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Bruce Kulick

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Bruce Kulick
Kulick in 2016
Background information
Birth nameBruce Howard Kulick
Born (1953-12-12) December 12, 1953 (age 71)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1968–present
Member ofEric Singer Project
Formerly of
SpouseLisa Kulick (m. 2014-present)
Websitebrucekulick.com

Bruce Howard Kulick (/ˈkjuːlɪk/;[1] born December 12, 1953) is an American guitarist best known as a former guitarist of the band Kiss (1984–1996). He was also a member of Union with John Corabi from 1997–2002, Blackjack from 1979–1980 and Grand Funk Railroad from 2000–2023.

Kulick has also released several solo albums, in addition to session work with various artists. He is the younger brother of guitarist Bob Kulick.

Early life and family

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Kulick was born in Brooklyn, New York City and lived in Queens for a time,[2][3] graduating from Newtown High School.[4] He is Jewish and also went to Hebrew school.[5][6][7]

Kulick's brother, session guitarist/producer Bob Kulick, was influential in his music career.[2] Bob's performance credits include W.A.S.P., Meat Loaf's touring band, and Kiss.

Career

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Kulick in 2013

Early projects

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Bruce's first band KKB, was formed in 1974.[8] Its other members were his childhood friends Mike Katz and Guy Bois (the other K and B of KKB, respectively) and Kulick likened its sound to that of Cream.[8] Kulick found the master tape from those sessions in 2008 and issued it via limited edition CD, available during his appearances at Kiss expos and via his website.[8] In an interview from 2008, Kulick also discussed his lifelong love of Star Wars and its historical similarities to Kiss.[9]

He first began touring professionally with George McCrae[10][11] and Andrea True.[12]

Meat Loaf

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In 1977, following the release of Meat Loaf's first album Bat Out of Hell, Kulick played rhythm guitar/lead guitar on tour with Meat Loaf's band alongside his brother Bob on lead guitar/rhythm guitar.[2][13] The success of the year-long tour took the Kulick brothers around the world. In addition to the success of the tour, many famous television appearances were done, such as Saturday Night Live[14] and The Old Grey Whistle Test.[15]

Blackjack

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Kulick was a member of the band Blackjack, with Michael Bolton, during the band's short existence from 1979 to 1980.[2][13] He also played on several Bolton solo albums.[2] (Bolton later co-wrote the Kiss song "Forever", from Hot in the Shade).

"Stay", a Blackjack song co-written by Kulick and Bolton, was sampled by rapper Jay-Z for the song "A Dream" off his 2002 album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse which reached #1 on the Billboard charts.

The Good Rats

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Kulick joined the Long Island-based band the Good Rats in 1981, and is on their album, Great American Music.[16]

Michael Bolton

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In 1983, Bruce was asked to join Michael Bolton as his guitarist for his debut album release tour, after Bolton anglicizing his family name from Bolotin.[17][18]

Kiss (1984–1996)

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Kulick (right) with Kiss in 1988

Kulick joined the rock band Kiss in September 1984 as the lead guitarist, replacing Mark St. John, who left the band after being diagnosed with reactive arthritis. St. John later confessed that this medical condition had been a cover story, saying "The arthritis thing was really a cover up for the other reasons, you know what I'm trying to say?".[19] Kulick, who remained with Kiss until 1996, and St. John are the only two members of Kiss never to have worn makeup or costumes in the band, although Gene Simmons’ step-niece HAS come up with unofficial designs for both of them which have garnered approval.[citation needed]

Kulick played on five Kiss studio albums: Asylum (1985), Crazy Nights (1987), Hot in the Shade (1989), Revenge (1992) and Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997); he also appeared on Alive III and MTV Unplugged.[20] The song "I Walk Alone", from Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions, is the only Kiss track to feature Kulick as lead vocalist.[citation needed] Kulick is featured on more than twenty Kiss releases.

When the original members of the band regrouped, starting in 1995 with the MTV Unplugged special that carried over into re-adopting their make-up and costuming for the Alive/Worldwide Tour in 1996, Kulick and Eric Singer were paid weekly during the tour; while "sidelined" from Kiss, both were allowed to do other projects as long as Simmons and Stanley okayed them.[21] Kulick officially left Kiss in December 1996.[22] When Ace Frehley again left Kiss (in 2002, after the Kiss Farewell Tour), Kulick was not asked to rejoin, as Simmons and Stanley thought that Tommy Thayer (former Black 'n Blue guitarist and Kiss tour manager) could capture/copy Frehley's persona better than Kulick; however, Kulick continued to work with Kiss after his departure, contributing work to the Psycho Circus album. Kulick briefly rejoined the band on Kiss Kruise 2021 and played on 2 songs, Tears Are Falling and Heaven's on Fire.

Union

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Soon after leaving Kiss, Kulick formed the band Union with John Corabi, Brent Fitz, and Jamie Hunting in 1996. Corabi and Kulick wrote what would become the first album, the self-titled Union, which was released in 1998. They proceeded with a nationwide acoustic tour to promote the album, featuring just Corabi and Kulick (both on guitar). Soon the full band went on a world tour headlining small venues in support of the album. Their second album 1999's Live in the Galaxy, was a live recording with two acoustic tracks recorded in a mobile studio. The third Union album was The Blue Room (2000).

Grand Funk Railroad

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Kulick performing with Grand Funk Railroad in 2002

Kulick was the lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad from 2000–2023. Kulick had originally met Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer when Brewer was performing with Bob Seger during the 1983 tour with Michael Bolton. Following their December 14, 2023 concert in Marietta, Ohio, Kulick departed Grand Funk Railroad.[23]

Solo work

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Kulick has released three solo albums: Audiodog in 2001, Transformer in 2003, and most recently BK3, which was released on February 2, 2010.[24]

Other work

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Kulick earned a writing credit on the song "Never Let Me Down" on the 2004 Kanye West album, The College Dropout.

