Inside the KISS ‘Beth’ controversy as Criss and Simmons clash

Peter Criss and Gene Simmons’ feud ignited as the founding KISS drummer publicly rebutted Simmons’ recent claims.

For the unversed, the 76-year-old questioned his role in writing the band’s 1976 hit track, Beth.

Recently, Criss claimed to Billboard that he played a pivotal role in the craft and slammed his longtime bandmate for “talking about things he doesn’t know about.”

Earlier Simmon appeared on the YouTube series Professor of Rock, asserting that Criss had no contribution to songwriting.

He went on to remark the drummer “had nothing to do with” the ballad. He argued Criss merely sang the track and was “lucky enough to be in the same place at the same time.” 

The song was first written as Beck by Criss and Penridge, and they recorded it as a demo in another band. Later, Criss showed it to Ezrin, and together they restructured it and changed the title to Beth.

To the remarks, Simmons responded by saying it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘very uncalled for”.

The co-lead recounted that he wasn’t present during the song’s conception in the late ’60s or its completion with producer Bob Ezrin.

Criss emphasized that while Penridge’s verse and chorus remained, his core melody carried through to the final version.

He recounted sitting at the piano with Ezrin at the Record Plant studio to reshape verses and phrasing to fit the slower tempo.

“My name was credited to that song before it was a hit,” Criss added. “I would not put my name on a song I had nothing to do with. That is not who I am.”

Beth earned the band a People’s Choice Award and was the biggest commercial success, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.