Bob Kulick

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Bob Kulick
Kulick at KISS Kruise VII 2017
Kulick at KISS Kruise VII 2017
Background information
Birth nameRobert Joel Kulick
Born(1950-01-16)January 16, 1950
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 2020(2020-05-28) (aged 70)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • producer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1965–2020

Robert Joel Kulick (January 16, 1950 – May 28, 2020)[1] was an American guitarist and record producer, who worked with numerous acts such as Kiss, W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Meat Loaf, and Michael Bolton.[2][3] He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the elder brother of former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Early career and Kiss[edit]

Bob Kulick took a chance in late 1972 and auditioned for the lead guitar spot in a then-new band called Kiss. The band, with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss, was very impressed by his performance, however the glitzier Ace Frehley (who auditioned immediately after him) was chosen to fill the spot.[4] Kulick later played (uncredited) on three Kiss albums: Alive II (three of the five studio tracks), Killers (all four new studio tracks), and some minimal work on Creatures of the Night. He also played on Paul Stanley's 1978 solo album and on his 1989 solo tour.[4]

Other work[edit]

Kulick in 1986

Early in his session career, Bob Kulick played lead guitar for Lou Reed on his Coney Island Baby record. Kulick and brother Bruce both played in singer Michael Bolton's (nee Bolotin) band at this time. Kulick then began a long-running stint in the Neverland Express, Meat Loaf's touring band, on and off for years, which led to appearances on several Meat Loaf albums, most notably on 1984's Bad Attitude. He also formed a band called Balance, with Peppy Castro (aka Emil "Peppy" Thielhelm, formerly of the Blues Magoos) and Doug Katsaros (multi-platinum recording arranger and Broadway conductor), which had modest chart success in the early 1980s, followed up by playing rhythm and lead guitar on Michael Bolton's 1983 self-titled album.

Bob Kulick was involved with a project called Skull, releasing one album, No Bones About It, in 1991. Bruce Kulick, his brother, who would become a member of KISS, co-wrote one song and appeared as a guest guitarist on another track. In addition, Kulick played on the W.A.S.P. albums The Crimson Idol and Still Not Black Enough. He was only involved with the studio work and never toured with W.A.S.P. or became a member of the band. In 1996 he released Murderer's Row with his band of the same name. This group included David Glen Eisley (of Giuffria and Dirty White Boy) on vocals.

Thereafter, Kulick served in various side projects such as Blackthorne and Observation Balloon. He also produced Motörhead's "Whiplash" (winner of the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance), produced and played guitar on the theme for WWE wrestler Triple H, and earned 11 platinum or gold records working with Kiss and Diana Ross. Kulick also composed, produced, and performed "Sweet Victory" with Eisley in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Band Geeks" on Nickelodeon. The song further appears on SpongeBob SquarePants: The Yellow Album.

Personal life and death[edit]

In 1983, Kulick began a long-term relationship with actress Stella Stevens.[5][6]

Kulick resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was a regular participant in the annual "KISS Night in Las Vegas" fundraiser for music programs in Clark County, Nevada schools until his death.

His family is of Jewish background.[7][8][9]

Kulick's death on May 28, 2020, was confirmed by his brother Bruce, stating "I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick. His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. I know he is at peace now, with my parents, playing his guitar as loud as possible. Please respect the Kulick Family's privacy during this very sad time."[3][10][11][12]

On October 2, 2020, Bruce issued a statement via Facebook on the cause of death, reporting that "Many of you have asked how my brother died. I didn't have the information until a few days ago from the Las Vegas County Coroner. He died in his home, from natural causes due to heart disease. Sadly, I was unaware that my brother had complained to his doctor about chest pains and heart palpitations. I recently discovered this by looking at his medical papers, and I believe he was due to be treated, but the pandemic might have prevented it. For me this was a shock, as it was so sudden. I hope if you experience any pain or discomfort, please see your doctor. As much as this knowledge about his passing is closure for me and my family, he was too young to die. Thank you all for your support with his passing. I will continue to celebrate his career and share his photos and accomplishments, along with a lighter side of my brother many of you never knew."[13]

