KISS’ Peter Criss was honored Saturday night with the ‘Man of Courage’ award at the Beauty Ball in Eatontown, New Jersey.
Criss, who is a breast cancer survivor, was also back behind the drums. Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Joe Piscopo served as host, and invited Peter on stage to perform with his band to Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing," which also featured Peter's hero, Gene Krupa, on drums.
Criss once commented on how he sees himself. He said, "I am a musician. I don't like the word rock star, I think it's a joke. I picked up drumsticks when I was a boy -- banged on my mom's pots and pans with forks and knives because that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be Gene Krupa. I wanted to emulate the great man I heard on 'Sing, Sing, Sing.' What I do is I love to write music and sing and play drums, and that's what I hope to keep on doing 'til the great man upstairs wants me."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]