Eric Carr was a real injection of good into Kiss. He entered the band when it was starting to lose direction. His playing during this time lifted what was a very middle aged Kiss.
Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick are the 2 best things to happen to KISS... Eric had a childlike innocence about him and just a good guy very fan oriented... And Bruce was really a perfect fit playing style wise for KISS and he has no ego he just plays and stays out of all the KISS bullshit...
@RedneckSpaceMan Eric Singer kinda irritates me tho... It's hard to respect either him or Tommy Thayer for wearing the makeup... And i know it's kinda silly but knowing how longtime fans feel about it maybe do something different and change the design a little bit to make it different... Thayer goes out there and he just looks like a robot mimicking Ace's performance at least Eric doesn't play drums anything like Peter and his performance is his performance... How hard would it have been to come up with new characters??... And add to the legacy instead of copying someone else persona that they created regardless of who owns the rights to use said personas... In sports they retire a great players number so why not retire those personas...
Paul is the man out of all the kiss band Paul actually turned out to be the real deal a real humanitarian love Paul now and always your a real man man of the world love ya😚 brother always stay true you have and always will real people luv you were here for you my brother
I have a drumstick that Eric threw to me at the 85 Asylum tour at Hara Arena. He climbed up this lightning bolt ladder prop, pointed at me and tossed me the drumstick. I was 14 years old. A great moment in my life. I loved Eric Carr and I wept when he died. RIP
They should have been treated equally. They are 2 of the greatest band in history. Why Freddie's loss was more covered because of why he died(HIV/Aides). Eric died of cancer and it wasn't sensational enough death. It's so wrong but it still happens today.
@@CanIgetsubscriberswithvi-ol9be Freddie died from something that stemmed from his lifestyle. Erric on the other hand took great care of his health and got caught off guard by cancer. Both are a master of what they do.
@@stevezisk3415 Eric and Gene were actually really close and Gene still gets emotional to this day when talking about Eric. Paul was the one he had major issues and a falling out with.
I'm not a Kiss fan, but Eric is universally seen as a very nice guy, a good drummer and what the band needed at the time. It's rare anyone gets this unanimous description. RIP
Oh, he's ALOT better than a GOOD drummer. Neil Peart said he was one of the Top 5 on the Planet. And I'm not much of a KISS fan either. I was till I got to be 14 or 15. Seriously..I'm not saying they're childish. I became a Van Halen fan, as well as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc.
This was a tragic ending to a wonderful person. I remember seeing the video. Lick it up. And there was Eric. Calm & cool as ever. R.I.P. Eric. We all miss you.
I love Eric, I met him in 1982....the loveliest Man I think I have ever met in Rock and Roll...Outside the Hilton in London...he signed everything and the photo of us together means so very much to me. (I have 2 drumsticks from 2 different tours, but they are NOT for sale.) xx
Omg do u still have the photos i wanna see him my mom went to a concert while he was in the band and it was her first concert ever but she didint get any photos sadly
It's sad to say but it appeared at the time that money was really Paul's main motivation... He had to keep the KISS train moving and couldn't slow down and let the guy get his health in check... I'm sure the stress of being basically replaced in the band that he gave so much to and loved being a part of had some negative affects on his health... This is one of those things in the history of KISS that should of been handled differently like so many other things that make greed look like Paul and Gene's sole motivation...
@@shanefitz9648 this is believable but Paul did say Eric had a series of heart operations, which was around April 1991, then chemo and both Gene and Paul let him be in their video "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", even though Eric was very sick and bald. After that Gene and Paul told Eric they were going to make another record, Revenge, without Eric so that he could focus on his health. They kept him on the payroll and made sure his medical bills were paid. Shortly thereafter, in Sep 91, Eric lapsed into a coma(brain hemmorage) and never recovered. Honestly, I don't think Gene or Paul did anything wrong here, Eric was very, very sick and it took only 4 or 5 months after his surgeries before he went into his coma. Yes, there was a lot of resentment by family and friends but Gene and Paul let him do that video in excruciating pain and probably said "we can't put him through that kind of pain ever again".