Kulick has also appeared on all album releases by Eric Singer's solo project ESP (Eric Singer Project): Lost and Spaced (1998), ESP (1999), and Eric Singer Project: Live in Tokyo (2006). Kulick also appeared on the DVD Eric Singer Project: Live at the Marquee (2006), which was filmed live in Australia.

Kulick appears on the Lordi March 2006 album The Arockalypse, playing lead guitar on the song "It Snows in Hell".

Kulick appears on Paul Stanley's 2006 album Live to Win, playing bass.

Kulick cut a guest guitar solo for the track "The Edge of the Razor" (featured on the album Emotional Coma) by Swedish metal group Lion's Share.

Personal life

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On October 16, 2003, Kulick was shot twice by stray bullets on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles California.[25] Bruce is currently married to Lisa Lane Kulick.[26] They met in 2008, and were married in 2014. They often perform together at events and online.

Discography

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with Mike Katz, Guy Bois

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  • KKB 1974 (2008)
  • Got to Get Back (2015)

Rosetta

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  • Where's My Hero (1980)

with Billy Squier

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with Blackjack

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with The Good Rats

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  • Great American Music (1981)
  • Tasty Seconds (1996)

with Michael Bolton

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with Kiss

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Kiss Video albums

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with Union

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with ESP

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  • Lost & Spaced (1998)
  • ESP (1999)
  • Live in Japan (2006)
  • Live at the Marquee DVD (2006)

Solo

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Other work

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References

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  1. ^ ESP Guitars: LTD M-1 Custom '87 Demo by Bruce Kulick (KISS, Grand Funk). ESP Guitars USA. YouTube. May 26, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Straight from the Lips of Bruce Kulick". Faces Rocks Presents Metal Muscle. 2 (1): 24. Spring 1986.
  3. ^ "KISS Crazy (UK) #8, 9/90". kissfaq.com. Carol Watkinson. September 1990. p. 20. Retrieved December 28, 2020. KC: Where were you born and raised? BK: Brooklyn, New York and I experienced Queens, then I experience Manhattan. A New York boy.
  4. ^ Bruce Kulick. "Bruce Kulick". linkedin.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Bruce Kulick – Journey of a Frontman https://journeyofafrontman.com/2015/01/07/on-the-line-with-bruce-kulick/ January 7, 2015 – Bruce Kulick is the only musician in the world who can say that he has rocked ... Bruce Kulick: With the Jewish religion, there's something called ...
  6. ^ Get Ready to ROCK! Interview with Bruce Kulick, guitarist with Kiss ... http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/bruce_kulick2.htm Interview with Bruce Kulick, guitarist with Kiss, Union and Grand Funk ... I was young, having to go to Hebrew School, so I couldn't play in the high school band.
  7. ^ Rock Eyez – Interview with Bruce Kulick- Guitar – BK, (form. KISS ... http://www.rockeyez.com/interviews/int-2010-01-bmr-bruce-kulick-bk.html KISS/Grand Funk Railroad), 2009 Interview, Featuring artist and band interviews, ... Bruce Kulick: Well you have to understand that the band at the time was trying to fit in, .... Bruce Kulick: I do have a pendant of a Jewish star that is very much ...
  8. ^ a b c "3-Wind with Bruce Kulick". Metal Sludge. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "KISS Thinks Star Wars Rocks". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
  10. ^ Valcourt, Keith (September 5, 2015). "Bruce Kulick – Have guitar, will rock!". kissasylum.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Valcourt, Keith (September 1, 2015). "Bruce Kulick: 'Have Guitar, Will Rock!'". washingtontimes.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 568. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  13. ^ a b "Bruce Kulick Bio". grandfunkrailroad.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. ^ ""Saturday Night Live" Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf (TV Episode 1978) – IMDb". IMDB.com. March 25, 1978. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ ""Whistle Test" Episode #7.35 (TV Episode 1978) – IMDb". IMDB.com. May 30, 1978. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 532. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  17. ^ Liner Notes; Michael Bolton CD (1983, Columbia/CBS Records)
  18. ^ King, Louise (May 1983). "Seger, Silver Bullet Sill Spell Good Time". newspapers.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. ^ Giles, Jeff (April 27, 2017). "The Life and Death of Kiss Guitarist Mark St. John". ultimateclassicrock.com. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Saulnier, Jason (March 14, 2011). "Bruce Kulick Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  21. ^ Sherman, Black Diamond, p. 244.
  22. ^ Sherman, Black Diamond, p. 248.
  23. ^ "Bruce Kulick Announces His Departure from Grand Funk Railroad". Ultimate Classic Rock. January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  24. ^ "Bruce Kulick BK3 Album Page | KULICK.net – The Official Bruce Kulick Website". KULICK.net. February 2, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  25. ^ Dukes, Billy DukesBilly (October 16, 2023). "20 Years Ago: Ex-Kiss Guitarist Bruce Kulick Almost Shot to Death". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  26. ^ Bruce Kulick & Lisa Lane Wedding (YouTube). Los Angeles, California, US. February 13, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  27. ^ Kulick, Bruce (September 22, 2023). Bruce Kulick KISS Psycho Circus 25th Anniversary "Behind the Curtain" (Podcast). YouTube. Event occurs at 11:33. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  28. ^ "BRUCE KULICK To Release 'BK3' In February". BlabberMouth.

Bibliography

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  • Sherman, Dale (2009). Black Diamond: The Unauthorized Biography of KISS (10th Anniversary ed.). Ontario, CANADA: CG Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-894959-92-6.
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Interviews
Preceded by Lead guitarist of Kiss
1984–1996 		Succeeded by
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