Bruce Kulick Interview, discussing the mystery of Mark St. Johns hand ailment.

www.talesfromth... Bruce Kulick of GFR and Kiss is interviewed by Tales from the Stage author, Michael Toney. They discuss Bruce's tenure with each band, going back stage a Kiss shows, and demystifying the role that Mark St. John's hand ailment played in having him being removed from Kiss. (the book discount code given is good through 12/31/12) October 6, 2012. Stateline, Nevada.
www.talesfromth...

[@erikrupp692]

Bruce Kulick = Class Act. Bruce is a great guy, first and foremost, and a great guitar player second (but, make no mistake - he IS a great guitar player). That's why people love to work with him. He's a professional who truly appreciates his gigs. And he treats the fans with respect. Thanks, Bruce!

[@knoxvillehermitfreemoviesm3625]

saw him on the anmaliize tour - great solos

[@rticle15]

Bruce and Eric should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a huge part of Kiss.

[@RandyFricke]

True. ALL of KISS should have been inducted. Anyone who was ever in KISS who helped Gene and Paul become gozillionaires should have their name on that plaque.

[@MondoMiami]

No, he wasn’t.

[@rticle15]

By "he" do you mean Bruce Kulick or Eric Carr? I can make an argument for either guy.

[@MondoMiami]

@@rticle15 Bruce. Eric is a legend.

[@rticle15]

@@MondoMiami Bruce brought stabilty to that band. He was with Kiss for 13 years. He played on ten of their albums all but one going gold or platinum with ten singles that broke top-40 on numerous charts. He played both bass and guitar on Forever which hit number 8 on the big billboard chart. I get it, he was a hired gun who didnt write a lot. But Bruce filling that role was key to the band's long-term survival. In a four-piece band, I cant think of another lead guitarist with a resume like his who was excluded from their HoF induction.

[@TheDemoarchive]

Bruce deserves to be up on the big stage again

[@OriginalSmoothOperator]

Oh, Bruce. Everyone loves GFR, but with all your hard work, you deserve way bigger than that!! Ace was amazing, Vinnie filled the slot, and as much as I respect Mark, and wanted so much more for him in 1984 and beyond, not only were you his replacement, but you were the one that worked out long-term, and built quite a great reputation of yourself as well. If I may say, You were the Eric Carr of guitars. You had that nice long involvement in arguably one of the best Kiss lineups, and to the knowledge of your fans, it was just a nice, smooth, problem-free tenure with Kiss. Like Carr, you exuded an air of a humble, reliable, dynamic, and ungodly-talented musician throughout your time with Kiss, and I think most people would agree that there was no better person for the job. (Sorry, Bob.) From the little bit we see of Mark, I must say that I really liked him, saw tons of potential in him, and am very saddened by his demise, and passing, as I would be with the demise and passing of any beautiful creature of this beautiful planet, but as for the most sought after career of axe-wielders worldwide, you picked up the ball, and ran with it. There are thousands of hours of Bruce Kulick guitar playing video and audio out there, and as much as I enjoy Mark's limited content out there, I think you nailed it- You were definitely the better guitar player. I love Ace, I have a little piece in my heart for Vinnie, I am newly on a quest to redeem Mark, YOU are the first one who pops into my head when I think of "Kiss guitarist," Tommy is amazing, and super-underrated, but Bruce, you are THE MAN.

[@daveverplank]

Bruce is always a class act; was never bitter publicly about having to leave Kiss and still gets along with them. That's how it's supposed to happen.

[@jabronicamel1957]

David Verplank still gets a check.

[@fredrodnick2881]

I actually took a guitar lesson from him many years ago before he was with kiss. I saw an article in the newspaper about him joining kiss and I couldn't believe it!

[@mariom5861]

Kulick is the most down to earth of all kiss members. Class act.

[@bernietajonera5359]

Thank you Ace for the riffs ..Bruce was their top guitarist. Loved the Stanley, Simmons, Carr, Kulick lineup

[@Cryptosifu]

Kulick is a class act.

[@johnpatterson4272]

Bruce is a survivor of the corporate music mentality of the 90s and early 00s. He knows how to negotiate a 'subjective' interview when it is presented before him. Check-out the KISS Kruises where Bruce plays great music from his days in KISS. His rationale of the 'Mark St. John' situation in KISS is about the closest we will ever get to the reality of what actually happened.

[@shanefrank3281]

Bruce seems like a really cool guy. I never heard anyone (except maybe his brother) have an issue with Bruce.

[@limpdog20]

Bruce has always seemed like a nice down to earth guy.

[@PerpetualArt]

Great guy, and one hell of a player. His work on Revenge and Alive III really gave me total respect for how he covered Ace, and the Creatures songs.

[@TheHardcoreRob]

My favorite guitarist right here. Classy guy, and man does he have chops!!!!! He an Eric Carr were a great addition to the Kiss lineup. That’s my favorite version of ‘em. Always will be. Crazy Nights is still my favorite album. Every song, awesome.

[@djthrust1]

I've got to agree with my fellow posters below..Bruce is all class, while some other members of KISS seem to be busy sticking the knife in Bruce just tells it as he see's it. He doesn't try to big note himself and says that he's just part of the KISS family. Well done, a great guitarist and a good man...bravo.

[@elvisparker4691]

Bruce is a terrific guy. Easy guy to root for. By the way, He's Solo Albums are Fantastic!! 🎸🎸 👍

[@MISisback]

Make no mistake, Mark Norton (aka Mark St. John) was a fantastic guitarist. Had his infliction not happened, I can only imagine where his star would've shot to. I was very sad when he passed. A GREAT loss to the rock community, whether you were aware of him or not.

[@catfatherb]

MISisback his "star" shot out the "white tiger" album, a horrible abuse of vinyl.

[@brianjezuit4085]

Horrible... he (Mark St John) waZ a horrible guitarist 😆☕🥁

[@lrn_news9171]

@@catfatherb Not a bad album imo

[@ferox965]

The one thing I don't like about Animalize is the solos.

[@abolishwelfare]

Meat Loaf, Michael Bolton, The Good Rats, KISS, Union, ESP, Grand Funk….. helluva resume. It’s amazing, guy has a fifty year career as a professional musician, and no one ever has issue with the guy, so rare. Cheers Bruce.

[@ecaravello]

Very nice interview Michael, you got some pretty rare/juicy info. out of Bruce. Much appreciated. Bruce is a class act all the way. Thanks and great job!

[@68corvette08]

I'm shocked by the fact that GFR hasn't released an album since 1983.

[@MsTstang]

Bruce is awesome to me ..Bruce and Eric where the best kiss had or will ever have ….Bruce also is awesome where it comes to Eric he wont ever let Eric be forgotten and I dont blame him Eric was a great talent who left to soon ..RIP sweet little Fox ...You wont ever be forgotten

[@4stringz.]

I love the original 4. That said, given the course of history, there were no better replacements than Bruce and Eric Carr. Both amazing musicians and just great people.

[@crazywisdom2]

I am honored to say that I got to see Bruce on the Hot in the Shade Tour and just this year GFR, which opened for kidRock. AND in my collection, is one of Bruce's guitar picks.

[@kagemaru259]

Always heard that Carr and Kulick were the friendliest, most laid back and down to earth members that were ever in the band.

[@Deucealive75]

Best KISS guitarist. As one example, none of the other guys can play War Machine like Bruce. Not even close.

[@ms.felonystrutter2472]

GENE AND PAUL ALWAYS TREATED AND ALWAYS WILL TREAT BRUCE LIKE FAMILY...ALWAYS....THERE IS NO PETER CRISS IN BRUCE.....MEANING BRUCE DOES NOT LIE...