@@erichaynes7502 the band could of took some time off and showed Eric that tiny bit of respect... I'm sure Eric being the type of guy he was would of come to the conclusion that he wasn't going to be able to continue with the band... But again regardless of what the truth probably is some of the decisions that were made by Paul mostly because Gene was really not as engaged in the band as Paul was during that era Paul was really the driving force of the band, it wasn't really until Revenge that Gene sort of reengaged full throttle in the band... Smashes, Thrashers and Hits, Crazy Nights and Hot in the Shade were for the most part Paul running the show picking the songs and handling the business Hot in the Shade had a little more Gene involvement in the writing but it wasnt until Revenge where Gene got heavily involved in the album making process and rightfully so the band just lost one of its beloved members and moving forward would take a band effort which they pulled off Revenge is by far a superior album to the several that came before it or after it....
Paul didn't knew. People often try to give some rest to their loved ones when they are sick. I have heard so many times "If I knew the outcome, I would have done this or this, or let them do this instead of stopping them from doing this or this"... It's not Paul's fault....
@@yairs6196 it wasn't Paul didn't know they tried to cut Eric's medical benefits... Eric was a salaried employee of the KISS corporation with health benefits... I understand the fact of the wheels needed to keep turning and the show must go on but they tried to cut or limit the guy's benefits and just replace him... Whether it was Paul or management or whoever that was a scummy thing to do to the guy and had Eric survived I'm sure he would of left the band after what they did... Regardless of who made this decision it ultimately comes down to Paul & Gene, they're are the ones who are responsible and could of done the right thing by Eric and his family and made his last days stress free...
@@marial.rapaglia4041 no, he was a generic 80s drummer, nothing special. He had good energy live but thats it, nothing memorable in studio and he ruined the 70s songs.
📢@above--no, he was good or else the band would not have hired him in the first place--but everyone is entitled to their own opinions, which are just opinions, not facts.
I saw him on the Animalize tour and Asylum tour the following year as well. I almost had the chance to meet him before the show on the Animalize tour. He was walking on the main floor and my friend pointed at him and said "It's Eric Carr!" I didn't want to bother him because he looked like he was in a hurry (maybe to use the restroom). I will always regret not at least saying "hi" to him. Great drum solos for both shows. I think he was a great rock drummer and a damn good singer too.
I remember that year Rolling Stone did their annual obituary tribute to all the artists who died and omitted Eric. Gene & Paul wrote an open letter to Rolling Stone protesting his omission.
@A.D. Dude, you don't have to try that hard to bash Rolling Stone because they suck bad enough without having to exaggerate, and you ended up sounding really stupid especially if if you're going to use the word 'degenerate' as though Gene Simmons isn't one himself. Kiss fans aren't pictures of morality, they're mostly a bunch of little kids who want to look at Playboy and listen to shitty music. I don't even like Lou Reed at all but he was definitely a better songwriter than Kiss, and Bowie WAS a genius who basically invented the whole 'glam' thing along with Alice Cooper for Kiss to jump on the bandwagon. Your bullshit is garbage. Even other Kiss fans think you're a moron.
I look at the way Def Leppard handled the situation with Joe Elliott and how Paul and Gene handled this was just terrible. They could've postponed the record.
I had the pleasure of meeting Eric. He was kind and didn't have a rock star attitude. He was a very sweet guy and I still have his drum key which I wouldn't take a million dollars for. I will never understand why people get so upset when a band continues after someone is sick or passes away. Being in a band is still a business. When Walt Disney passed away..they didn't fold Disney (Thank goodness). They wanted their friend to get better. Having gone though cancer with several loved ones, it takes everything out of you. I'm sure they thought they were doing the best thing thinking their friend needed to heal and would come back to work. Maybe they should have handled it differently. But none of us really knew what was going on. But I met the whole band together, and it was easy to see they were close. These guys are musicians, not doctors, they were just wanting their friend better.
When working at the Allentown Hilton, as their shuttle driver/bellman (in '86), I was instructed to pick up an unnamed guest at the airport. As I witnessed some big-haired dude, in a full leather body suit, I remember whispering under my breath, "Man, I'm glad I don't have to pick up THAT freak." It was Eric, who I finally realized and recognized as my unnamed guest. He was exactly as you described him, Susan; polite, courteous, mannered, respectful, good-natured...I could on and on. He had nothing of a rock star attitude, and after I dropped him off, I felt truly remorseful for judging this worldly stranger, who was nothing like my course judgment of his outward appearance. On a side note, I acted as hotel security, in my capacity as a concierge, and was two feet away from throwing out a fat, greasy, long-haired, gutter rat, poking around the gift shop. Suddenly, he started talking loudly to another man across the room, who I recognized (just in time) as Graham Nash. I was one second away from throwing out multi-millionaire, Grammy Award winner, David Crosby! I still cringe, thinking about what could've happened.
