In a recent interview with VRP Rocks, Bruce Kulick talked about his time with KISS and the difficulties of writing music with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
The guitarist admitted, Yeah, I mean, [it was] always a bit of a strategy game in my mind. You understand that it’s not just that you’re going to make money off of a KISS album—possibly forever, of course. “Forever” was not co-written by me. I wish I had. Michael Bolton was that person. not that relevant to me. However, you get what I mean.
You write a song, it’s yours, and you can pass it on to your descendants, he added. However, for me, there was also the thrill of being listed as a co-writer among these well-known rock singers.
Kulick made his debut on KISS’s 1985 album “Asylum” and played with the band from 1984 to 1996. He observed the disparities in Simmons and Stanley’s approaches to music-making from his early composing sessions with them.
Paul had a preferred method of working, and he’s in full swing if he likes an idea and can make it his own or make other portions his own. He may not like it if you show him too much. The reason is that it doesn’t feel like his. And I honor that, he said.
I could show you everything, Gene. He will jump right in if you give him a title and all the music—that is, all the chords, not necessarily all the melody and lyrics. “Hell or High Water” is the ideal illustration. He was able to write the song after I gave him the title and all the chords. Gene was also more lenient in that regard.
Here’s one more rub. The crazy one is this one,” Kulick continued. Therefore, don’t play it for Paul if I did so for Gene and nothing came of it. It will not work. Somehow, he’ll know, and he’s not gonna want to do it
Prior to Ace Frehley taking over as the original guitarist, Kulick performed on four KISS albums. He remained involved through a number of projects, even though he didn’t return to the lineup after Frehley left again.
He played on several of the songs on the 1998 album Psycho Circus and co-wrote Dreamin. He also played hits including “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Tears Are Falling” during the KISS Kruise 2021.