Kiss fans got a big surprise in late 2025 when Peter Criss emerged from a long hibernation with a brand new studio album.
Released just two weeks after he and his co-founding Kiss bandmates were presented with their Kennedy Center honors, Peter Criss finds the original Catman returning to straight-ahead rock 17 years after whatever the heck kind of smooth-jazz balladry he was attempting on 2007’s One For All.
Read More: The History of Peter Criss’ Post-Kiss Solo Career
Criss has assembled a great band for this album, featuring David Lee Roth / Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan, Late Night With David Letterman / Blues Brothers keyboardist Paul Shaffer and guitarist Mike McLaughlin. McLaughlin also receives co-writing credit for the music on every song.
“In the Dark” has an appealing strut, “For the Money” features an infectious chorus and “Creepy Crawlers” finds Criss doing a commendable take on Alice Cooper-style theatrical rock. John 5, who takes over for McLaughlin on three songs, uses the album-closing “Rubberneckin'” as a showcase for his countrified chicken scratch skills.
The lyrics are cliched and generally a weakness throughout; at several points you may wonder if Criss is making them up as he goes. And that’s before you get to the bonus track “Hard Rock Knockers,” which makes Joe Walsh‘s I.L.B.T.’s seem like Shakespeare.
But if you focus on the music, Peter Criss is better and more consistent than any of the five solo albums Criss previously released, and yes that includes the 1978 album he made while still a member of Kiss.
So the next question is, where does Peter Criss rank among the 27 other solo albums various members of Kiss have released over the years? You’ll find the answer below…
Kiss Solo Albums Ranked Worst to Best
Counting down solo albums released by various members of Kiss.
Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening
