Bruce Kulick released his 3rd solo record, "BK3" earlier this year. It was received with much acclaim given his status in the rock world, and the impressive list of special guests which include John Corabi, Nick Simmons, Kenny Aronoff, Steve Lukather, and Bruce’s former bandmate, Gene Simmons. Bruce took some time to speak with Rock, Metal, Punk download site, LoudTrax.com and below is the text version of our conversation.
Download BK3 Here . Visit Bruce Kulick official site Kulick.net
LoudTrax.com: BK3 was released in Feb 2010. Before releasing the album you said that you were 99.99% happy with this album, as you were with the “Revenge” album. After 5-6 months of having lived with it, what are your thoughts on it now?
Bruce Kulick: I’m still thrilled with it. It took a lot of time and a “no compromise” approach. Even before I had it delivered to have it released, I had to approve the masters that I was mailing off. I remember listening to the album 4 times in a row on headphones really carefully, and I never got tired of it. I get that kind of response from fans that write to me saying that it doesn’t leave their CD player. In this day and age, that’s a compliment given the fact that you can switch things on an iPod so quickly as soon as you get sick of a record. So hearing those type of comments, I obviously feel really good that BK3 was able to accomplish something special. Even though I have special guests on it, the material has a lot of range. It’s not all Hard Rock, not all Metal, not all Pop, but contains touches of all of that.
It still hasn’t in anyway dropped in the level of my excitement about the record, still very excited about it.
LoudTrax.com: There are some very interesting collaborations on BK3. My favorite being the song “No Friend of Mine”, which was co –written and sung by John Corabi, and your producer Jeremy Rubolino. Tell us about that song and working with John.
Bruce Kulick: Very easy to work with John. We have a lot of history together and good chemistry together from the UNION project. We did 2 studio albums, the live record, and DVD, so we got to really be creative together in the late 90’s.
John sang a song for me on “Transformer”, my 2nd solo record. But I really wrote that song for him to sing on it. The approach on BK3 for Jeremy and I, was more for the singer to be more involved with the writing. Jeremy and I already had most of the ideas for the music. In fact as far as I can remember, the music was completely demo-ed and recorded. John dug the track right away. And we started working on lyrics and melody right away. It was fairly easy for John to get an idea for it. John’s always the “tortured soul” kind of person. Because Jeremy was such a big fan of not only KISS, but also the UNION project and “The Blue Room” album especially, our goal was to make it as big and as good as the best of UNION. And I think we achieved that goal. For many people, that is their favorite track, especially for the fans of Union or John.
Now John has been working on his own solo record for some time and I heard some of the material he’s working on and like it. But I think when he heard the final mix of “No Friend of Mine”, it just made him realize he needed to work extra hard so he could get “10 of those” for his own album.
I really feel like that was an unusual perfect storm of Jeremy and I coming together with the right track and John putting his best talents forward on it. Sonically that song just sounds huge. I know when I want to show off the record so people can hear the sound the engineer got, I show off that one! I’ve even had some of my guitar player friends who are in some famous bands tell me how the rhythm guitars on that song just kill!
LoudTrax.com: The song “Hand of the King” was written with Nick Simmons. When I first heard about it, it kind of sparked the idea of a Nick Simmons album. Have you guys written more songs together?
Bruce Kulick: No not really. Nick is dabbling and kind of exploring what he wants to do more and more. Last time we spoke he wanted to learn more about guitars and asked me about guitar teachers.
Jeremy and I gave him the opportunity, as we had a couple of songs that we weren’t sure who we wanted to collaborate with. Nick gravitated straight towards “Hand of the king”. Just like John’s song, we had a really strong demo of the music track. In fact, if for some reason Nick didn’t work out and we couldn’t get anyone else with a “big” voice, John probably would have sang it.
Obviously it was really thrilling that Gene offered Nick up right away. It was a learning curve for Nick because he doesn’t have a lot of studio experience, but I really think what he was able to do with that song was terrific. We were able to get a really strong vocal out of him. And as much as some people think they can hear Gene in his voice, I personally think he has his own style. It’s a bit “bluesy-er” than Gene, it’s a big voice and I think his emotion and everything in that track really brought it to life. It became the iTunes single and a lot of people reacted well to that song.
As much as it was a real score for me to have Nick on my record, he really delivered. I wasn’t going to just put it on because it was Gene’s son, but I knew he was going to do a great job and the result worked out well.
Watch video of Nick Simmons perform with Bruce Kulick:
LoudTrax.com: The one time you guys performed it live, it also turned out quite well….
Bruce Kulick: Yes we did it live at the 1 gig I did so far this year! I’ve been so busy with Grand Funk and it’s been hard for me to plan my own stuff. It was also in the “Family Jewels” show so that was good.
