Eric Carr

Eric Carr (July 12 1950 - November 24 1991), born Paul Charles Caravello was an American musician, best known as 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 repairing 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 since there were already two members of Kiss with the name Paul (Paul Stanley and Paul "Ace" Frehley) a name change was needed. He decided that he wanted his name to "sound" correct when ever the four members of Kiss names' were spoken. Except for Peter Criss, all of the original members of Kiss have one syllable in their first name (Ace, Gene & Paul) and two syllables in their last name (Frehley, Simmons & Stanley). Peter Criss had two syllables in his first name and only one in his last name. Paul Caravello's girlfriend at the time decided that whatever name they came up with for him, it must follow this pattern of two syllables in the first name and one syllable in the last name so it would "sound correct" when people said the names of the members of Kiss. After considering monikers such as Rusty Blades, he decided upon "Eric Carr." 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'.

File:ILIL-Carr.jpg

Carr, in his Fox make-up, from the "I Love It Loud" video in 1982.

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.

Music Career

Eric Carr was influenced 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. This is best demonstrated in many photographs of him during his high school years as he wore his hair like the famed Beatles drummer.

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 audition 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 moustache for the audition for fear the band "wouldn't be able to see past it".

After passing the audition, 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 syllables in their names. Carr, was shortened from his birth name Caravello, and he chose Eric since he always liked the name.

Carr also played guitar, bass guitar, piano and sang both lead vocal & background vocals. While Kiss made little effort to showcase his diverse musical talents, former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick along with Carr's family released Carr's first and only solo album in 1999 titled Rockology, which featured many demos that Kulick and Carr worked on together along with songwriter and friend Adam Mitchell. The CD features several songs with Carr on lead vocals as well as on bass guitar along with Kulick on guitars and Mitchell assisting Carr with many of the background vocals.

Carr's impact as a drummer is something that was not fully appreciated until after his death. Further, upon reuniting with the original members, fans got to see original drummer Peter Criss interpret many of Carr's performances on songs like "I Love It Loud," "Lick It Up," and "Heaven's on Fire" and noticed again, the lack of power and musical presence. Gene Simmons had said that Carr pushed Kiss to be a heavier band and many die hard Kiss fans saw such a reality live and upon seeing many of the audio cassettes and videos that made their way into the bootleg market. Carr's interpretation of classic Kiss songs were unique as he often did not play Criss' grooves and fills as they were originally done.

On his first few tours he incorporated tasteful fills along with strong double bass grooves along with a strong stage presence as he involved the crowds with his solos. By 1985 he added drum pads to his kit that played custom made pitches that he used not only at the end of songs but also as a tool to play riffs along with him during his drum solo. On his last tour with Kiss he used not only the drumming and electronics that fans had come to expect but also added sequencing to his solo and was able to imitate a band without the assistance of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons or Bruce Kulick. This was never seen again by any Kiss drummer following his death.

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 cancer in his heart which he 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, the same day as Queen singer Freddie Mercury. 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". Much of the soloing was seasoned during Kiss' 1980 Unmasked Tour of Europe & Australia and put down during The Elder sessions since that album was recorded following that tour. Revenge was also dedicated to Carr.

Following Carr's death many fans had requested that Kiss play a tribute concert in honor of Carr, which they declined to do saying that, "they wouldn't have the heart to do it." This may have been caused by a strain that is said to have existed between Carr and the band as Carr didn't want the band to move on without him and according to some close to Carr, Kiss' moving forward caused Carr to believe that his time in the band would be over even if he did recover from his illness.

Carr's girlfriend during the last part of his life was future playmate Carrie Stevens.

Discography

• 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)

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"

External links

• The Official Eric Carr Website
• Kiss FAQ: Eric Carr Biography
• Prophecy - A Tribute to Eric Carr