Born Paul Charles Caravello on July 12th, 1950 in Brooklyn, NY. Paul grew up in a two family house with his parents and two younger sisters, as well as his uncle`s family. Artistic expression became evident in Paul at an early age, and his sixth-grade teacher asked his family to support him and push his drawing talent. Paul attended the High School of Music and Art and studied cartooning and photography. It was while attending that he discovered The Beatles and his passion for art began to take a back seat to music. Paul wanted to be Ringo.

Paul tore through two cheap drumsets while learning how to play before his father managed to pick up a Ludwig set for him. He put together a band called The Cellarmen with his friends, and recorded a two-song demo before they broke up. His next band would last for nine years in different incarnations and styles. Salt and Pepper was a Top 40 cover band made up of six people, three white, three black. They soon changed their name to Creation and switched to funk music. It was this incarnation of the band that lost a few of its members to a tragic club fire in June, 1974. The remaining band members stayed together as Mother Nature/Father Time for a few more years capitalizing on the disco movement of the late `70`s. Eric left the band in 1979 and joined the rock cover band, Flasher.

Playing with his new band at night and repairing gas stoves during the day to make ends meet, Paul was considering giving up music for good when a friend convinced him to audition for KISS, who had just announced that they were replacing original drummer, Peter Criss. Paul dragged his feet about trying it, but eventually put together a press kit for himself with a photo, tape and resume. He had an interview with KISS` then manager, Bill Aucoin, that lead to an audition with the band. Paul was confident in his ability, and the band was impressed with him. Paul left the audition feeling 100% sure that he was the one they would choose, it was just a matter of waiting for the call that he knew would come. Paul was about to become known to the world as Eric Carr

Hot In The Shade succeeded their third compilation album, Smashes, Thrashes And Hits , and included another US hit single, 'Forever', which reached number 8 in February 1990. Work on a new Kiss album with producer Bob Ezrin was delayed following Eric Carr's illness due to complications from cancer. He died on 24 November 1991, in New York, at the age of 41.