BRUCE KULICK Says He Was 'Relieved' He Wasn't Asked To Rejoin KISS

Ruben Mosqueda of Sleaze Roxx recently conducted an interview with former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Sleaze Roxx: I was looking at your website and I saw that you attended the KISS show in Anaheim. So I imagine you have heard "Sonic Boom"? What are your thoughts on it?

Bruce Kulick: I have heard it. It's not a record that I have heard a lot. I think I've heard it twice. I knew when it came to the live show they were only going to do two songs live anyway. I think they did two that night, I actually couldn't stay for the whole show as I had a flight the next day to Europe and I still needed to pack. I think it was wonderful that they did a new record, I'm proud of Paul [Stanley] for taking charge and producing the record. It was great that they didn't bring in anyone from the outside and he went for it. The end result was a fine record.

Sleaze Roxx: You and Eric Singer stepped aside when Peter Criss and Ace Frehley came back, Eric eventually returned and now Tommy Thayer is in the band. Were you offered the opportunity to wear the Ace paint? Would you have ever done that?

Bruce: Great question. I do get asked [that] on occasion... To be honest, I'm relieved that I wasn't asked. Honestly, playing the Ace role would be very awkward for me. It was very natural for Tommy to walk into that role, eventually being in KISS ran its course with Ace. If you followed KISS since the reunion with Ace and Peter, there were a number of times where it looked like Ace was going to miss the show, so the band had Tommy dressed up as Ace backstage ready to go. They did a private gig that Ace didn't take part in, Tommy played and then they did the promo for "That '70s Show", Ace didn't want to do it and Tommy stepped in. Tommy played Ace in a KISS tribute band that was very successful. He's a great guitarist and it was very natural for him to be Ace. For me, I think after spending all those years establishing myself as the guitarist in KISS in the non-make-up era, to then put on the paint wouldn't be a good match. Of course, I miss the guys and miss being in the band, but I think Tommy is able to do much more for them than I would be able to right now. Playing that role would not be as comfortable for me as what I used to do. If they did a "Revenge"-era version of the band and I wasn't there I'd be hurt, I'd be very hurt. I'm not hurt now and I think you can understand that sentiment.

Read the entire interview from Sleaze Roxx.