[@TheMafrand]

He's such a nice guy.

[@wraith3168]

i met him at the NYstate fair after grandfunk played, my GF knew Bruce, he came over and talked, great down to earth guy, he'd apologize when he had to break off chat to sign an album or pic, great fucking guy........

[@Warchief01]

As always Bruce is a class act.

[@1norville]

I always wished Mark could have stayed in the band. He has great attack and composition to his solo work. I find him to be the most inspiring.

[@RustyTonesJr]

I'm pretty sure the killer solos on that album were Bruce. I heard him play on youtube with the same tone as Into The Fire or whatever the first song was on Animalize, in which the solo was epic.

[@thomascusik6109]

The killer solos were Mark St. John.

[@steviezace]

When me and my friends saw Kiss at Nassau Coliseum, with the Mighty Queensryche opening, We had no clue who was playing guitar that night. but Bruce really played those songs great. I agree that he should be back with KISS On the big stage.

[@steviezace]

Gene and Paul never even Introduced Him!

[@asherasator]

I saw them on the same tour & wondered the same thing. I actually had backstage passes met Paul, Gene & Eric before the show but then on stage saw Bruce & was like "Who is that?" I also met Queensryche, what a great bunch of guys back then.

[@RustyTonesJr]

@@asherasator It was really funny when Mark played the first song in Baltimore, lights went out, and then Bruce was onstage. We were in a WTF moment. LOL

[@leokimvideo]

Bruce, Vinnie, Eric Carr and Ace seem to be the nicest people that have been Kiss members. But Bruce is amazing because he never did a 'Fake Frehley' or stomped out Ace's groundwork in the classic era songs. Bruce added his own style and flare which energised many of the classics.

[@KombatRealm]

great interview. ill have to grab that book as well. if you see bruce again please let him know that kiss fans really miss him. and i for one want him back.

[@tonygriffin1330]

Bruce is a bad ass guitar player who I wish was still with KISS. He's the greatest.

[@VandelayKavorka]

Bruce is my all time favorite KISS Guitar Player!!!

[@Escorpius17]

We can say how much we love the original members of KISS, but I'd rather have a beer with this guy.

[@ms.felonystrutter2472]

BRUCE IS FAMILY....HE IS FOREVER IN KISSTORY AND DURNG A GREAT, GREAT ERA OF THE BAND. GO BACK AND LISTEN TO ASYLUM....ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS KISS EVE DID...SAME AS CRAZY IGHTS

[@eclecticx]

Kulick wasn't the most talented of KISS's guitarists (that honor would go to the headcase Vinnie Vincent) but he was my favorite KISS guitarist. Excellent musician, entirely professional and a class act. Cool dude. As for St. John, I was lucky enough to catch one of the few shows he played in with KISS. He had some chops, too. Sad how his life turned out.

[@standingvertical3048]

Hahaha!! try again, Ace is the 1 that they all wanted to be, but had to settle for scrapes.

[@standingvertical3048]

Paul n Gene feeds them Tv dinners as Ace feeds Paul n Gene slabs of his schlong. Lol

[@eclecticx]

@@standingvertical3048 Frehley was an immature child who could come up with a great riff but was hardly a terrific guitarist. A number of solos he was credited for, he never actually came up with nor did was he the one who originally recorded them.

[@modelcarjedi]

bruce is always a class act

[@Northisbest]

Bruce is good man 👍

[@peterdiamantakiou]

Bruce is a class act met him in Adelaide Australia in 2015 ....on his tour with 4xfate

[@donaldbermudez7771]

Bruce is the only member of KISS without a super ego. Bruce is BY FAR the KISS member you actually want to have a beer with.

[@samwisethebrave288]

Saw him years back with Grand Funk, 2004 I think... great show.