I actually saw Shannon last night at the Jay Leno show with KISS on TV and we were talking about Nick. It was real interesting to get to know the guy, he’s a very eclectic, bright kid and I really like him.
LoudTrax.com: He doesn’t seem like the typical “spoiled brat kid of the big celebrity”….
Bruce Kulick: Absolutely not…interesting story… One time when he came over to my house to do some work, it was his birthday, and he came over in a new car. It was a beautiful car, but it certainly wasn’t the most expensive car that you can drive around in Hollywood. There are cars that cost twice as much that people who are not famous drive all the time. And I could tell he felt a little guilty about it! He made a point to explain to me that he had to trade in his other car and did not mean to brag about it.
He’s very aware of his father’s status, but he doesn’t want to carry that “rich kid” tag at all.
LoudTrax.com: Gene Simmons sings on “Ain’t Gonna Die”. How did Gene singing on your solo album come about?
Bruce Kulick: I am very fortunate to have Gene work with me on BK3. Gene and I were actually working on something else together and he kind of tried to re-write what Jeremy and I already had. I wasn’t too crazy about where he was going with it, so we kind of just changed directions completely.
I remember when I was in his guest house writing, I heard him singing “I’m never never gonna die…”. So we got together one more time and shaped it. Then Jeremy and I demo-ed it and sent it to Gene so he could listen to it. Then it was ready to record in the studio. We didn’t have all the lyrics so we actually wrote them in the studio. The clock was running on my dime, but it was the best way to get Gene in and be creative. In the beginning I know he was going to go to a little deeper with the lyrics, but I wanted to keep it more “Screw you and the paparazzi kind of thing”. Because people always pick on Gene, but the truth is he’s iconic with what he created and his legend will never go away. And there you have “Ain’t Gonna Die”.
Bruce Kulick, Jeremy Rubolini, Gene Simmons
LoudTrax.com: Was the atmosphere similar to the sessions on the KISS albums?
Bruce Kulick: A little different in the sense that if the title of the record is “KISS” and I’m going to write with either Gene or Paul, they’re going to be in charge. For BK3, I was as respectful for Gene’s offer to work with me as possible, but both of us knew, and he would remind me “this is your record…how do you like it….?”. So he had that approach about it which was cool. I didn’t need to ask him which mix he liked and so on. Really it’s my dime, it’s my name on it. But having said that, he was confident that I would come up with something of quality.
That was the only real difference. As for the rest, we both love music and had fun being in the studio. You have to remember, KISS recorded “Sonic Boom” last year, but they hadn’t done a lot of recording for a while. I know it’s something Gene enjoys doing.
LoudTrax.com: Continuing with the BK3 album. The song “Skydome”, it sounds like you were really having fun, kind of jamming and letting loose at some points.
Bruce Kulick: Now “Skydome” is the bonus track that was part of the deal with Frontier Records. If you bought a US copy of my record, “Skydome’ is not on there. Frontiers got involved for the rest of world and they asked for another song. That one actually came from the “Audiodog”, my first solo record. I really like that track ‘cause first of all, Kenny Aronoff is on drums and he’s an awesome drummer. He also plays on the instrumental track with Steve Lukather “Between the lines”.
It’s funny cause that song has a Canadian connection to it. The title really came from me being in Toronto during the time of the Audiodog record and really being impressed with that giant tower, the CN Tower and the Skydome. So I called it that.
It was a cool jammy kind of thing. I’m actually thinking of including that track more when I do the solo clinic. But to be honest, it’s just Kenny and me! I’m glad it feels more like a band to you!
LoudTrax.com: That’s funny cause I was going to say that the bass sometimes goes off into some cool little parts and so on!
Bruce Kulick: Well I know how to jam with myself that’s for sure. You probably wouldn’t know but I played bass on some of the big KISS songs. Most people don’t know ‘cause KISS does not really credit different things. But yeah I played bass on “Forever”, on “Psycho Circus”.
LoudTrax.com: We were speaking of John Corabi, and I always found that the 1 album he did with Motley Crue is one of those great under-rated albums. The UNION albums were also quality releases. Are there any plans for a new UNION album?
Bruce Kulick: We get asked that a lot. I don’t know. If there was some kind of offer, “business-wise” from a label, or promoter, then maybe. John and I are still very close. Brent our drummer is very busy with Slash now, but he plays on a lot of my record. If you think about it, on some songs it’s 3 quarters of Union!
John Corabi & Bruce Kulick
I don’t really know. I don’t rule that out, but there are no plans right now. Sometimes Eric Singer, John, myself and Chuck, the Alice Cooper bassist do gigs as “ESP” Eric Singer Project. Eric’s been obviously very busy with KISS the past couple of years. We’ll probably do that again too where John and I can be on the same stage.
