"Got a Pop History/Pop Culture question from the 60's, 70's, 80's or 90's?" Just askmrpophistory@mrpophistory.com

Kiss Around 1979

Peter Criss

From Rich J – Mr. Pop – “Kiss” – one of my favorite 1970’s kind of dropped out for a while and then one of the members had a terrible car wreck. Who was it?

Mr. Pop History – You’re right. All of a sudden in 1979, Kiss was gone, but where they? Answer - they had gone to Europe and then Australia for concerts and such – then decided they’d had enough for a while. During that down time, guitarist Ace Frehley was in a car accident and was deemed he could never tour again. When they started up again, Frehley was replaced by Vinnie Vincent. Drummer Peter Criss was replaced by Eric Carr. Criss, according to Gene Simmons, “Decided he wanted to become a grown-up and get married and have kids.”

From Harold H – Mr. Pop – Of the original members of Kiss – one member was found via an advertisement he took out in Rolling Stone Magazine. Is this fact or fiction?

Mr. Pop History – I’ve been sitting on this one for a while and decided to combine it with the other Kiss question above. Yes, it’s true that the group’s original drummer – Peter Criss was discovered by founder Gene Simmons in a Rolling Stone Magazine ad and in it, Criss said he was “willing to do anything to make it.” This is fact.

Come back soon, as I answer, to the best of my knowledge, another one of your pop history/culture questions.