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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

The original title was "Beck," the nickname of songwriter Stan Penridge's girlfriend Becky. Penridge was the guitar player of the band Peter Criss was in before he met Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and formed Kiss. Additional lyrics were added by Peter Criss and producer Bob Ezrin.

Peter Criss was Best Man at Stan's wedding. Ace Frehley was also in the bridal party.

Stan Penridge co-wrote the songs on Peter's solo album and played guitar on most of the album.

This was intended as a B-side, not a single. (thanks, Rick - Lafayette, NJ, for all above)

This was a rare ballad for Kiss. Criss sang lead.

Although this was not typical of their sound, this was the biggest hit for Kiss.

Sitcom writer Paul Simms named the obnoxious secretary character from NewsRadio Beth after this song. The character had "no last name." (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada)

Criss' wife Lydia was nicknamed "Beth," but this was just a coincidence.

Comments:

I’m 52 now but when the song first came out I was a college student working at a Pizza Hut in San Antonio. Many of my friends also worked there and we had an absolute blast. It was one of the best periods of my life. While at Pizza Hut, a fellow was hired to help cook. He didn’t fit in with our group so we didn’t know much about him. One evening while we were working a really beautiful girl walks in. She had long black hair and on the scale of 1 to 10 she was a 15. I would guess she was in her very early 20s. She walks up to the counter and I’m stunned by her beauty. I noticed she had this innocent look but appeared somewhat distraught. I go up to see if she needed anything and she asked to see this one fellow. I noticed she was wearing a wedding ring and that’s when I realized she was married to him. I called him over then went back to the pizza make table. Since I was close to the counter I overheard her asking him when he was coming home that evening. He told her he was going out with his friends and would be home late that night. He turned and walked back to his station. She stayed for a moment before walking out. If I had to guess he was probably very tired of their marriage and wanted out. All us guys dream of falling in love with a gorgeous lady. He did and I would venture to guess their marriage did not last. He was young, good looking, and I guess wanted to be free to play the field. Every time I here Beth, I think of that sad relationship.
- James, Columbus, OH

My mother loved this song when it came out (no, neither her name, nor mine, is Beth). She thought it was so pretty. One day when we were out shopping, I showed her the cover of "Destroyer" and told her, "These are the guys who do the song 'Beth'." She's never listened to it again.
- Karen, Manchester, NH

I was at the reunion concert at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on June 28, 1996. I remember when Peter sang this song, I became a little watery eyed because after many years of hearing this song on albums and the radio,I thought to myself I cannot believe I am actually seeing him sing the live in make up and with the other original members....WOW
- Jason, Denver, CO

Jeff from Wayne, NJ wins the argument here. His explaination is the correct one. I can't believe that so many people post before doing their homework, sheesh!
- Gregg, Raceland, KY

The song was written by Peter Criss and Stan Penridge, both of whom were in a band called Chelsea. A demo tape of the song, however, was recorded later, during Criss' tenure in another band, Lips, immediately before he joined Kiss. Although Criss has stated that the original song, entitled "Beck", was about his then-wife, Lydia, this is in contradiction to other statements which point to a woman named Becky (Rebecca, or "Beck" for short), who was the girlfriend of Chelsea guitarist Mike Brand. The song was written as an insult to Rebecca, who would frequently interrupt recording sessions and rehearsals. She was, according to Criss, also a notorious hypochondriac. Several years later, when Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin was presented with the song, he re-wrote the lyrics and suggested the piano and orchestra. Gone was the caustic (and reportedly profane) diatribe against an annoying woman. What it became was a sweet ballad about missing a loved one while on the road; telling her that even though you're not there and have a job to do, you're still thinking about her. However, it was Gene Simmons who suggested a change in title to "Beth". The two versions of this story alternately have Simmons concerned about fans believing it was about guitarist Jeff Beck or, worse yet, misconstrued as a gay love song about the guitarist. During the recording sessions for Beth, the only Kiss member to be present in the studio was Peter Criss. Live, "Beth" was performed by Peter Criss backed solely by a tape of the instrumental track. However, during the years when Eric Carr and Eric Singer were Kiss' drummers, the song was never performed live by Kiss. The version of Beth featured on the group's 2003 Kiss Symphony: Alive IV DVD and subsequent album would be the only time the song was performed live with a full orchestra.
- Jeff, Wayne, NJ