LoudTrax.com: On BK3, you’ve had a lot of support from the KISS family, and also from the KISS fans. Tell us about what it’s like to be part of that KISS family, not so much with Gene or Paul, but more so with the fans and knowing that the fans are still behind you.
Bruce Kulick: When you’re a KISS fan, you are part of some brotherhood and it’s quite interesting how people get excited about the band. The reaction to the band is so passionate and it’s worldwide.
I’m very fortunate of course with being in KISS for 12 years. It gave me exposure that is quite priceless and it just continues. I get emails all the time, like for example, Kiss was just in Europe and I got an email from a 14 year old in Finland saying “We named our cat Bruce!” When I do the KISS expositions, they’re still well attended with families that come. So all of a sudden I’m meeting teenagers or younger that are supporting me and checking out my music. What can I say, that’s just incredible!
It’s not much unlike the Beatles where the music keeps growing with the generations. Kiss has absolutely proved that. I know the guys (Gene and Paul) are very proud that they’ve managed to be successful after all these years. They don’t even have to have Ace or Peter in the band. What KISS represents is something iconic that people respond to. I get to kind of wave the flag as well even though I’m not really there. I kind of represent the “Unmasked” era.
LoudTrax.com: To me personally, I never saw you as not being part of KISS anymore, but more like that version of KISS no longer exists.
Bruce Kulick: Well that’s right cause if you think about it, they took off the make up very briefly for Vinnie Vincent during the Lick it Up tour. Then they started building back up during the ANIMALIZE album and even though I was not really on that record, that was my tour. The record featured Mark St. John, but once he got sick, it gave me the opportunity to walk in and they realized I was the right guy. So 12 years of that!
I kind of explain to people that I represent the non makeup years.
LoudTrax.com: It’s fair to say that if that version of KISS were to re-unite, that you would be part of it.
Bruce Kulick: Well I would like to think that if they were to take off the makeup and do a “Revenge” style tour…I don’t see it happening….but I think it would be more appropriate for me to be there than to have Tommy doing “Revenge”. Tommy does a great job with the “Spaceman” character, and Eric is a great drummer who can play anything and is cool with being in the Cat suit. They got a solid drummer, not someone who’s not happy as Peter never seemed to be.
LoudTrax.com: Getting back to “Bruce Kulick”…Grand Funk Railroad has been keeping you busy. Can you tell us what’s it like playing with them live?
Bruce Kulick: It’s 10 years now! I have to say that we all get a long really well and everyone is really talented. There are so many bass players that are influenced by Mel Schacer. Don Brewer is one of the more solid drummers out there. KISS fans don’t always know about Grand Funk, but once I start mentioning the titles of the songs and singing the choruses, they actually do know them!
I get to solo on every song and get showcased quite a bit. Mel doesn’t move around as much as Gene, and we don’t have a Paul Stanely in the band. But Max Carl is a great singer and performer. I do get a lot of attention from the crowd. We just got back from a long summer tour, the fans love it.
LoudTrax.com: Have you guys ever gotten into a writing mode as a band?
Bruce Kulick: There’s a couple of songs that are new that we perform. There’s a beautiful ballad that I wrote with Max that we played for a little while. But we seem to have this set that’s really fine tuned, it has a couple of new songs in it. But really people are buying the name when we do a gig so we really have to do the hits that the band’s known for. I can’t really promise that there will be new product coming from us.
It’s a great gig for me, but I didn’t create the band and I don’t control the band, so I kind of go along with what they want to do. We take any situation that we get into and make the best of it and have fun it. For example, we’re playing with STYX and Joan Jett coming up and people just go away loving it.
LoudTrax.com: Ending off, what are your plans musically for the next few months leading into 2011?
The summer is really the season for Grand Funk, so still quite busy with that. I will head to Australia for their big “NAMM” convention. I am very excited about going back to Australia. Aside from that there’s dates for Grand Funk almost every month. I’m looking at going to South America at the very end of the year because it’s been too long since I’ve been there.
Since I put out the BK3 record, I haven’t really performed or done promotional events of my own except for the one here in LA. So I really enjoy the whole Grand Funk gig and I work my own schedule around that. I also have a song on the Lordi new album coming out.
LoudTrax.com: You have worked with them in past on their 2006 album.
Bruce Kulick: Yes correct, but I only did some guitar playing on that one. On this one, I co-wrote a mid tempo ballad which I solo on as well. I’m very happy with my relationship with them. He was actually a huge KISS fan and ran the KISS Army Finland and now he becomes a big star in Europe with Lordi!
LoudTrax.com: Thanks for taking the time to chat, it’s been a pleasure.
Bruce Kulick: Well thank you, I’m glad you liked the album and best of luck with LoudTrax.com.
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Thanks to Dustin Hardman at Frontiers for setting up this interview.
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