Late KISS drummer Eric Carr’s girlfriend Carrie Stevens has revealed that the band pressured Carr to resign while he was battling cancer. This revelation came during an interview with The Hair Metal Guru.
Stevens addressed the controversial topic when asked directly about the band’s actions during Carr’s illness.
When asked “You had said the guys in KISS, they wanted Eric Carr to resign before he passed, right?” Stevens responded with detailed allegations about the band’s conduct.
“Yes, they did. And they pressured him incredibly while he was in the hospital having chemo,” Stevens said. “And this is why you can imagine I was angry for a very long time.”
Stevens elaborated on the emotional impact this had on Carr during his treatment.
“They know it’s wrong now, but I knew it was wrong then as a young girl. I know my values were different and I didn’t have a stake in KISS business or for money or anything,” she continued. “So like I said, you know, they were coming from a completely different place than I was. But you know when somebody is fighting for their life… I can’t imagine what it’s like to be, you know, in the hospital like with a terminal diagnosis fighting for your life and your complete identity is being taken away from you.”
Stevens also discussed the complex relationship between Carr’s personal identity and his role in KISS.
“And you know, he’s Paul Caravello, not Eric Carr. KISS named him Eric Carr. KISS owned his identity,” she explained. “They pretty much owned him, which was I think part of his turmoil. Cuz he was so creative and free. But they are very shrewd businessmen who knew how to protect their interests and their band and that was part of the deal.”
Despite her criticisms, Stevens acknowledged the opportunities KISS provided Carr.
“That being said, they gave Eric a great gift, you know, being in one of the biggest, most popular bands, commercially successful bands of all time,” she said. “And what should be added to that is how much Eric contributed to that legacy because they were going down. They were going down until Eric joined the band, you know, and he lifted them back up again.”
Stevens’ revelations shed new light on the final months of Carr’s life and the circumstances surrounding his departure from the band during his cancer battle.
Rock and Roll Garage reported that Carr was diagnosed with rare heart cancer in February 1991 after initial tests showed what appeared to be manageable health issues. The diagnosis came as a shock, as the drummer had been experiencing symptoms that were initially not considered life-threatening. In April 1991, Carr underwent a series of surgeries to remove tumors from his right atrium and lungs. This marked the beginning of an aggressive treatment regimen.
The timing of Carr’s diagnosis coincided with KISS preparing to record their next album. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that soon after the diagnosis, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons made the decision to replace Carr with Eric Singer for the “Revenge” album sessions. The band refused Carr’s later pleas to return to the studio despite initially telling him to focus on his treatment and recovery.
Despite his deteriorating health and the effects of chemotherapy, Carr made one final appearance with KISS. Wikipedia documented that the last time Carr worked with KISS was in July 1991 when the band filmed the music video for “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You II.” During the video shoot, Carr wore a wig to hide his chemotherapy-induced hair loss. This demonstrated his commitment to the band even while battling his illness.
Years later, Paul Stanley would express regret about how the situation was handled. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Stanley reflected on the band’s actions, stating: “Had I known, I think we would have treated it more sensitively… He wasn’t ‘while he’s sick.’ He was dying.”
KISS Wiki confirmed that Carr died on November 24, 1991, at age 41 from a brain hemorrhage after suffering an aneurysm. His death came just months after his final appearance with the band. This marked the end of a tumultuous period that Stevens now describes as deeply troubling for both Carr and those who loved him.
