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It’s difficult to believe it has been 32-years since Eric Carr’s passing (July 12, 1950 – November 24, 1991). It was also 32-years ago when the surviving KISS members delivered a letter to Rolling Stone magazine after they ignored to make mention of Eric’s passing. Eric was an integral part of the re-envisioning of KISS making them a heavier and more versatile band which helped to transition KISS through a difficult time in their popularity. He always had interesting set ups and gave us so many memorable drum solos, one of the best is below from the KISS: Animalize LIVE MTV Concert.
The letter reads:
JANUARY 8, 1992
GENTLEMEN,
WE WERE SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED AT YOUR OBVIOUS CHOICE TO IGNORE THE DEATH OF OUR DRUMMER, RELENTLESS YEAR-LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER.
DURING THE PAST 11 YEARS, WHILE YOUR EDITOR HAS TRIED TO DENY OUR EXISTENCE, ERIC PLAYED OVER 800 CONCERTS TO MILLIONS OF FANS AROUND THE WORLD AND DRUMMED ON ALBUMS THAT SOLD OVER EIGHT MILLION COPIES. HE BROUGHT JOY AND TOUCHED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE, THAT TO NOT MAKE MENTION OF HIS PASSING IN YOUR JANUARY 9TH ISSUE (WHICH FEATURED THE DEATH OF ONE ROCK NOTABLE AND THE ILLNESS OF ANOTHER), REPRESENTS A SAD STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR MISGUIDED QUEST FOR “ARTISTIC FURITY”.
THE FACT THAT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WHO WORK FOR YOUR MAGAZINE HAVE HAD REVIEWS OF OUR ALBUMS REJECTED OR THAT OTHERS HAVE TOLD US THAT ANY ARTICLE WRITTEN ABOUT US WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED, DOES NOT CONCERN US,
WE THRIVE IN SPITE OF IT…
OMITTING THE DEATH OF A MUSICIAN OF ERIC CARR’S STATURE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL VIEWS AND TASTES, IS INEXCUSABLE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE COVERAGE IT RECEIVED ON CNN, MTV, NETWORK TELEVISION AND VIRTUALLY EVERY DAILY AND WEEKLY PUBLICATION.
AT A TIME THAT HAS SEEN ROLLING STONE BECOME EVERYTHING IT WAS STARTED N OPPOSITION TO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING FOR JANN WENNER TO HAVE MET ERIC CARR. HE WOULD HAVE COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH SOMEONE WHO STILL LIVED AND BELIEVED IN THE SPIRIT OF ROCK AND ROLL–THE SAME SPIRIT THIS MAGAZINE WAS FOUNDED ON, BUT HAS LONG FORSAKEN. THE CHANCE OF THE TWO MEETING WAS, OF COURSE, REMOTE. ERIC, YOU SEE, NEVER SAW ROCK AND ROLL AS A STEPPING STONE TO COCKTAIL PARTIES OR SOCIETY FUNCTIONS. HE SIMPLY PLAYED THE MUSIC HE LOVED.
WE LOVED HIM, THE FANS LOVED HIM AND HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
SIGNED: PAUL STANLEY, GENE SIMMONS, BRUCE KULICK