[@Indigenous267]

I remember being confused, lol. I caught Kiss w/Queensryche in St. Louis, Mo. at the Kiel Auditorium. I had bought the poster before the show ... then you guys came on and I'm like "That's not the dude on my poster!" Lol. I would go on to see you guys in the same venue on World Tour '85/'86 w/WASP and then again on World Tour "87/'88. All fake smoke aside, you're the best guitarist Kiss has ever had. Never Stop Rockin!

[@nimim.markomikkila1673]

In my opinion, Bob Kulick was the best axeman ever to solo on KISS-records - but of course, he was never officially there - except on Paul´s solo album:-)

[@bobpugliese4428]

How about dick wagner

[@aaronstansk-popdreamcatche4279]

My former co-worker Joey Barbosa was his bandmate .... in the Andrea True Connection. My co-worker used to talk about when Bruce played the demos for Blackjack to him. He hated the group and said they'd go nowhere. Well, they didn't .... but the members did.

[@Dropsy517]

I was at the show in Detroit that was filmed for the Animalize Live vid' and I remember very vividly looking at Bruce during the first DRC and thinking......."that is not Mark St. John." Lol. I also saw them in Saginaw a couple days later and Lansing a few months after that, later in the tour. As a fan it was a fun tour....KISS was on MTV a lot, had decent airplay going with HOF, and it felt like they'd found success again after some down years. Good times.

[@lesdixon7487]

come to the UK, PLEASE.

[@robertisham5279]

Les Dixon no he doesn't like you limie

[@ericscripture3399]

Always found to be a down to earth cut and dry classy Rock Star and great player

[@kilgoretrout3966]

"Not in makeup as 'The Ace'" Interesting.

[@davidwilliams433]

+Kilgore Trout .. awesome that he said that

[@kmartnintendork]

Some people refer to Ace’s makeup “avatar” as “The Space Ace” rather than “The Spaceman.” The latter is the original and most frequently used name. The former was ascribed to Ace’s character on the back of the Psycho Circus album, IIRC.

[@derwood7305]

Bruce is and always will be the greatest KISS guitarist....Gene & Paul fucked this one up. Kudos to Bruce for not dressing up like Ace....

[@strtngfrsh]

G & P didn't screw anything up. I loved the lineup with Bruce but attendance was on a downward slope. The Revenge tour averaged 5,000ish people and being the awesome album it was didn't sell to expectations. I thought it was their best work since Destroyer but they Decided to go another direction with the reunion and sold out every venue they played on that tour usually in hours many times adding more dates. This went on for most of the 4ish years they were together. How is going from a 5,000 seat avg to selling out stadiums and arenas all over the world fucking things up?

[@vallangaard]

Will there be a Sign Language interpreter since there is no sound on this video?

[@talesfromthestage]

The problem is on your end. There is definitely sound.

[@antord1840]

If I'd seen him on the street, I wouldn't have recognize him. It was unfair the way he was let go from KISS.

[@Cantstandtherock]

antonio orduno KISS is a marketing project, not a band. They suck

[@Monimoni1]

Great interview!!

[@wasp4eva1]

I heard another interview where BK adds that Mark was a bit of a show pony? Maybe Paul wanted to be the only 1 doing that. Either way, this interview seems to be the most plausible explanation re Marks departure AND I absolutely love Animalize.

[@neil1390]

Anyone see the Black Sabbath/Kiss concert? The Black and Jew tour?!?

[@MrObelisk2290]

What i meant to write is that Kulick was the best kiss guitarist

[@flavour1970]

great interview !

[@talesfromthestage]

Chairs would suggest planning or production requirements. We had neither!

[@WaelRockRock]

he was awesome in revenge

[@slotuck]

Bruce just seems like a nice guy :)

[@thescarletandgrey2505]

He was also with the Andrea True Connection. More More More!

[@lrn_news9171]

His reaction when the interviewer said "legendary" lol

[@thrashmetaljay666]

He’s my second favorite KISS guitarist behind Ace Frehley.

