For original KISS drummer Peter Criss, the road to the Kennedy Center has been a long and unlikely journey from the streets of New York City. On Sunday, the 79-year-old musician joined his former bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons in Washington D.C. to accept one of America’s highest cultural awards, an experience he described as “a dream.”
The trio reunited on the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, marking a bittersweet moment for the group just weeks after the tragic death of founding guitarist Ace Frehley. While the event was tinged with mourning, Criss was visibly moved by the magnitude of the occasion and the history surrounding it.
Speaking about the experience of touring the nation’s capital, Criss revealed his deep passion for American history.
“A dream. I’m a big history kid, so we got here early,” Criss said (via Blabbermouth). “I wanted to see where Lincoln was ass**sinated, which was very heavy. I had tears. We went over where he passed. Then we went to the archives, which no one’s allowed. And I saw Declaration Of [Independence], all these amazing things, all this great stuff. I’m a big history kid, so it’s been cool.”
The drummer, known to fans as the “Catman,” admitted that finding himself in the corridors of power was overwhelming for someone with his background.
“I’m a kid from the streets of Brooklyn. I never thought ever I’d be doing something like this,” Criss confessed. “God couldn’t have given me more stuff, for a kid from the streets of Brooklyn. I can’t believe I was in the White House. Holy mackerel, the White House.”
The honor caps off a momentous and emotional year for Criss, who is approaching a major personal milestone.
“It’s been such a good year. I have a new album coming out December 19th. My birthday’s the 20th. I’m turning 80, and here I am at the Kennedy Center. Wow. So it’s been a really ‘wow’ year for me,” he said. “I’m a very Catholic kid, so I’m gonna go to church all week next week when I get home.”
However, the celebration was shadowed by the absence of Frehley, who died in October following an accidental fall. Criss took a moment to remember his fallen bandmate and his own parents.
“I wish my parents were here to see it. And we lost our guitarist five weeks ago, Ace. He had a horrible accident. I wish he was here,” Criss lamented.
Despite the loss, the surreal nature of the weekend—including a visit to the Oval Office with President Donald Trump—left a lasting impact on the musician.
“It’s a dream. It’s almost surreal,” Criss added. “The Oval Office I was in last night with the president. I have not slept. Last night I finally laid my head, I slept nine hours, which was a miracle because I have insomnia, and I couldn’t believe today that I was gonna be sitting here and meeting all these [people].”
KISS was honored alongside country legend George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and actor Michael Crawford.