Discography[edit]

Random Blues Band[edit]

Hookfoot[edit]

Michael Wendroff[edit]

  • Southpaw (1974)
  • Recorded Live (1976)
  • Kiss The World Goodbye (1978)

Lou Reed[edit]

KISS[edit]

Balance[edit]

  • Balance (1981)
  • In For the Count (1982)
  • Equilibrium (2009)

Meat Loaf[edit]

  • Live at My Father's Place (1977; promo only release)
  • Live at the "Bottom Line" in N.Y.C. (1977; promo only release)
  • Live at the El Mocambo, January 18, 1978 (1978; promo only release)
  • Bad Attitude (1984)
  • Bad Attitude Live (1985; VHS)
  • Live (at Wembley) (1987)
  • Bat Out of Hell: The Original Tour (2009; DVD; televised appearance on Rockpalast, 1978)

Michael Bolton[edit]

Diana Ross[edit]

  • Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1981)
  • Mirror Mirror (1981)

W.A.S.P.[edit]

Skull[edit]

  • No Bones About It (1991)
  • No Bones About It: Expanded Edition (2018)
  • Skull II: Now More Than Ever (2018)

Blackthorne[edit]

Murderer's Row[edit]

  • Murderer's Row (1996)

Doro[edit]

Tim Ripper Owens[edit]

Solo[edit]

  • Skeletons in the Closet (2017)

Other[edit]

Tribute albums[edit]

Bob Kulick produced or co-produced, with partners Bruce Bouillet, Billy Sherwood, and Brett Chassen, multiple tribute and original concept albums, including:

  • Humanary Stew: A tribute to Alice Cooper (1996)
  • Little Guitars: A Tribute to Van Halen (1999)
  • Metallic Attack: Metallica – The Ultimate Tribute (2000)
  • Bat Head Soup: A Tribute to Ozzy (2000)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Obituary Bob Kulick January 16, 1950 – May 28, 2020". dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Prato, Greg. "Biography: Bob Kulick". Allmusic. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Veteran Session Guitarist And Producer Bob Kulick Dead At 70". Blabbermouth.net. May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Bob Kulick Reveals His KISS Character". Rockstar Weekly. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  5. ^ Sanz, Cynthia (October 22, 1990). "'Ear Ye, 'Ear Ye: Ribald Sex Bomb Stella Stevens, 52, and Wry, Bald Rocker Bob Kulick, 37, Find True Love". People. Vol. 34, no. 16. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2020. ...a 52-year-old onetime Playboy centerfold...
  6. ^ Schudel, Matt (February 17, 2023). "Stella Stevens, who brought glamour and comic touch to films, dies at 84". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Bruce Kulick – Journey of a Frontman https://journeyofafrontman.com/2015/01/07/on-the-line-with-bruce-kulick/ January 7, 2015 – Bruce Kulick is the only musician in the world who can say that he has rocked ... Bruce Kulick: With the Jewish religion, there's something called ...
  8. ^ Get Ready to ROCK! Interview with Bruce Kulick, guitarist with Kiss ... http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/bruce_kulick2.htm Interview with Bruce Kulick, guitarist with Kiss, Union and Grand Funk ... I was young, having to go to Hebrew School, so I couldn't play in the high school band.
  9. ^ Rock Eyez – Interview with Bruce Kulick- Guitar – BK, (form. KISS ... http://www.rockeyez.com/interviews/int-2010-01-bmr-bruce-kulick-bk.html KISS/Grand Funk Railroad), 2009 Interview, Featuring artist and band interviews, ... Bruce Kulick: Well you have to understand that the band at the time was trying to fit in, .... Bruce Kulick: I do have a pendant of a Jewish star that is very much ...
  10. ^ "Bruce Kulick". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bruce Kulick on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  12. ^ "KISS collaborator Bob Kulick, acclaimed guitarist and producer, dead at 70 – Music News – ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  13. ^ "Bruce Kulick". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bob Kulick.
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