[@leebaldwin6015]

Hello Bruce,if you see this can you tell me if you were playing in Grand Funk Railroad when they played the Library Theatre in the town of Warren pa.??

[@JOSEPHVENTURABRAND]

Kulick rules!!!!

[@timothyrobinson1612]

I agree,too bad they dropped him for the reunion tour 🤔

[@deanarupe73]

Just discovered your channel. I'm in love with your channel. You deserve more subscribers than you have. Your channel should be bigger. I'm binge watching your channel.

[@sprocketman927]

Class act all the way.

[@ianhumm531]

The best guitarist kiss ever had

[@jabronicamel1957]

Bruce is Cool.

[@Irod69]

Bruce kicked ass in Union , Bruce John Brent n Jaime ☺️👍

[@planetaiden133]

Hi Bruce!

[@StrengthAddicts]

Legendary 🤔

[@DougWebbguitar]

good dude

[@bobsguitarstudio715]

It"s not Grand Funk without Mark Farner.

[@avlisk]

It's hard not to like Bruce. It's impossible to think of GFR without Mark.

[@racecar06]

Mensch :)

[@DSKim-ej5uf]

wonderful

[@michellespencer8838]

Yes

[@FirebrandVOCALS]

Bruce was the best Guitarist Kiss had ... bar none!

[@kennyparsons5723]

Bruce is the man in Kiss I respect the most He would never have put on the Space makeup or even his own For the Big Money He's a stand up Guy

[@mooch514]

Classy,, and he confirms paul and gene were not lyihg

[@01artist]

Tommy is not trying to be ACE FREHLEY he is trying to be the SpaceMan that ACE created. That is like saying Michael Keaton is wrong for putting on the Bat Suit because Adam West was the first official BatMan.

[@bibby42]

Not really...

[@01artist]

***** Not Really?

[@bibby42]

01artist Adam West didn't create the Batman/ Bruce Wayne character, he only played the character and he wasn't necessarily the first person to do so. Idk if Ace officially sold his rights to the character or if he is still making money off it, but it still doesn't feel right seeing Tommy and Eric dress as such. Imposter Ace and Peter.

[@01artist]

***** Just think of Ace Frehley as the creator of the Spaceman just as Bob Kane created batman and Tommy as the person wearing the suit. People think that Tommy is trying to be Ace instead of him as the Spaceman. But I see your point. As far as sold his rights, he says he didn't but Gene and Paul says that he did.

[@bibby42]

I'm gonna see KISS tomorrow night in VA beach. I saw the original 4 back in 2000, and I had to see them for their HOF year! I guess the fact of the matter is that this is the lineup that Gene and Paul want as far as KISS the band is concerned. Peter and Ace are my favorites, and will remain my favorites. It's all good, in the end. Tommy is more than capable of getting the job done, and I've always loved Singer.

[@gtaylor1812]

As classy and likeable as Bruce Kulick is, it is not, nor will it ever be , Grand Funk without Mark Farner.

[@motcrue64]

Maybe the best shredder. But Ace played the best solos hands down with Kiss.

[@stevedamien638]

Mark himself called it fake,

[@GodInTheMachine]

i think bruce kulick is the classiest guy in music much less kiss and gfr.

[@JudasPriest82]

Id rather have Bruce in Ace's make up then Tommy.

[@JudasPriest82]

Thayer

[@JudasPriest82]

lol

[@timm441]

It just wouldn't have worked. Tommy looks too much more like Ace. KISS were going for their nostalgia heyday look.

[@ScoopedMids]

I'd rather them dream up new make up for new members

[@timm441]

Bruce in Ace's makeup wouldn't work, the reason they chose Tommy was that he looked more like Ace. His hair and demeanor was closer. But I too would have preferred they get new characters for the replacements.

[@ZenTheMusician]

Bruce Kulick is the absolute best guitarist that Kiss had the fortune to play with. The rest not even close.

[@stevedrums1675]

Bruce seems like a very down to earth, ncie guy. HUmble too. Unlike his brother.

