The funeral procession to the cemetery was very long, with New York State troopers making sure fans did not enter the cemetery for the interment. In keeping with Carr’s accessibility to his fans, his family decided to open his funeral service to the public, while reserving the interment as a private event. The day, November 24, 1991, of Eric’s death is still one of the saddest in rock music history as it was the same day QUEEN’S Freddie Mercury died. He survived this episode, but it was only a matter of days before he suffered a brain hemorrhage caused by cancer cells transported in his bloodstream to the head, and never regained consciousness. Not long afterwards he suffered from an aneurysm and was rushed to a hospital. After aggressive treatment, the cancer went into remission and Carr’s health appeared to improve.Ĭarr’s last public appearance with Kiss was at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1991. After filming the video, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Bruce Kulick told him to go home and get well. He recovered sufficiently to fly to Los Angeles in July 1991 to be with the band to play drums for their music video “God Gave Rock n’ Roll To You.”His health had deteriorated 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. In April 1991, Carr underwent a series of surgeries to remove tumors in his right atrium and lungs in an effort to restore heart function and prevent the cancer’s growth. However, he was diagnosed with an unexpectedly serious and extremely rare type of cancer – heart cancer. Medical tests revealed what at first appeared to be manageable problems with his health. In February 1991, while recording the song “God Gave Rock N Roll To You II”, Carr began feeling ill, coughing up blood and feeling heaviness in the chest. Guests include members and former members of KISS, TWISTED SISTER, SEETHER, ZO2, EUROPE and others. This special release features 17 rare Eric Carr recordings, including unreleased music, live performances, interview clips and more. Eric Carr was KISS drummer for over 11 years and most consider him not only the best KISS drummer ever, but one of the best hard rock and heavy metal drummers in history. Carr is still an influence on drummers and rock fans. Carr, I’d say you meant something in my life and still do mean a lot.Ī brand new collection of Eric’s work was just released yesterday, November 8, 2011, to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of his death. I began to tear up so badly that I had to pull over to the side of the road and compose myself. So, when the song set ended and the I heard the DJ came on in a somber voice to pass along the news say that Eric had died at the age of 41 after a battle with cancer it felt like someone punched me in the chest. I was still a huge KISS fan too having seen them live twice in the last three years. In those days the invincibility of our youth was still clinging to it’s one last thread of hope. Therefore, I had no clue that Eric was sick, I don’t think any of us hard rock and KISS fans were even vaguely aware of any trouble in the KISS camp let alone one of them being seriously ill. The 24 hour news cycle that we live in today was just getting established after The Gulf War coverage by CNN. This was November 1991 in the days before the internet, email, and social networking. I was driving up a steep hill and out of a little town (Stannards) near my hometown of Wellsville, NY radio cranking. I still recall the moment I heard of Eric’s death. Thank you Eric Carr, in my opinion your discovery saved KISS from fading into the territory of FOREIGNER in the 80’s. The drums sounded massive, especially on I Love It Loud and War Machine. Until they found this dude named Eric Carr and recorded CREATURES OF THE NIGHT, a much needed return to the bombast that is KISS. So, when KISS began to splinter and Peter Criss left/was fired, I was very upset. The mystique and mystery, the bombast and bigness, the music and the makeup. KISS was the very first band that I absolutely loved.
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