Peter Criss Talks KISS Kennedy Center Honor

Official Announcement | Published: Apr 30, 2026 2:54 PM EDT

(MS) Mark Strigl of SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard (Channel 38) recently sat down with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Peter Criss for an in-depth conversation covering a wide range of topics. The interview, which aired this past Tuesday, was recorded in New York City and is now available on demand in the SiriusXM app.

Criss, best known as the original drummer and one of the iconic voices of KISS. The conversation touched on former KISS manager Bill Aucoin, Criss's new album and other solo work including the Out of Control album, Ozzy Osbourne, and his recent Kennedy Center Honor.

Reflecting on receiving the prestigious honor, Criss shared the following: "It was amazing. My wife... I was in my office and my wife came in and said, 'you're going to the Kennedy Center.' I'm like, 'get out of here,' like you know I couldn't believe it like, I'm going to the White House to go to the office and meet the president and get this amazing award and only four other bands have it. I believe Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Jerry Garcia, and U2 and Kiss and it was amazing. I met Sly Stone. Who was really cool. I'm a big Rocky guy and he's a very cool guy. You know there was George Strait. Oh my God, you know, holy mackerel. All these great people were there and the president was really a. I'm not a political guy, but Ace, Ace wasn't there and that was very hard for me because his seat was next to mine and just his medal was on the seat, but his wife was ill, Jeanette, but his daughter came and the president came from around his desk when we were in the oval office and gave her a big hug, he gave Monique, his daughter, a big hug and said you must've really loved your dad. That really touched me. I was really crying my eyes out about that... but yeah it's an honor having that I never thought... the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was an honor, I thought holy mackerel, that's enough for me but going to the White House and being with the president and getting this amazing medal, you gotta see it. It's absolutely beautiful. I got it hanging off my wall. I was wearing a tuxedo for a week ago... It was pretty cool, pretty cool having dinner at the embassy, the Australian embassy, George Patton used to live there and then and they showed me all around. I went to see where Lincoln was assassinated. It was really an exciting week. It was a great time. The only bummer was that my brother Ace was not there and that was the hardest part of it."

Fans can listen to the full interview now on the SiriusXM app (with subscription) here.