Please, don't call him their friend. They didn't attend his funeral. He was their employee and that's exactly how he was treated. Eric deserved better. I loved him as much as I did Peter and Ace.
Susan Burris I agree with you! Look at AC/DC for example. When their singer Scot died in 1980, he would not have wanted for them just to quit! And Queen is another great example! To quit is not the right way to honor them! As Freddie says "The show must go on!"
In the end what Paul did was in my opinion the best thing to do. You don't mess around with cancer, especially when it is a rare form of it. Had he played would he still be with us? Most likely no he would not. Eric Carr was a great drummer, he helped get KISS back on track. I bet Paul still questions what he did, but I firmly believe it was for the best. He was certain that his friend would recover, maybe Carr grew bitter as his cancer worsened, maybe it was because it affected his brain that he felt betrayed by his friends. We'll never know what was flowing through him because he's not here. He was a young man, who had his life cut tragically short because of a disease that is still being researched. RIP Fox, whether you knew it or not, you had become the heart and soul of KISS
I really miss Eric Carr. Just cleaned out garage and rediscovered my KISS collection dating to 1976. Saw Eric on tours for Unmasked (Germany - met him backstage), Creatures, Lick It Up, Animalize (2nd time meeting), Asylum (3rd time meeting), Crazy Nights, HITS. A great, caring, gentle soul. Peter Criss got me hooked on drumming but Eric Carr helped me develop my craft. No accident Kiss had two PC's in the band. God bless Paul Caravello... RIP. PS- Never realized just how much crazy rare Kiss stuff I have.
@Matthew Boeding Hey Matthew, I will not sell. I told my daughter I'd leave it all to her. She's been to several shows since 2012. Funny thing is she likes the one thing I like more than most... a 1980 Eric Carr guitar pick lol !! I've kept it in my wallet since the early 80s. Hope you have a great weekend.
It makes me sad anytime I hear about Eric’s death. He was one hell of a drummer. At least we can go back and listen to him play on the old albums. RIP Eric Carr.
We all make mistakes. Sometimes we think what we are doing is right. But at least Paul has remorse and is admitted he was wrong. Not enough people in this world especially in the rock band world,ever admit to being wrong.
Dude, they were bummed that he was too sick to get rid of. They are scum. If he were in my band, he would've been involved till the very end. FUCK deadlines, or the money. I would've included him in the recording process even if he just sat back and didn't play, or just fuckin wait till he got better. We all know he didn't so it wouldn't have been a long wait. They wrote him off being in the band whether he was gonna get better or not. They were gonna replace him even if he survived, but now they can hide that fact because we'll never know.
@@bearknuckles100 Very true! Kiss is more of a franchise to them than a band. Although, Paul had a heart and meant well for what he thought was good for Eric's well being. I don't think he ever had intentions to hurt Eric in anyway. Gene on the other hand, no comment.
I met Eric @ a music store where he was signing posters for everyone. I said could you sign it to "Invader" thats my bands name. He looked up at the sky , thought about it and then drew a spaceship on the poster.
I threw a wake at my house with a keg at my house that night. We listened to kiss all night. The police arrived at about 1 am said it was too loud I told them Eric had died and they said we love Kiss too just keep it down our condolences
I've been a fan of KISS for months, and hearing this about Eric Carr still breaks my heart. I feel sorry for the band members, his family, friends and including Eric himself. Nobody deserves to go through something so painfully sad. 😞😭
I feel Paul's pain here. Unfortunately I handled my cousin's sickness & death from a selfish angle. I couldn't deal with the possibility he might die and was in denial. I've apologized to his family and here Paul is apologizing to the fans. It's a really hard lesson to learn & live with.
Russell Szabados I can relate. I believe that anyone of us that has dealt with a loved one having cancer reacted the same way that you did. Don't beat yourself up. We're human and death fucks with our heads.
