Bruce Kulick explains why rejoining KISS wasn’t the right move
Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick recently talked about why returning to the band to replace Ace Frehley was not the right choice for him. He shared his thoughts during an interview on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk and said he fully understood why the band chose Tommy Thayer instead during an interview on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
Why KISS chose Tommy Thayer
Kulick said he was not hurt by the decision and explained that picking Thayer made sense. He pointed out that Thayer already worked closely with KISS behind the scenes. Tommy helped write songs, tour managed, worked on the Kisstory book, and played in a KISS tribute band where he could accurately play Ace Frehley’s guitar parts. According to Kulick, that background made Thayer a natural fit for the role.
“No. I really did understand them going to Tommy. I knew Tommy very well. He used to work a lot with the band creatively. He would write songs, tour manage, and he worked on ‘Kisstory,’ the big nine-pound book or whatever. Knowing that he was in a tribute band [called] Cold Gin, for KISS, and could play the Ace riffs, it made sense.”
How Kulick’s role in KISS was different
Kulick compared Thayer’s role to his own when he joined KISS in 1984. He explained that Paul Stanley wanted him to be himself, not to copy anyone else. Kulick was asked to play in a modern style while still respecting the band’s classic sound. Because of that, Kulick said stepping into Ace’s makeup and role later on would have felt wrong and would have taken away from his own era in the band.
“Here’s a perfect example: when Paul Stanley told me, ‘You’re the new guitarist of KISS,’ back in ’84, days before ‘Animalize Live [Uncensored]’ [concert video]. He said, ‘We want you to play competitive. You know what’s going on in the guitar world. You know what we need. You have one foot in the kind of vintage material, and then I need you to play like the modern guitar players.’”
Looking back with peace and pride
Kulick admitted that being in KISS again would have been tempting, but not at that cost. Over time, he has seen his era with the band become more respected and celebrated. He also believes the company that now owns the KISS brand wants to highlight all eras of the band, including his.
“Clearly, Tommy got a little different kind of job application checkbox: ‘Play Ace’s riffs.’ So, in conclusion, knowing that mine was to be me with my face, with no confusion or character, and the other side of it being… I would’ve pooped on my era if I suddenly did take that job, if it was offered to me. And I couldn’t tell you, I swear to you, if they said, ‘No, we really want you. And here’s the pay and here’s your commitment.’ I might’ve said yes.”
“I mean, how could I deny that I would love to be in the band? But at that cost… And you gotta remember, looking back in — what year would that have been? 2000-ish; 2001 or something around there — I don’t know where my headspace would be. But looking back all these years and seeing how my era has been more embraced and more celebrated, and I also think Pophouse [the Swedish company which bought the KISS catalog, brand name, and intellectual property in early 2024] really wants to support all 50 years of the band. This means my era will get more of a spotlight than during those makeup years where Gene [Simmons], Paul, and Doc [McGhee, KISS’s longtime manager] were controlling basically the narrative of the band. Understandably.”
No bitterness toward KISS
Kulick made it clear he holds no resentment. He understands the band’s choices and says it makes playing KISS songs today even more special. Bruce Kulick played with KISS for 12 years and remains an important part of the band’s history, even without returning during the makeup era.
“I was never bitter at them. Why should they do ‘Revenge’ songs if they don’t want to or if it doesn’t feel right? I get it. But boy, it makes it special when I play that stuff [with other musicians now].”
