Kiss’ Peter Criss reflects on beating cancer: “My miracle”
Peter Criss from the classic rock band Kiss has reflected on being able to beat cancer, saying it was a “miracle” that he recovered.
The drummer was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008. However, after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation from the disease, he fought his way back to full health and has become an advocate for raising awareness for male breast cancer ever since.
Now, aged 80, the drummer reflected back on this during a recent appearance on the KissFAQ podcast, saying he used his spirituality to help guide him through the toughest moments.
“I had breast cancer a while back, and I prayed. I’m a very religious guy, so I really prayed very, very hard,” he said, before adding, “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.”
This experience directly inspired the track ‘Walk On Water’, taken from Criss’ eponymous first solo album in 8 years, which he released last month.
Explaining the specific image which served as a catalyst for the song, the rocker said: “Have you ever watched that Being There movie with Chauncey Gardiner? And at the end he walks on water, and you realise he’s an angel. I love that movie. And I felt like that.”
Noting how ‘Walk On Water’ is “one of my favourite songs from the album,” Criss said it was “dear to my heart” as “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.”
His new album comes as the first activity from a member of Kiss since the band received a Kennedy Center Honor from US President Donald Trump on December 7th.
It marked the beginning of a fresh chapter, following the death of Kiss’ guitarist, Ace Frehley, at the age of 74 on October 16th last year.
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