Paul wasn't the nicest guy to Eric in his last days he pretty much cut him out of the band and money became an issue when it came to his treatments... At that point in the band Paul was really the main guy running the show and business Gene to some extent was along for the ride at that point and went along with whatever Paul told him to... Eric was really the guy who saved KISS not Vinnie... Vinnie was a very talented and flashy player who was trying to make a name for himself and wasn't a team player... Eric was the guy that signed autographs, met fans after the shows and was a team player... The best era of the band was with Eric and Bruce there was no drama like there is now everybody hates everybody and all the resentments with Ace and Peter and Vinnie... I'm not crazy about Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer wearing Ace and Peter's makeup either but at least they shut their mouths and go out and play both Ace and Peter burned the bridge on multiple occasions and really don't function well in a band aspect the size of KISS anyway... Ace is actually so much better solo anyway...
Peter was a good jazz drummer, Eric Singer is a good rock drummer, Eric Carr was a drumming God! He made gene and paul bust their asses just to keep up.
Yes Peter was very old school and like most of his generation had a jazz influence in his style... Another famous jazz influenced drummer that comes to mind is Bill Ward he also has a jazz style on the early Sabbath albums... Probably two of the greatest drummers of all time and very influential in their own right to modern rock drummers...
@@christinalavancher2707 Absolutely. In Phil Collen's book, he said when they found out Rick had to have his arm amputated, they felt it would kill him, being unable to play. When they visited him in the hospital, Rick was upbeat and told them he thought he could still play, using his feet.
Eric Carr was an awesome drummer and had a really cool voice that I wish G&P would have utilized more of in the 80's albums. I interviewed him in 1990 and he was a classy nice guy.
Paul telling him to take time to heal was showing how much he cared. If Eric would have played and collapsed over a drum with the stroke, Paul would have blamed himself then too. You're not to blame, Paul. Cancer is to blame.
Oh, is THAT why they fired him from the band and tried to save money by having his health benefits not come out of their end? And replaced him with the guy Paul told Eric Carr he would NOT replace him with? Makes sense.
@@harmonygalvin1814 Do you know that for a fact? Not challenging you here at all, Im just interested as a Kiss fan. My impression is that they mantained they took care of Carr until the very end, but I also heard the rumours about cutting him loose...
@@royjonesjrjr6396 It's in Paul Stanley's autobiography. They pretty much sacked him on his death bed; he admitted to everything and admitted he got it all completely wrong. Both Paul and Gene were persona non grata at Eric Carr's funeral. Carrie Stevens in particular gave him a hard time, and she also points out correctly that she WASN'T a playboy playmate until AFTER Eric died. Gene Simmons barely mentioned any of this in his book, but then again he barely went into anything in depth other than comic books.
I believe Paul when he said he has remorse for how they handled Eric's illness. Being stricken with Cancer is a terrible thing. Paul likely thought KISS was the last thing on Eric's mind! Perhaps Eric Carr's heart was broken when Eric Singer replaced him. On the other hand, I do believe that Paul and Gene just wanted their amazing little friend, Eric Carr "The Fox" to get well again. They wanted him healthy enough to come back and take his the mantle as the drummer in KISS. You heard Paul say that the band was small potatoes compared to Eric's health. Anyone who has lost someone to Cancer will always have guilt. You always ask yourself if there's something you should have done to help your loved one beat this Evil disease. Cancer is a Rotten Plague on our Society. It will be one of the greatest events in History when a cure for Cancer is found! R.I.P. Eric Carr. A great person, and a fantastic Rock N Roll drummer!!
Yes! I agree! And every time Gene talks about Eric, he tears up. I believe they were pretty shaken about his death. They did what they thought was right at the time, but now Paul realizes they were wrong.
It is amazing sometimes how when we do something that we truly believe is right ( forcing Eric to rest and concentrate on his health ) it winds up being completely the wrong thing! Paul is absolutely correct here. Eric's therapy would have been music, but Paul's focus was on Eric healing and focusing on getting better. His heart was in the right place but instead of keeping Eric motivated, it forced him to concentrate on his fears. I feel horrible for both of them. Eric was an incredible artist and has never been replaced. RIP brother. All of us drummers will never forget you!! Kiss keeps you alive by still playing your songs.
I do think that Paul was thinking of Eric's health but I also think he was also worried about the quality of the music. If he could do it over again, Paul would've let Eric play. Paul is a good man.