I was AT that concert! BEST I'd ever heard Pete sing that!
- Axeman, Melbourne, Australia

Brett from Canada is correct. It was for Mike's GF and Peter wrote the lyics while on a train riding from Ny to Nj for practice
- Chris, SELINSGROVE, PA

The most overrated Kiss song ever.
- austin, Bristow, VA

Steve, Birmingham, AL, you're mistaken. Or, have you never heard of KISS: UNPLUGGED, on which it is performed on acoustic guitars.
- Gary, Morgantown, WV

I hear this song ALOT on a couple of our local FM stations. It's about my favorite song by KISS with its heartfelt(!) emotion. But...there is something about hearing KISS 30 years later on an "easy listening" station. It just don't seem natural...
- Don, Indianapolis, IN

The Eric Carr version is also quiet nice (1989).
- Draal, Tilburg, Netherlands

This is a really sad song and I cry alot whenever I listen to it. Call me a wuss if you want but it is indeed a sad song despite it being a powerful ballad. Hey it's ok to cry whenever you hear a sad song like this.
- Frank, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

"Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park" contains the only recording of "Beth" performed on acoustic guitars. Supposedly, the soon-to-be-released Kissology Vol. 2 contains the first ever DVD copy of this rare film.
- Steve, Birmingham, AL

This one of my favourite KISS songs ever!
- Randell, Sydney, Australia

Gee...i love this song
- BEth, pittsburgh, PA

If you pay close attention on Alive II you can hear the spring in Peter's throne rattle as he gets up to sing the song. Also, towards the end of the song, you can hear a woman in the crowd scream "Peter!" at the top of her lungs.
- Brian, L.A., CA

Originally this song was on the B side of the single Detroit Rock city. The only reason KISS put it there was because they thought that it would be a dud, but man were thy wrong it won them a people choice award and will always be one of KISS'S most popular and known song.
- Cam, Cambridge, Canada

This song still gives me chills. KISS was one of the loudest bands of that time, and this was such a beautiful departure.
- Clarke, Pittsburgh, PA

In the movie Detroit Rock City, the epic saga of 4 teen boys trying to get to a Kiss concert (produced by Gene Simmons) one of the boys falls for a girl named Beth, appropriately.
- craig, madison, WI

I read or heard somewhere that the band changed the name from "Beck" to "Beth" as to avoid any confusion about the song being a tribute to guitarist Jeff Beck.
- Jordan, WV

I was seven when this was hot on the radio. It still envokes memories of an era gone buy. It was the only song I knew by Kiss for the longest time. As an adult I got more into them and have seen them in concert three times. Beth is one of the shortest songs to ever get radio play during the 70's, if you don't include some of the punk ones that have made it. Especially , when many songs lasted half an album side.
- Dee, Indianapolis, IN

Love this song, but i really would like to know what it is really about!
- Sarah, Colac, Australia

pretty good song, but im surprised it did so well...i wouldnt say its as good as some of their other stuff
- Shana, Pembroke,Ontario, Canada

he didn't write it for his wife, Criss wrote it with Penridge in his old band Chelsea. It was the Mike the guitarist girlfriend Becky who called while they were rehearsing and nagged him to come home.
- brett, Sudbury, Canada

I heard thet the song was written about his dog? I have heard this from several venues.
- Tristan, Anderson, SC

I heard it was written about Peters mom.
- andrew, some where in tx, TX

Peter Criss wrote it for his first wife...being a major rock star and being married caused problems. Pete also won a songwriting award for it. Good on him
- Steph, Melbourne, Australia