Eric Carr
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Eric Carr (July 12, 1950 - November 24, 1991), born Paul Charles Caravello was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band KISS.
Following two albums that alienated many fans with their departure in style (1979's Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked), and a falling-out with Peter Criss over his substance abuse problems and unreliability, KISS held open auditions for a new drummer. Criss had not recorded an entire studio album with KISS since 1977's Love Gun.
At the time of his audition, Paul Caravello was cleaning stoves for a living, while playing drums in a variety of bands. He was the last drummer to audition for the band and even asked Paul, Gene and Ace for autographs, believing he had little chance of being chosen. He was chosen and, after considering monikers such as Rusty Blades, he changed his name to Eric Carr upon joining the band. For his Kiss persona, Carr was first made up as "The Hawk," which he didn't like, and later adopted the persona of "The Fox", with his makeup design reflecting the character.
Eric's first album with the group was 1981's Music From "The Elder", which marked yet another departure for the band, in a mystical art-rock direction. His contribution to the album, "Under the Rose", featured a Gregorian Chant-style chorus.
Carr is often cited by fans as a favorite among drummers in the band's history, for his intense playing style and incredible timing, which was radically different from the soft-by-comparison jazz-influenced technique of Criss. Carr's style is featured most prominently on 1982's Creatures of the Night, and on 1988's Smashes, Thrashes & Hits, in which Carr overdubbed updated drum tracks in place of Criss' on KISS classics such as "Strutter", "Deuce" and "Rock and Roll All Nite".
Eric was also part of the band's well-publicized removal of their stage makeup in 1983.
Aside from his legendary drum skills, Eric was also a talented vocalist, and was given the chance to showcase that ability when the KISS classic "Beth" (originally vocalized by Peter Criss) was re-recorded for the 1988 compilation album Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. Eric recorded his version of the song using the same backing track as Criss, and reportedly sat on the same drum throne as Criss did to record the song. His first lead vocal on a self-penned, studio album track was "Little Caesar," in 1989. Carr's last live performance with KISS was November 9, 1990 in New York City, at Madison Square Garden.
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[edit] Music Career
Eric Carr was influcenced by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Ringo Starr of The Beatles. Carr idolized Ringo when he first saw The Beatles and wanted to be like him.
Carr was working as on oven repair man when Peter Criss left KISS. Carr, who had been playing in cover bands throughout the 1970s, was told by a former bandmate that he should audtion for KISS. Taking his advice, Carr purchased a copy of Unmasked to get information on getting in touch with KISS's management, and after submitting an application (a day after the deadline), he met with KISS manager Bill Aucoin who advised Carr to shave off his mustache for the audtion for fear the band "wouldn't be able to see past it".
After passing the audtion, the band had some trouble coming up with a character persona and a stage name. He originally considered going by the name "Rusty Blades," until he decided on Eric Carr, noting that all of the original members of KISS had three-sylables in their names. Carr, was shortened from his birth name Caravello, and he chose Eric since he always liked the name.
[edit] Death
Following the tour for the album Hot in the Shade, Eric began having problems with his health. A visit to a physician revealed that he had pericarditis in his heart which was treated for. Eric had another x-ray a time after his first operation and a tumor was found on his heart attached to the right atrium as it was being pulled in and out of the tricuspid valve as it opened and closed. The tumor also formed into Eric's lungs and he decided he needed another operation which was done in New York closer to his family and friends, even though Gene and Paul hoped he would have it done in Los Angeles. Eric's last recording with KISS was for the song "God Gave Rock 'N Roll To You II", which featured him on backing vocals. His health had declined to the point where he was unable to play drums for the recording session, and Eric Singer (who had played previously in Paul Stanley's solo band) was brought in, though Carr appeared in the video for the song. Singer would eventually replace Carr permanently.
On November 24, 1991, Eric Carr died at the age of 41. As a tribute, the group's 1992 release Revenge featured what is said to be the only drum solo Carr ever recorded with the band, which was titled "Carr Jam 1981". The album was also dedicated to Carr.
Carrs girlfriend during the last part of his life was future playmate Carrie Stevens.
[edit] KISS Albums Featuring Eric Carr
- Music From "The Elder" (November 1981)
- Killers (May 1982) (non-U.S. compilation featuring four newly recorded tracks)
- Creatures of the Night (October 1982)
- Lick It Up (September 1983)
- Animalize (September 1984)
- Asylum (September 1985)
- Crazy Nights (September 1987)
- Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (November 1988) (vocals on remake of "Beth")
- Hot in the Shade (October 1989) (drums on entire album, lead vocals on "Little Caesar")
- Revenge (May 1992) (backing vocals on "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II" & drums on "Carr Jam 1981")
- You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (Japanese version & U.S. Vinyl) (July 1996) (drums on "New York Groove")
- Rockology (April 2000)
- The Box Set (November 2001) (features Carr on discs 3-5)
- The Very Best of KISS (August 2002) (drums on tracks 18-20, backing vocals on 21)
- The Best of KISS, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection (June 2004)
- Gold (January 2005) (drums on disc 2; tracks 18-20)
[edit] Other Albums featuring Eric Carr
- Bryan Adams: Cuts Like a Knife - Co-wrote "Don't Leave Me Lonely"
- Wendy O. Williams: W.O.W. - Drums on "Legends Never Die" and co-wrote "Ain't None of Your Business"
- Frehley's Comet: Frehley's Comet - Co-wrote "Breakout"
- PROPHECY: A Tribute to Eric Carr - Radio ID and performed "Your Turn to Cry"
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Peter Criss |
Drummer for KISS 1980–1991 |
Succeeded by: Eric Singer |
| KISS |
|---|
| Gene Simmons – Paul Stanley – Tommy Thayer – Eric Singer |
| Peter Criss – Ace Frehley – Eric Carr – Vinnie Vincent – Mark St. John – Bruce Kulick |
| Discography |
| Albums: Studio – Live – Compilation |
| U.S. Top 40 Singles: "Rock and Roll All Nite" – "Shout It Out Loud" – "Beth" – "Hard Luck Woman" – "Calling Dr. Love" – "Christine Sixteen" "Rocket Ride" – "New York Groove" – "I Was Made For Lovin' You" – "Forever" |
| Filmography: KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park – Detroit Rock City |
| Related articles |
| Anton Fig – Bob Kulick – KISS Army – KISS merchandising - KISS timeline – List of KISS concert tours – Wicked Lester |
