Peter Criss Says ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Over’
Former Kiss drummer Peter Criss has had his differences of opinion with ex-bandmate Gene Simmons, but they agree in at least one respect: both men seem to think rock is dead.
Asked to offer his rock prognosis during a recent interview with Hi Fi Way, Criss echoed Simmons' controversial assessment, bluntly stating that in his opinion, "rock 'n' roll is over." Although he insists he's a "21st century guy," Criss admits he can't help but be disappointed when he compares the music he's hearing today with the stuff he grew up on — and it's helped nudge him toward his decision to retire.
"I've been around since the day that the Beatles were onstage, I’ve been around when music was Motown ... I’ve been around! What’s going on today ain’t my cup of tea," said Criss. "The '60s and '70s were the times to be around. I saw Jimi Hendrix, I saw the real Who, the real Zeppelin, the Beatles and seen the Stones many times now that I know them and we’re friends. Over the years a lot has happened to me and I got to see all these great acts, and what I see today doesn’t rock my cradle and doesn’t do anything for me and I don’t care for a lot of the music."
As Criss sees it, making a name for yourself took more creativity and effort when he was starting out — and even if you do have a ton of talent today, it's all pretty much been done anyway. "We were early pioneers and no one was doing that when we started out. Now everyone does it, so it isn’t big news anymore," he shrugged. "It's time for me to get off the train as it’s not a great ride anymore. I don’t go out to concerts much anymore because I don’t enjoy myself because I get constantly harassed, people with phones wanting to take pictures, I can’t really sit and enjoy the concert or have a good time so I’m more of a homebody these days. The world has changed, my friend."
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