Founding KISS member Peter Criss was honored Saturday night with the Man of Courage award at the Beauty Ball in Eatontown, New Jersey.
Criss, a breast cancer survivor, was also back behind the drums as the night's host, comedian, singer and former Saturday Night Live cast member Joe Piscopo, invited Peter on stage to perform with his band Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing," which featured Peter's hero, Gene Krupa, on drums.
In other Criss news, he was voted the fourth "Most Influential Drummer" in Goldmine magazine. He says, "Without my hero Gene Krupa, I wouldn't have influenced anyone."
Here's the complete list:
- John Bonham - Led Zeppelin
- Neil Peart - Rush
- Ringo Starr - The Beatles
- Peter Criss - KISS
- Keith Moon - The Who
- Ginger Baker - Cream & Blind Faith
- Ian Paice - Deep Purple
- Cozy Powell - Rainbow and others
- Danny Carey - Tool
- Mitch Mitchell - Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Stewart Copeland - The Police
- Dave Grohl - Nirvana
- Mike Portnoy - Dream Theater
- Bill Bruford - Yes and King Crimson
- Bill Ward - Black Sabbath
- Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones
- Terry Bozzio - Missing Persons and Frank Zappa
- Jeff Porcaro - Toto and numerous other artists
- Phil Rudd - AC/DC
- Alex Van Halen - Van Halen
Goldmine's Martin Popoff says he "focused on the word influence...not particularly chops or distinct character or fame or commercial success or discography...
"If this was a list of 30 or 40 or 50, I can see as many jazz drummers and fusion guys getting in, but at 20, I’d say this list is pretty solid."
Popoff also has a list of honorable mentions, and they are:
- Kenny Aronoff - John Mellencamp/John Fogerty and others
- Tommy Aldridge - Ozzy, Whitesnake, Ted Nugent and others
- Camine Appice - Vanilla Fudge and many others
- Brian Downey - Thin Lizzy
- Gavin Harrison - Porcupine Tree and King Crimson
- Dave Lombardo - Slayer
- Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden
- Carl Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia
- Simon Phillips - AC/DC, The Who, Jeff Beck and others
- Lars Ulrich - Metallica
Ironically, during a recent radio interview, Carmine Appice said he was a "pioneer on the drums."