Original KISS Drummer Says His Feelings Were Hurt By STEVEN TYLER's 'Comic-Book' Comments

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss says that his feelings were "hurt" after AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler called his former tourmates a "comic-book rock band."

In an interview earlier in the month with a Tampa radio station, Tyler stated about contemporaries KISS, "They've got a couple of hits, but they're more, they're comic book — you see them in their spackled faces." He added, "It is different: a KISS lick, a Joe Perry lick — two different worlds, and sometimes depending on the time of day get offended. I hear that and I go, 'Yeah, that's alright. Do they really mean it? And what's this all about?' And that's why I think AEROSMITH has been around forever, we really do take ourselves seriously." Tyler revealed that he "hated" KISS ever since one of their crew members got into a knife fight with an AEROSMITH roadie back in 1976, but added, "Since then I've gotten to know Gene [Simmons] and Paul, and they're beautiful people."

While promoting his memoir, "Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of Kiss", on this morning's (Tuesday, October 23) edition of "Jim Kerr Rock & Roll Morning Show" on the WAXQ-FM / Q104.3 radio station in New York City, Criss was asked for his reaction to Tyler's comments.

"In my book, I really talk about our tour — the last tour we did with [AEROSMITH]," Criss said (see video below). "I found those guys to be sweethearts. I felt honored to be on stage with AEROSMITH. I think they're one of the greatest rock and roll bands in the world.

"I could see how Steven loves Steven and he always wants the spotlight over him — he's always, 'Look at me. Look at me.' And that's OK, 'cause I had one of those in my band. The other two — Tom [Hamilton, bass] and Brad [Whitford, guitar] — treated my wife like a million bucks. Joe [Editor's note: Criss was presumably referring to drummer Joey Kramer, not guitarist Joe Perry] was a jerk. I say it in my book. He had a thing about the whole… he just didn't like us, he called us clowns and he didn't really like playing with us. So I now I hear even Steven jumped on the bandwagon. And it kind of hurts my feelings, 'cause I really like the guys. I think they are one of the greatest bands ever to hit the stage — and still are — and it's kind of strange that he said that, because he didn't give me that impression when we toured together."

KISS frontman Paul Stanley lashed back at Tyler last week, telling "Rockline", "Maybe Steven's feeling a bit full of himself because he has an album coming out . . . When [the AEROSMITH] album comes out, let's put (it next to ours and) and let the music do the talking."

Stanley went on to talk about the bands' 2003 tour, which featured KISS and AEROSMITH as co-headliners. "Steven insisted that they close the show. I really don't care, because as far as I am concerned, one way or another you're going to have to come up on the stage, so you can go on before us or after us. And that being said, he certainly had a chip on his shoulder back then about… There is some sort of… I don't know… ambivalence or just looking down his nose a bit towards KISS. So I have to say that seeing him go on after us and play to an underwhelmed audience and see people walking out didn't feel too bad to me … No matter who you think you are, don't wish for something that may come true."

"Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of Kiss" is being released on October 23 via the Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner.

Criss wrote the 320-page hardcover book with the help of Larry "Ratso" Sloman.