Expert: Geoff Wickens - 7/3/2006

Question
What was the name of the drummer who died of a heart condition from KISS?  I know it was Eric but could not think of last name?

Answer
The fact that Eric Carr was not an original KISS member did not hurt his status among the fans.  By and large, he is considered to be one of the favorites among fans.  When Eric died on November 24 1991, the KISS world was dealt a crushing blow and fans were sent reeling with grief and questioning the band's future.

   Initially introduced to the rock world as Peter Criss' replacement on the Unmasked tour in 1980, Eric quickly won the hearts of KISS fans.  A true rock drummer, he pounded the skins like it was his last time to do it.  His style differed greatly from that of Peter Criss who had more of a jazz style.  Eric's drums were most pronounced on the Creatures of the Night album in 1982, as Gene wanted the bass drum sounds boosted into the mix.  On tour, Eric's drum kit grew to mammoth proportions.  His dramatic solos were always a favorite as he could barely be seen behind the huge kit but he could most certainly be heard!

   While in KISS, Eric was limited in his input to the band's songwriting.  His only real contributions were All Hell's Breakin' Loose on Lick It Up and Little Caesar on Hot In The Shade.  Apparently he brought many songs to the sessions but was frequently squeezed out by the time the final product was issued.  Side projects like the comic strip, The Rockheads, and session work with Ace Frehley were attempts at getting HIS music heard.  In March of 1999, Eric's mother, Loretta Carravello, gave permission for four of Eric's songs to be released on an independent EP entitled The Rockheads.

   Gone but not forgotten, Eric Carr's legacy will forever live on within the hearts and minds of KISS fans.  His death at 41 was untimely, and was largely unexpected for most people.  No one knew of his illness until it was too late.  His condition was kept secret by the band and was not announced until days before he passed away

When Eric Carr joined the band in 1980, it was a difficult task to come with a new KISS character for him. The design for the "Fox" was first worn in July at a show at the Palladium. This version with a solid black nose and thin line outlining the design was only worn for this show. The design was modified to accentuate the nose and make it look more "animalistic".  Eric also had a tendency to curl the ends of the lipstick lines. Eric routinely adjusted the highlights of his eyes with a bit of "rust" color.

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Geoff