[@VandelayKavorka]

I agree 100%

[@saint7370]

marks hand issue was because he missed a vein shooting heroin and that will make your hand swell up,his "Illness or sickness" was a heroin addiction which ended up taking his life,Yngwies hand exuse is also fake,if he didnt get the stage space he wanted he would often cancell a show,he did it here in new orleans.

[@kenfenton2001]

get your facts straight...............

[@lrn_news9171]

What ended up taking his life was a brain hemorrhage caused by an accidental methamphetamine overdose not heroin, and it could have been linked to his horrible beating in jail. He kept complaining about headaches after and died only several months after the beating. Never heard about the heroin addiction thing. I heard that he formed white tiger soon after he left Kiss however and recorded an independently produced album with them which sold 50,000 copies

[@nimim.markomikkila1673]

There´s nothing sad in getting old, it´s a natural process - and consider the option - being dead...

[@zuludawn8474]

Mark St John had a big hand in Kiss

[@trustobey1016]

+Dayle Tranter lol

[@billyrouse4813]

A big hand means working on one record, huh? Get real!

[@johnmagill3072]

+Billy Rouse he was being sarcastic due to his hand supposedly swelling up due to some ailment

[@robertisham5279]

Zulu Dawn so did Vinnie

[@jondunmore4268]

Just like Pete Best - he totally made The Beatles what they were.

[@theonlyjamiebourgeois9703]

"is that Ace? Is that Mark?" that's exactly what I was wondering when he came out on stage when I saw KISS on the Animalize tour. I was 14 and it was my first show. By the end of the show my friend and I had decided that definitely wasn't Mark but we had no idea who it was! haha.

[@Christine16425]

I love the Kiss show but why Bruce didn't rejoin Kiss 🤔🇫🇷?

[@peterstar2023]

I think Mark was fine. Paul and Gene didn't like him. I understand them cause he's guitar playing wasn't right for KISS. Bruce was a much better fit and they knew it. And he had a drug problem. So welcome Bruce. I miss you lots.

[@OD138]

It's kinda hard to hear what Bruce is saying.

[@Joey06_]

I got a question for him... Why don't bruce joined back when Ace left the band, as did Eric Singer when Peter Criss left too?

[@strtngfrsh]

Because they stayed with the makeup and Bruce wasn't comfortable doing that.

[@sarahrolie]

If you would have told me 25 years ago that Kulick would be playing in GFR, I would have never believed it. I just learned this today and I'm floored.. yikes...

[@toms3664]

Andrea True Connection!

[@JENDALL714]

I know it's just a coincidence but Bruce is also Jewish, as is Gene and Paul. I doubt it had anything to do with fitting in the with band.

[@YouCantHoldOnTooLong]

Truthfully it seems like an absolute requirement that in order to be in Kiss, you have to have Jewish descent. I am quite certain that all ten Kiss members from past and present have had Jewish descent. Not necessarily one-hundred percent Jewish heritage, but at least some Jewish descent nontheless. I do know that Gene Simmons has Jewish and Arabic descents and that Paul Stanley has Jewish and German descents for example. I could be wrong, but I think their original drummer, Peter Criss has some Italian descent in addition to Jewish from what I read somewhere. ~Dutch

[@TheLordGoat]

YouCantHoldOnTooLong haha that story means nothing...ace isnt jewish nor peter

[@JohnnyAGraves]

i don't think ES is jewish... I met him at the Indy Expo. I commented to him that Bruce was not feeling well and he made a joke about Kulick being jewish and how they complain... Eric didn't say we jews....

[@rafasounds2010]

I always sensed something jewish about bruce kullick. That explains why he is still theglad tool waiting in a drawer, always ready to do some work for his masters, richer jews.

[@lrn_news9171]

YouCantHoldOnTooLong Vinnie Vincent is italian, I don't think he has any Jewish ancestry.