Rock and roll is full of happy accidents. But the story behind the beth song by kiss isn't just an accident; it’s a near-miracle that almost never happened because the band’s leaders, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, basically didn't want it on the record.
Think about it. You have the "Hottest Band in the Land," known for fire-breathing, spitting blood, and songs about "shouting it out loud." Then, suddenly, there’s a tender piano ballad with a flute solo and a full orchestra. It shouldn’t have worked. It definitely shouldn't have been their highest-charting single ever.
But it was.
The Weird Truth: It Started as a Joke Called "Beck"
Long before Peter Criss was the Catman in Kiss, he was in a band called Chelsea. While they were rehearsing in the early 70s, the wife of their guitarist Mike Brand—a woman named Becky—would call the studio constantly.
She wanted to know when Mike was coming home.
The band was annoyed.
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So, Peter Criss and his songwriting partner Stan Penridge started writing down Mike’s excuses. "Beck, I hear you calling, but I can't come home right now." It was literally a parody of a hen-pecked husband. They recorded a demo of it, and it sat in a drawer for years.
When Kiss was recording the Destroyer album in 1976, they needed more material. Peter played the demo for producer Bob Ezrin. Ezrin, a certified musical genius (and sometimes a bit of a tyrant), heard something the others didn't. He didn't see a joke; he saw a massive, universal hit.
How "Beck" Became "Beth"
There are a lot of arguments about who actually did the work here. Gene Simmons has famously claimed Peter had almost nothing to do with writing it, while Peter maintains he wrote the core melody and phrasing.
What we do know for sure:
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- The Name Change: They changed the name to "Beth" partly to avoid confusion with guitarist Jeff Beck, and partly because "Beth" just sounded more sentimental.
- The Orchestration: Bob Ezrin brought in the New York Philharmonic. This was a huge deal. No other members of Kiss played on the track. It was just Peter Criss and a room full of classical musicians.
- The Lyrics: The biting, sarcastic tone of the original "Beck" was softened. It turned from a guy complaining about his wife to a man torn between his passion (the band) and the woman he loves.
The B-Side That Refused to Die
When Destroyer first came out, it wasn't the immediate smash people think it was. Sales were actually starting to slump. The band released "Detroit Rock City" as a single, and "Beth" was buried on the B-side.
Then, a DJ at CKLW in Windsor (just across from Detroit) named Rosalie Trombley flipped the record over.
The phones went crazy.
People who didn't even like rock music were calling in to hear the "Beth song by Kiss." It was a total crossover. Suddenly, the greasepaint-wearing demons were being played on Easy Listening stations next to Barry Manilow.
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Why the Band Hated Its Success
It’s no secret that Gene and Paul weren't thrilled. Imagine being the guys who wrote "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Deuce," only to have the drummer’s sappy ballad become the only Kiss song to ever win a People's Choice Award.
Paul Stanley has often been dismissive, once saying that if Peter was such a great songwriter, he would have written a second hit. Harsh. But that’s the Kiss dynamic. The success of "Beth" created a massive rift because it gave Peter Criss leverage. For a brief moment, the Catman was the biggest star in the group.
Actionable Insights for the Kiss Fan
If you’re diving back into the Destroyer era, here is how to truly appreciate the track:
- Listen to the "Beck" Demo: You can find the original Chelsea demo on YouTube. It’s wild to hear how "snarky" the original lyrics were compared to the 1976 version.
- Check the Credits: Notice that Dick Wagner (who played for Alice Cooper and Lou Reed) is actually the one playing the acoustic guitar, not Ace Frehley.
- Watch the 1977 People’s Choice Awards: Peter’s then-wife Lydia accepted the award because the band was on tour. It’s a rare moment of genuine emotion in the early Kiss timeline.
The beth song by kiss remains a masterclass in production. It proved that even the loudest band in the world could find success by whispering. Whether it was a "joke" or a "tribute," it saved the band’s career and cemented their place in pop history.