships... THOSE are really what are important in the ultimate scheme of things.

October 25 2012 at 5:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jmchladek's comment
Patricio

You can't take family, friends and relationships with you either.

The way i see it money can't buy happiness, but it sure can pay off misery.

October 25 2012 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Patricio's comment
rxrxrx1818

Money does buy happiness. If he hadn't squandered his, he'd been a happy man instead of depressed.

October 25 2012 at 1:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down

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