Bruce Kulick sums up the year 2017

Marko Syrjala

Bruce Kulick has had a long and successful career in the music world. He is still, and probably will always be, best known for his twelve-year-long KISS career. Kulick joined the band in 1984, but before that he had been working for many years with artists such as Michael Bolton, Billy Squier, Blackjack and Meat Loaf. When KISS decided to put the makeup back and reunite with the original members in 1996, Kulick founded a  group of his own named Union. Later on, he has released three solo albums and worked as a session artist on numerous projects, including the very successful Avantasia albums. In 1999, he was asked to join the legendary Grand Funk Railroad. And now, 17 years later, he is still with the group. Kulick arrived at Helsinki last November. He was a special guest at KISS Army Finland’s annual KISS Expo. He did not only perform with local KISS Army members and other guests, such as Mr.Lordi and drummer Bobby Rock, but he also did a long Q & A session, meet and greet with fans, and much more. The next day I had the opportunity to sit down with Bruce. We discussed about his recent KISS Kruise performance, Helsinki Expo, a possible new Kulick album and how the future overall looks like for him. 

KISS EXPO HELSINKI 2017

So, in brief, how was the KISS Expo in Helsinki for you?

Bruce Kulick: First of all, there were a lot of new elements that have impressed people. That’s exciting for the fans. The fact that a lot of different people performed, that was obviously a big bonus with some unusual songs being played, which is wonderful. Then I was doing a Q&A, and there were a lot of new fresh news to talk about, so, that was valuable. So, I think in many ways, this one did have a lot of special moments. I think that the people, who made an effort to go, had a special time. The people that decided not to go missed out on this one. Just like the people who say like, “Oh I didn’t go on that KISS cruise because some special things happened there”. So, I am very happy with the event, and in some ways, it wasn’t as hectic even as my smaller clinic style event, a few nights before in Norway. So, I was pleased overall. I know there were a lot of challenges you guys had with the last-minute venue change and all that. But the most important thing is that the fans had a good time, they weren’t complaining about anything. My meet and greet was something special. I know I have to keep it limited. So that’s why I got to charge a little more. But those people whom I did get a chance to have a one-on-one discussion with them a bit, besides signing their stuff and everything, I think it was a big win for everybody.

That’s great to hear because most of the people don’t understand what it takes to organize a thing like Expo and make it a success.

Bruce Kulick: All these expos are always like a crazy animal. It’s not easy to make it work. So, I give you a lot of credit for trying it and making it work. Expos are a wonderful connection to fans, and I think the fans that missed this one, really missed out on something special.

Bruce and Mr.Lordi on KISS Expo Helsinki 2017

THE KISS KRUISE

One hot topic in the KISS world right now is the recent KISS Kruise where you and your brother Bob also performed. How did that thing originally come up and how was it as an experience as a whole?

Bruce Kulick: First I’ll tell you that how the cruise was for me. I did two prior cruises before this. One was kind of like a motorcycle rock and roll thing in Brazil. There I was the solo artist, and I used the South American players.

When was that cruise?

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Gene Simmons reveals why KISS didn’t sue Bruce Springsteen

KISS have been embroiled in their share of litigation over the years, but the band apparently had no interest in suing fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act Bruce Springsteen . According to KISS singer-bassist Gene Simmons , the reason was simple.

First, a little background: In 2009, Springsteen released the albumWorking on a Dream , which contains the song “Outlaw Pete.” The track bears some striking similarities to KISS’ classic hit “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” off their 1979 album Dynasty . In fact, one YouTube user spliced together the two songs to highlight the musical resemblance.


In a new feature in The Guardian , Simmons explains, “Kiss have sued lots of people and won. But some people we don’t sue. We didn’t sue Bruce Springsteen for “Outlaw Pete.” How do we decide who to sue and who not to? We like Springsteen. We don’t sue.”

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Talking Metal 716 – Bill Aucoin Special

Talking Metal

Listen to “TM 716 Bill Aucion Special” on Spreaker.

On this episode of Talking Metal, Mark Strigl and special guest Roman Fernandez celebrate rock manager Bill Aucoin.  They discuss Van Halen, Kiss, Billy Idol and Roman shares many special stories from his time with Bill.  We end this epic episode with a 2008 interview Mark Strigl and John ‘Ostronomy’ Ostrosky conducted with the legendary artist manager and director in his New York City office. Topics include Bill’s experiences with KISS, Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Billy Squier, Van Halen, New England, Manowar, Lordi, and Fixer.

