Watch Peter Criss Perform ‘Beth’ at New York City Charity Event

Peter Criss returned to a familiar stage on November 21, bringing a moment of nostalgia and warmth to the Cutting Room in New York City. The former KISS drummer, known to generations of fans as the Catman, delivered a heartfelt rendition of Beth, the ballad that helped define his legacy within the band. His appearance was part of a Music Treatment Foundation benefit during the 2025 Underwater Sunshine Festival, giving the night an added sense of purpose beyond the music itself.

Criss was joined by pianist Paul Shaffer and singer Catherine Russell, both of whom added a polished intimacy to the performance. Shaffer’s long résumé, including his years leading the Late Show With David Letterman band, made the moment feel like an encounter between old friends who understood each other’s musical histories. The stripped-down arrangement suited Criss’s voice, which carried the song with the same fragile sincerity that first endeared it to fans in the 1970s.

Video of the performance, uploaded by James Campion, quickly made the rounds online, reminding listeners how uncommon it is to see Criss onstage these days. The setting, the song, and the cause combined into a rare appearance that felt both celebratory and reflective — a small window into why Beth continues to hold such a timeless place in rock history.

Peter Criss Revisits a Classic

“Beth” has always been tied to Criss’s identity within KISS. While the band built its reputation on bombast and spectacle, this ballad cut through the noise and showed a quieter, more emotional side of their catalog. Hearing Criss revisit it in an intimate space brought that contrast back into focus, proving how well the song stands on its own without the theatrics of a KISS arena show. The Cutting Room’s warm acoustics only amplified that effect.

Shaffer and Russell complemented Criss instead of overshadowing him, offering a gentle backdrop for the melody. Russell’s harmonies softened the chorus, while Shaffer’s piano underscored the song’s bittersweet storytelling. For an audience gathered to support a charitable cause, the performance didn’t feel like a nostalgic novelty — it felt like a reminder of how much sincerity Criss has always brought to his work.

Events like these also carry a sense of gratitude from fans who’ve followed Criss long after his final full U.S. show in 2017. Although he has stepped away from touring, moments like this show that he hasn’t lost his connection to the songs that shaped his career. For longtime KISS fans, it was a brief return to a chapter of the band’s history that still resonates.

A New Chapter With a New Album

Criss’s charity-night appearance comes just as he prepares to release his new solo album, Peter Criss, arriving December 19. It’s his first studio effort since 2007’s One for All, and early details suggest it’s his most rock-focused work in decades. He co-produced the album with Barry Pointer, whose credits include projects with Ozzy Osbourne, John 5, Mötley Crüe, and others. The lineup assembled for this record reads like a small supergroup: Billy Sheehan and Piggy D. on bass, John 5 and Michael McLaughlin on guitars, and Paul Shaffer once again at the piano.

Fans have heard Criss talk about this album in various interviews over the years, often describing it as the project he always wanted to make. He pushed for a heavier sound, even as he joked that fans can never fully agree on what direction he should take. Criss spent years refining the material, delaying its release until he felt the record truly represented the style he had been aiming for since his earliest solo work.

The album’s release marks his first new music in nearly two decades, closing a long gap between projects while setting the stage for what he hopes will be a proper return. With a bonus track, “Hard Rock Knockers,” appearing on all digital versions and as a download with vinyl, the LP seems designed as both a nod to long-time fans and a statement of renewed energy. It arrives at a moment when renewed appreciation for his legacy is already building.

Criss’s Legacy and His Continuing Recognition

Criss’s return to the spotlight isn’t limited to his new record. He and the other original KISS members are set to receive a Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, with the ceremony scheduled to air later that month on CBS. It’s a rare moment of mainstream acknowledgment for a band whose influence on rock performance, stage production, and merchandising is impossible to overstate. Even though Criss last performed with KISS in 2014 during their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, he remains one of the most recognizable figures connected to the band’s early success.

His career outside KISS has been marked by a mix of collaborations, solo records, and selective appearances. Criss left the band in 1980, reunited in the ’90s, and parted ways again in 2004, but his contributions — especially on vocals — remain cornerstones in their catalog. Songs like “Black Diamond,” “Hard Luck Woman,” and of course “Beth” showcase a versatility that often gets overlooked when discussing the louder, flashier side of KISS’s history.

Seeing Criss perform again, even briefly, highlights how much of his musical personality still resonates with fans. Whether revisiting a classic ballad or preparing to launch a new album, his presence feels rooted in the same sincerity that shaped his earliest work. For an artist who once helped define an era of rock spectacle, these quieter, more intimate moments carry just as much weight — and remind listeners why his work continues to matter.