In a new conversation on the “KissFAQ” podcast with hosts Julian Gill, Lonnie Weischaar, and Ken Keenan, original KISS drummer Peter Criss opened up about the emotional weight of his song “Walking On Water“. The track is a standout on his latest solo album, titled Peter Criss, which hit shelves on December 19, 2025.
Reflecting on the song’s deep personal significance, Peter shared how it chronicles his experience of overcoming breast cancer nearly two decades ago. When asked by the hosts about the importance of the track, the “Catman” explained that the lyrics serve as a testimony to his survival, describing his recovery as a “miracle from God.”
The album, which arrived just one day before his 80th birthday, features a “dream team” of musicians including John 5, Billy Sheehan, and Paul Shaffer. (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Very important. I had breast cancer a while back, and I prayed. I’m a very religious guy, so I really prayed very, very hard. I was at church probably more than the pastor, and I really prayed hard. And God gave me my miracle. And I felt, and I kid you not, that I really could walk on water.”
Criss continued: “Have you ever watched that ‘Being There’ movie with Chauncey Gardner? And at the end he walks on water, and you realize he’s an angel. I love that movie. And I felt like that. I felt like I could walk on the ocean, and it was such a high. I was so elated that I was cured. And so I wanted to write a religious song, and I wanted to write about the experience that I was feeling inside, ’cause I always sing from the heart. Everything comes from my heart. And that’s one of my favorite songs. I’m glad you brought it up, because ‘Walking On Water‘ is special. I think Paul Shaffer played an amazing organ on it. The whole band was just dynamite. But the vocals were very — yeah, it’s near and dear to my heart. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album… That meant so much to me about beating cancer, ’cause I’m a big cancer guy. Every year I go out on October and I raise money for men for breast cancer.”
He added: “I’ll never stop, man,” he said. “I ain’t stopping until they put me in the box. I’m gonna keep on going till I… Music is a gift from God. I’m so blessed that I’m talking to you guys and talking about my writing and my composing and my feeling about music.”
“My mom used to say, ‘Wasted talent is a bad thing,’ and I grew up with that always in my ear,” he explained. “And I got a gift from the Lord, and I’m gonna just keep going until I can’t. And that’s the way it is. If I get to live to 180, then I’m gonna be still singing and playing them drums at 180. I’m never gonna stop.”
Criss, who found a lump in his left nipple in December 2007, told “Reuters” that men need to move past the idea that breast cancer only affects women.
“It can happen to you, and when it does, if you don’t deal with it right away, with your ‘dude’ and your metal and your tattoos, you’ll go in the box and we’ll see you.”
In 2015, Criss also talked with Asbury Park Press about his battle with breast cancer. He said at the time: “I try to get the awareness to men that we get it. Men don’t know. What annoys me is that it’s called breast cancer. Bingo, right off the bat, it’s breast cancer. Why isn’t it called pec cancer?”
He continued: “Every year I meet 20 18-year-old boys (who have breast cancer) and they don’t know what to do. They’re embarrassed. It’s a chick’s disease. Only girls get it.”
“My battle is I just want guys to know they can get it, and if they can detect it immediately [they can be cured]. [Early detection] saved my life and I’ve now become very involved.”
Criss told CNN that surviving breast cancer was a blessing, as he was treated before the tumor spread. He hopes speaking out about male breast cancer will raise awareness of this rare disease.
Criss also offered advice to men who spot lumps in their breast: “Don’t sit around playing Mr. Tough Guy. Don’t say ‘It’s going to go away.’ It might not and you might not see life anymore and how beautiful that is.”
