Original KISS Drummer's Memoir Lands On New York Times 'Hardcover Nonfiction' Best-Sellers List

November 3, 2012

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss' memoir, "Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of Kiss", landed at position No. 7 on the New York Times "Hardcover Nonfiction" best-sellers list. The book arrived on October 23 via the Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner.

An excerpt from "Makeup To Breakup: My Life In And Out Of Kiss", can be found at RollingStone.com.

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

In a recent interview with "The Opie & Anthony Show", Criss revealed that a power struggle, with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on one side, and Peter and Ace Frehley on the other, led to his departure from KISS. "I could start feeling [Stanley and Simmons] wanting the power," he said. "The more we were going up the ladder of future and fame, the more it was kind of swaying to Mr. Simmons and Stanley. Ace and I were kind of not getting our musical [ideas] in. It's funny — I wrote the biggest hit the band [ever had] [the 1976 ballad 'Beth'], and meanwhile, I was kind of always getting put down for this stuff. So it was always a battle."

According to Criss, he and Frehley were extremely close, which is why it was especially hurtful for the drummer to learn that Frehley was making more money when the farewell tour ended in 2000. "[It] broke my heart when [Ace] broke my heart," he said. "In the book, I tell the story, but towards the reunion, towards the end, I was devastated, man. I couldn't believe what went on. And it was again about the old M-O-N-E-Y. Money, money, money. Power, power, power. It never was enough for those guys."

As previously reported, Criss will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, December 19 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Criss by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.

For more information, visit RocklineRadio.com.

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