15 Most Underrated Hard Rock Singers EVER
12. Peter Criss - KISS
When KISS first burst onto the New York scene in the early 70's, they had seemed to model themselves as a hard rock take on the Beatles. From the way they approached the stage to their blend of pop hooks and rock and roll, the band's songs could have easily been B-sides of Fabs tunes if not for the horrifying makeup. That being said, every Beatles knockoff has its Ringo....
For as much attention is thrown at Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons over the years, Peter Criss had one of the most interesting voices in rock at the time. Instead of the typical screaming approach that the other band members took, Criss had a lot more soul backing his songs. Coming from a more R&B background, every song Criss sang had a little bit more warmth to it, almost like you're hearing a soulful belter under the guise of Cat makeup.
Though Criss didn't have huge representation across every album, his voice on ballads like "Hard Luck Woman" have just the right balance of raw grit and tried and true softness that make them impossible to hate. Criss' time as the Cat may have been short-lived, but the band was definitely missing something after losing their cymbal-bashing balladeer.