Former KISS drummer Peter Criss has talked about his decision to retire from live performance after two final shows at KISS conventions in Australia (in May) and New York City (June).

He tells The Rockpit he is “moving on to do other things. I’m 71 and in the best health I’ve been in for a while, and I thought if I’m gonna do it, I’ve gotta do it now. I had male breast cancer and I beat it, and that’s really changed my life, and my wife also beat cancer too, so I went out, I signed autographs, I wrote a book. When I connected [with the fans] again, I got to hear their stories and they’d ask me if I’d play again or sing again; there was so much love. And when I looked around, everyone was slowing down or retiring, like Eric Clapton, and I wondered what I have left.”

After the two shows he plans to complete an album he started nine years ago.