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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. After joining the band, he changed his name to Eric Carr, and 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.
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.
Tragic Death
Following the tour for the album Hot in the Shade, Eric began having problems with his health. Subsequent visits to a physician revealed that he had a rare form of heart cancer, which, in spite of surgery and chemotherapy, eventually spread to his lungs. Eric's last recording with KISS was for the song "God Gave Rock 'N Roll To You II", which featured Eric's vocal talent. 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, and eventually replaced 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".
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) (July 1996) (drums on "New York Groove")
- Rockology (April 2000)
- The Very Best of KISS (August 2002) (drums on tracks 18-20, backing vocals on 21)
- 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 Lonley"
- Wendy O. Williams: W.O.W.- Drums on "Legends Never Die" and co-wrote "Ain't None of Your Business"
- Ace Frehley: Frehley's Comet- Co-wrote "Breakout"
Trivia
- Eric's first idea for his KISS pseudonym was "Rusty Blades". He later used that name as a pseudonym for hotel check-ins, which is common amongst rock musicians desiring privacy. A character design reportedly created by manager Bill Aucoin (some sources claim it was actually Paul Stanley) called "The Hawk" was also briefly considered for Eric when he originally joined the band.
- Until Tommy Thayer replaced Ace Frehley in March 2002, Eric held the distinction of having played in a KISS lineup with every lead guitarist who was an official member of the band.
- An Eric Carr solo album under the KISS banner was planned as a project, as an extension of the 1978 releases of four solo albums by KISS members. Such an album was never produced, but the painting by Eraldo Carugati commissioned for use as an album cover was later given to Eric's family.
- The other members of KISS were hit hard with grief over Carr, and In his book KISS and Sell, author and band employee C. K. Lendt observes that any access that fans had to the band "slammed shut" after Eric's death.
- Although Carr rarely sang on any of KISS's albums, he did contribute lead vocals to the songs "Black Diamond" and "Young and Wasted" at concerts. Also, his song "Little Caesar" was played live once.
- Carr died on the same day as Queen's singer Freddie Mercury.
External links
1950 births | 1991 deaths | American drummers | Entertainers who died in their 40s | Members of KISS
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"Eric Carr"