I remember when he passed away and I told my wife if we ever had a son I was naming him Eric, so 5 years later in 96 after a lot of begging and kissing ass, i actually have a son named Eric.......best choice I ever made ❤️❤️❤️❤️
You guys should have been on a plane and been there for the guy. " The Band" would have survived without making an album until you saw where his health was going...
Paul is honest and admits he handled the whole thing wrong, the reason he did this was because he wanted to protect Eric. Paul is not a bad person and he had respect for all the band members of KISS.
The day Eric was diagnosed Paul and Gene dumped him like yesterday’s trash. He couldn’t make them money anymore so they had no interest in him. That’s all they care about.
Paul has trouble being with himself, deep down inside he knows they did Eric wrong. Why they did that is up for debate. What isn't is he'll have to deal with this to hid dying days.
miguel arreola -- It's not merely "deep down" he knows what he did was wrong. In his book, Paul discusses being at the funeral. Peter Criss was there and I believe Ace was there as well. Everyone at the funeral was frigid cold toward Gene and Paul. This is according to Paul. Eric did not hide the fact that he was crushed when Paul and Gene replaced him. At one point during the service Paul started crying uncontrollably. In his book, Paul admits that he should never took away the thing that was really worth living for. He knows what he did was extremely inhuman.
Gene's account is totally different than Paul's, regarding Eric and what happened. Who knows which one is closer to the truth.... all I know is at least Paul has expressed remorse for his part in how it was handled. It really shouldn't come as a surprise (given everything we know about KISS) that Gene & Paul would treat Eric more like an employee than a friend.
You made the best decision you could at the time. Sometimes we are wrong, but we always try our best in trying times. Very few people understand the connection between band mates, a most unusual circumstance. I think about my gone to glory band mates everyday, miss them every day. You made the best decision you could at the time.
It sucks when that happens. It's like Farrah Fawcett not getting nearly as much recognition after her death as she would have received if she didn't happen to die on the same day as Michael Jackson.
Bruce said that he understood where Paul and Gene were coming from, even though it was wrong. At least they weren't forcing him to play, they just wanted him better. Bruce, who I believe, loved Eric, said that. And I agree with him. They were wrong. And Paul now know that, and has apologized for it and regrets it. What more do you want?
In all fairness, Paul did what he thought was right at the time. It isn't easy saying to the world that maybe, 'I didn't make the right decision.' Truth be told, Paul loved Eric.
Eric did not paint Paul and Gene as the bad guys, they treated him like shit from day one. They did all of the painting themselves, then replaced him as soon as he got sick.
At least Paul was man enough to admit that him and Gene fucked up. I'll give him credit for that. Revenge should have been put on hold. Hindsight is always 20/20.
I was never a big fan of this band. But this is one hell of a story. Best of all, especially in this day and age, when the hell are you going to hear a man admit that he didn't realize what he was doing and that he was wrong?! Kudos to Paul for recounting this part without trying to whitewash it! Sadly, in America today, where tribalism is the horrid norm, this type of narrative is a rarity.
Paul Stanley...I met Eric when you were all at the Sheraton I'm Glens Falls NY in 88 I believe was the year .We made fast friends chatting as I was the Bartender on the afternoon Shift. I never talked to him again ...though what I know ...is this .He would not want you to carry this hurt ...His heart was made of Gold.
Paul Stanley is the epitome of a true rockstar. One of the few that didn’t ruin everything with drugs and alcohol. He is the ultimate frontman…. although David Lee Roth may have something to say about that lol.
I seriously think that paul and gene cared more about the band and the money than they did Eric and this is Paul's attempt to rationalize how he treated Eric.
I was at Eric's funeral. It was not open casket. Unless there was a separate private funeral, Paul is full of shit. I've also spoken with Eric's Mother & Father on a few occasions. From what the Caravellos told both myself & my Wife, the KISS Corporation did indeed drop Eric's insurance.
I'm sure Gene and Paul knew the seriousness of Eric's health but they cared more about the band than the guy who had dedicated over a decade of his life to them. I don't blame his family for reacting the way they did.
Paul Life is full of realizations once that stops your dead ,at least you learned something I think you are a greaat man don't quit with your realizations there will be many more.
