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PETER Criss has hit back at former KISS band-mate Gene Simmons for saying he had nothing to do with the song “Beth” despite being credited as a co-writer.
Simmons, 76, made the comments on the YouTube channel Professor Of Rock and Criss, 80, responded when speaking to Billboard.
“Gene wouldn’t know how the song was originally written because Gene wasn’t there from the conception of the song in the late sixties and he wasn’t there for the completion of the song with Bob Ezrin,” Criss told Billboard.
“Gene’s statements are ridiculous and very uncalled for; he talks about things that he doesn’t know about.
“What Gene’s getting wrong is that as the singing songwriter, I wrote the melody and creating the phrasing for the song that’s on the original demo ‘Beck’ with Stan Penridge.
“Out of Stan’s little black book what remained on the reworked version of ‘Beth’ is Stan’s original verse and chorus, and my core melody remains on the reworked composition. The core melody was expanded with Bob’s orchestration symphony and musical genius.
“Bob and I sat at the piano at the Record Plant studio working out the song. Bob Ezrin changed the tempo and made it slower, and I worked on changing some of the second verse and the phrasing with the slower tempo.
“Bob Ezrin changed the title from ‘Beck’ to ‘Beth’ — not Gene or anybody else. It was Bob Ezrin; He asked me, ‘Peter, do you mind if we change the title?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not. Beth is much better.’ Bob took the song home and fixed the rest of the lyrics and the structure of the song. He added piano, some time changes and the incredible orchestra composition which elevated the song beyond my wildest my dreams. It was mind-blowing.
“The day the New York Philharmonic came in and recorded its part was one of the most beautiful days of my life. Stan’s input, my input, my voice and mostly Bob’s absolute musical genius is responsible for the success of ‘Beth.’ Without Bob Ezrin’s input and orchestral composition the song would not be what it is today, and I am so grateful to Bob.”
Producer Ezrin is also quoted extensively in the Billboard article which you can read HERE.
Criss last month released a new solo album, which is being held off streaming services.
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