BRUCE KULICK Talks New Solo Album

KissFAQ recently conducted an interview with former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

KissFAQ: You've summarized [your new solo album] "BK3" as being your "Revenge", which, for non-makeup-era KISS fans, is high praise. Does "BK3" represent the definitive Bruce Kulick album to date?

Bruce Kulick: There's no doubt I spent enough time and energy and I feel extremely proud of it. I think it was worth the wait and the expense I undertook for it, because it was a lot of work. I really approached it with the attitude that this has got to be the best of me, in the way I felt the "Revenge" album was the best of KISS for the non-makeup era. I wanted this record to be up that kind of quality and I feel like [producer] Jeremy [Rubolino] and I accomplished that.

KissFAQ: You partnered with quite a few artists and fellow musicians on this record from John Corabi to Tobias Sammet, THE KNACK's Doug Fieger and guitarist Steve Lukather. Was this the original concept from the outset or did it turn a corner when Gene and Nick Simmons became involved?

Bruce Kulick: There was never a big plan, except to make a great record. When some of the songs were being cut, Jeremy and I realized certain songs wouldn't be great for me to sing because that's not my best instrument, my guitar playing is. After asking Gene to participate and him saying yes, we realized we would have a song for him, and that was going to be amazing. And then he said to me, "Hey, how about Nick?" And I said, "Ooh....okay. What song would he like?" We then showed him a couple of the tracks that we cut that we weren't really sure who would sing. But not everything was very tailored to any of these featured guests. It just kind of organically happened and I was very very pleased with everyone's contributions, and the result. I couldn't be happier.

KissFAQ: The album gets off to a moving start with "Fate", and the lyrical content is a snapshot of your days in KISS, complete with subtle KISS song references — "Goin' Blind", "War Machine", "Paralyzed", etc. Intentional?

Bruce Kulick: Ah, the first person that caught it! Those words weren't put in there to be ultra clever, they just fit what I am trying to say. So, in some ways, they were definitely a tip of the hat to KISS but there's a reason to say, "Laser beam, war machine" because I was imagining myself on the stage, and certainly if you look at the lyrics it follows me along my journey within KISS. The attitude of the song was always supposed to represent, "I am who I am and here I am...this is me and I'm not going to let anything get me down." I wanted everyone to know that I am not going to live in the KISS shadow. I'm really super proud of what I contributed to KISS and I miss being in the band and all. But it's still something to celebrate, not anything to feel like I am underneath them.

KissFAQ: One thing that is evident on the album through songs such as "Fate", "Final Mile" and "And I Know" is the projection of your vocals. Are you gaining more and more confidence as a singer?

Bruce Kulick: Well, I have to thank Jeremy for really pushing me. And sometimes we sang the songs two or three times to get it right...and it took that. My vocals weren't as produced on my other solo records so I feel like his direction and his insistence on everything being as powerful as it could be was part of the strength of making my voice come across in a more confident fashion.

KissFAQ: Any plans for an official single in advance of the album?

Bruce Kulick: I think there might be a digital single for "Hand Of The King" but I am not sure as of right now. You know, for me I didn't make the album with singles in mind. My attitude was just to make the best record I could. If it turns out that that a song really draws people to the record, great.

KissFAQ: Touring plans?

Bruce Kulick: I am not sure how I am going to handle that between GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and everything else. I would like to say that I am going to try to get out there, but I just don't know how yet.

KissFAQ: With the "Kissology" series, one of the things that emerged was the opportunity to look in the rearview at nearly the entire life of the band. And many fans were again able to take take notice of the vitality of the non-makeup era. Shows such as Detroit '90, Sao Paulo '94 and "Unplugged" all show a confident and musically strong KISS lineup that was able to do justice to virtually anything in the KISS catalog. Did you get a sense of pride in watching all that footage?

Bruce Kulick: Absolutely. I'm extremely proud. Obviously for the fans of KISS that were into the "other" eras and weren't strict about just the makeup era, they know what I've contributed and I think any of them that were appreciative of what I did are going to really enjoy "BK3". Because as much as I didn't make it for the fans — you know, you do your own music for yourself — I just know that if I am excited about something, they will be too. And so far the reaction has been great.

Read the entire interview from KissFAQ.