I remember when I coming my friend home, year is 1991 December firsts days. Friend open door and say:Eric Carr is dead, that moment is crushed..We going friend room, sitting down and I ask why what is happened,Eric death cancer about week before..All 80 we listen Kiss, all vinyl. My best friend those time has all Kiss vinyl. Only what he don't have is some album:Original, my room is full Kiss flag & picture from 80 time.
I had a dream last night. A ghost was with me, and I befriended him. After I got to know him more, he told me he was in a band named Kiss. I said "Of course I know of this band." He said he had died He showed me his painted face and face without paint. We danced on clouds. I told him he was beautiful. When I awoke this morning I immediately googled the group kiss and anyone who died from the band...and WOW...just WOW. I'll never forget this dream.🌍🌠🔥
I don't think Gene and Paul isolated him to be Horrible, As much as I don't like a lot of what Gene and Paul have done I do in all honesty think they wanted him to rest and heal.
I agree, I think Gene and Paul are both definitely arrogant and self-centered, but I do think they loved Eric, and really felt him getting the rest he needed would be ultimately better for him, and like someone posted earlier here, they may not have wanted to come to terms and were in denial about how serious Erics situation was.
First off RIP Eric Carr. Gone but NEVER forgotten! Powerhouse drummer! You are missed. Second, Paul if Peter truly disliked Eric then why was he at the funeral?? Furthermore whenever the anniversary of Eric’s passing occurs Peter always has a post sending condolences to his family and fans on his site EVERY YEAR. Why would he do that if he truly disliked the man?? Not buying that comment Paul. Even within a context as brutal as Eric Carr’s death you have to throw Peter under the bus. 🙄🙄🙄🙄
I was so lucky to have met Eric outside Electric Ladyland recording studios. This was back in 1985 a few weeks before my wedding.He, Bruce, and Paul were like everyday kinda people, Soo nice. I went to Disneyworld for my honeymoon, and lo and behold freakin Eric was there too! He remembered me! Such a sweet guy. I cried upon learning of his death. The world lost such a special being that day. Rest in peace Eric. You can hear tha pain in Paul's voice. It sucks to have regrets like his. He soo thought he was doing the right thing. If Eric did come to record, Paul would've still been the bad guy....the work monger. Such a damn tragedy. I believe Paul really cared.
If Eric Carr lived, the reunion tour in 1995 would never have happened, and Eric would have gotten the gig over Peter. Paul didn't know that psychology plays a big part in someone's ability to pull though. If Paul let Eric Carr play even while fighting cancer. Maybe his excitement and joy would have propelled him to pull through.
I heard some comments about Eric and Peter by him and thought he was mean butthat's his side the story. when I met them in KISS both were the nicest membersand signed their drum ads and other things and I hung out a bit with them. Theyseemed like regular guys who really loved the fans unlike him and Gene claim too.
+Weirdo Williams I loved it the first time I heard it in spite of not knowing the songs were out of order on the LP. At that time I still had my music room fully functional. Just imagine MFTE blasting out of my Carvin PA (250W RMS w/their top-of-the-line horns and two 2x12" ported bass bins) and the monitor feed run to the clean channel of my Carvin 125W RMS LP600 guitar amp! I still listen to the album often and admit that it stings a little every time Paul makes a joke about sales. I know for sure I wore out three LPs and at least five cassettes. (I gave one to my wife for work and she was a hand-sander in a local furniture factory at the time. That cassette and the four solo albums I got her would have powder fine sawdust drop out if you tapped them against something.... [Grin] ) The same can be said for CDs. I've no idea of how many I've bought. Quite a few were loaned to give someone I knew a chance to give the album a good listen and I just never got them back. For me, I consider that money well spent! [Big Grin]
Imagine the stress of having cancer, and then your band tells you they are moving on without you. That had to have been a load on his mind and could not have possibly helped Eric’s situation.
I think the Elder was a awesome album, yes it was different from what Kiss was know for but after unmasked I thought Rock and Roll for Kiss was out the door since disco was the sound at that time and the Elder was a good story with a hard sound.
Paul seems like a really really humble guy for being probably one of the most well known and powerful rock stars. He seems to understand no matter his fame money and power, in the end he's just like everyone else
What Band wouldnt give their left nut to have someone as dedicated and loyal and loving as Eric Carr! Drummers come and go but this GIANT Eric through chemo and enormous pain just wanted to play for his band KISS. He didnt want the fame, fortune or ego! Gene and Paul will now have to live with this guilt for the rest of their lives. PERIOD!! Why treat someone who WANTS to be part of the TEAM so badly???