Bill Aucion passed away in 2010.  Tomorrow, December 29 would have been his 74th birthday.

Support Bill Aucoin by signing the petition to get him into the RRHOF here: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/billaucoinhalloffame

Ace Frehley Joins Entertainment Lineup for 2018 NHL Winter Classic

The temperature will be freezing but the music will be red hot at the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, as the Buffalo Sabres battle the New York Rangers at New York’s Citi Field.

E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg and KISS legend Ace Frehley have been added to the performance lineup for the outdoor hockey game, joining the previously announced Goo Goo Dolls.

Weinberg will be performing throughout the game as part of his quartet the Max Weinberg Jukebox, who will be serving as the house band during the event. Fans can vote via Twitter and Facebook on one of the songs Weinberg’s group will perform at the game, with the choices being AC/DC‘s “Highway to Hell,” Bruce Springsteen‘s “Born to Run,” Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Fortunate Son” and The Ramones‘ “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

Frehley, meanwhile, will rock his classic hit “New York Groove” during the pre-game festivities. The song is played at Citi Field following every home win by the New York Mets.

Goo Goo Dolls will perform during the first intermission of the NHL Winter Classic, which will air live January 1 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

Watch Ace Frehley’s Entire Houston 2017 Concert

Blabbermouth

Fan-filmed video footage of Ace Frehley‘s entire December 17 concert at Scout Bar in Houston, Texas can be seen below.

The former KISS guitarist’s setlist was as follows:

01. Rip It Out
02. Hard Times (KISS song)
03. 2000 Man (THE ROLLING STONES cover)
04. Snowblind
05. Love Gun (KISS song)
06. Parasite (KISS song)
07. Rock Soldiers
08. Bass Solo
09. Strange Ways (KISS song)
10. New York Groove (HELLO cover)
11. 2 Young 2 Die
12. Shock Me (KISS song)
13. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
14. Cold Gin (KISS song)

Encore:

15. Detroit Rock City (KISS song)
16. Deuce (KISS song)

Ace recently collaborated with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons on two songs for the former KISS guitarist’s next solo album.

Rumors about Frehley‘s return to KISS gained strength last year after he teamed up with KISS lead singer Paul Stanley on a cover of FREE‘s “Fire And Water”, marking their first collaboration since 1998’s “Psycho Circus”.

Frehley‘s version of “Fire And Water” appears on his covers collection “Origins, Vol 1”, which received great reviews and landed in the Top 25 on the Billboard album chart.

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Paul Stanley and Sammy Hagar congratulate this years nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Ultimate Classic Rock

A pair of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Paul Stanley of Kiss and Sammy Hagar, have offered their congratulations to the incoming Class of 2018. But in doing so, they echoed their long-standing issues with the Hall’s methods of determining who deserves to be enshrined.

“Congratulations to all the inductees especially Bon Jovi who was kept off the ballot for so long and when nominated swept the votes unanimously!” Hagar tweeted. “It just goes to show the people are the ones that should always control the vote.”

Paul Stanley was more blunt in his assessment, writing, “Great to see the [Hall] with little choice while choking on its own stagnant, toxic air, except to open its eyes, ears and doors to survive by reluctantly becoming what it was meant to be all along.”

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Mark Kennedy | Stamford Advocate

NEW YORK (AP) — Gene Simmons wants you to be rich and powerful, but it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to have to learn English, wake up early, turn off the TV and study.

“I want to shake you up and tell, you a real harsh truth: The world doesn’t need you,” he says. “The only way you’re going to become rich and powerful is if you stand up on your hind legs. You’re only going to get the respect you demand.”

Simmons, the co-founder and bassist for the rock band Kiss, is brutal in his advice: Women, choose between a career or a family. Guys, get rid of your worthless friends. Above all, don’t listen to the self-esteem movement or be politically correct. Simmons is here to demand that you drop and give him 20.

“I want to be your drill sergeant and piss you off so that you wake up and smell the coffee and go out there and become that rich and powerful person you deserve to be,” he says. “You cannot fail in America.”

Why should you listen to this guy, someone who has spent much of his adult life slathered in scary makeup, in towering platform boots, wagging his tongue onstage and singing songs like “Lick It Up”?

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