They've been living with it. Paul nor Gene had no sleepless nights since Eric passed either. I'm not even sure Gene can remember Eric's name. I haven't heard him mention it.
I think Paul sincerely thought that Eric would get better and be able to rejoin the band at some point. In hindsight, Paul even acknowledges here that he should have left the decision for Eric to play at the "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" and "Revenge" Sessions up to Eric himself. It's the same way that Joe Elliott let Rick Allen tell the band whether Rick was able to continue the Hysteria Recording Sessions. Brian May of Queen did the same thing when he wrote "The Show Must Go On": Brian asked Freddie Mercury whether Freddie was physically able to record the vocal for that song just weeks before his death. In those instances, Rick Allen and Freddie Mercury said they could do it.
This is a tough call I think that Paul was really thinking about Eric's health. And the whole grand scheme of things if they would have kept Eric in the band during that time they still would have said that this was the result of Gene and Paul's greed so, if they would have kept him in the band and he would have shriveled to the prune that he was becoming then they would have said it's Gene and Paul's fault for keeping him in the band and it was because of greed that they got every bit of Life Force out of him.
Carrie Stevens recently came out with a book. I haven't read it and it sounds like she doesn't talk much about Kiss in the book, but I heard her say while doing a promotion interview that she has softened up a little on Gene but still has no love for Paul.
I am big fan of KISS and Love there work and ERIC CARR is as far as I am concerned the best drummer in RocknRoll his live performances and solos absolutely incredible. I hate hearing on how your suppose to treat someone who is dying it hurts everyone who loves them including the one's who continue living and make decisions on running a business that go on to benefit the living. To help support the living not always easy I love all of the members of KISS and you bet GOD Gave RocknRoll to you keep Rockin
Peter did not hate or dislike Eric. Gene said in his book that Eric met Peter once, and apologized to Peter for taking his place in KISS. Peter was taken aback and had nothing but kind things to say about Eric, even after he died.
vi ERIC CARR tocando no maracanã pra cerca de 200 mil pessoas, ele destruiu a bateria encima de um tanque de guerra, foi o melhor show que vi em toda minha vida .
Nobody is perfect. Every family, every band has issues. That's life. Would love to see how all the shit talkers would handle things in band like KISS. It's easy to sit back online and attack and pretend to know the ins and outs of this band.. It's another to have lived their life.. None of you know anyone in this band or any real truth.. Quit acting like it..
Exactly! No one in this comment section was there and experienced it. You can't really say "Paul and Gene are the bad guys" or "It's so-and-so's fault" because we weren't there, so we wouldn't know. And being in that situation is probably a lot different from viewing it as an outside source. So I can't blame anyone because I don't know 100% of the story. At least he had the guts to admit he was wrong about the way he acted about this situation.
I dunno where Paul got the idea that Peter Criss hated Eric. That was so far from the truth. Eric was in regular contact with Peter and the two had practically become friends. Both came from big Italian backgrounds so they shared that cultural similarity. Peter has often said he fully endorsed Eric being his replacement, and Eric for his part was VERY respectful of Peter and it was hugely important to him that he had Peter's blessing and there not be any animosity between them. When Eric was first asked to sing "Beth" the first thing he did was go to Peter and ask his advice on what he should do. Why on earth would he do that if they didn't get along? It's not inconceivable that it was Peter who had gotten into Eric's ear (quite correctly I might add) about how Paul and Gene were toxic and didn't have Eric's best interests in mind. Something tells me it didn't really go down the way Paul tells it here. Paul sensed all the hostility at the funeral and he still didn't catch on. Hopefully he's learned something from that, although the way Paul and Gene conduct themselves to this day tells me probably not. If Peter really hated Eric why was he at the funeral? That kind of puts a hole in it right there. The whole breakdown of KISS is a sad sorry business, and they ALL have a hand in it.
Or maybe Peter kept that a secret from Paul and lied to him about disliking Carr. I have nothing against Peter at all, but if he did lied to Paul about disliking Eric, wouldn't that make him not being nice and making Paul feel worse?
Don't beat yourself up, Paul. You did what you believed was right. Remember, Eric never said he was desperate to play with you guts. He never communicated his true feelings.
