Despite the fact that he was their fourth lead guitarist in just three years, Bruce Kulick has the distinction of having been a member of KISS for more consecutive years than any of his predecessors, including original guitarist Ace Frehley. When Mark St. John was afflicted with the debilitating Reiter's Syndrome just prior to the Animalize world tour, it was Bruce who stepped in as a temporary-and ultimately, permanent-replacement.

Over the course of 12 years with KISS, Bruce's talented songwriting and musical contributions resulted in three platinum and four gold records, beginning with the Asylum album in 1985. Following a whirlwind convention tour in 1995, Bruce participated in perhaps KISS' most ambition project, a live acoustic album. But while Kulick's work on KISS Unplugged is extraordinary, it was largely overshadowed by a collaborative performance with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley what was to be the catalyst in a reformation of the original band.

Today, Bruce has both hand fully immersed in UNION, a blues-based hard rock band he formed with one-time M–tley Crue vocalist John Corabi. In addition to a recently released live disc, Live In The Galaxy, a new studio album is currently in the works for release on Spitfire Records, as well as the re-release of the eponymously-titled debut album. And, Bruce still finds plenty of time to participate as a special guest at numerous KISS conventions and expos each year, actively maintaining his association as a member of the extended KISS family. Speaking recently of that familial association, he offered recollections of seeing several of the shows on the recent Psycho Circus tour, not to mention his unique perspective on rumors that KISS' next tour just might be their swansong performances.

RL: How many shows did you see on the Psycho Circus tour?

BK: I saw two in America, and I saw five over in Europe.

RL: Does it sometimes feel a little surreal for you, maybe envisioning how it used to feel when you were up there?

BK: It's always odd for me. I gotta admit that. In some ways, I see if very much as two different bands, although there's certain line that crosses[through both]. But when they're in the makeup, they're in character. Paul and Gene, with Eric and I-either Eric-were always exciting performances, and to some degree, in their character. [In makeup], Gene, of course, becomes more demon-like, and Paul becomes more the lover. He's gonna prance around even more because he's got the makeup on. Looking at them that way, I enjoy it more. Then, I don't feel so...odd. But if I wanted to just look at it as, like, "Okay, here's four guys that are gonna play rock and roll songs," I'm like, "Well, we used to do that song." Then, it feels odd.

RL: With all the shows that you say, which one was the most memorable?

BK: I really enjoyed the Dodger Stadium show. The enormous kind of feeling of being ins a stadium and knowing the pressure on them...it's the kickoff of a tour for a new record and their new stage, and whatever else they were gong to come up with. I also had incredible seats. I kinda requested to be really close. Sometimes, I don't wanna really be in the crowd. But I would up with fifth row center, and I had a blast! I mean, I just loved it! I was very, very impressed with how well they pulled off that first show.

Of course, I heard comments from people who were very supportive, and some who were so far back that they just didn't get it. They didn't see the bigness of it all. But everyone around me really loved it. Its' pretty funny...I was with this girl who was half-naked, so, obviously, Gene and Paul were looking over a lot. I doubt they even recognized me because my hair was a lit different than the last time they'd seen me. It was just kind of funny to wonder "Did they recognize me or not?" [Laughs] But either way, the show was, to me, quite impressive, and I called them and told them so. I know they were really up in the air with ow things really went over.

Musically, I only saw them get slightly lost once, which is not bad when yo9u think about playing a stadium, and it's your first gig. They got out of that one okay-I remember discussing that with Paul.

RL: From a fan's perspective, what was your favorite moment?

BK: It's hard for me to look at it as a fan. But, the biggest treat was hearing them do the new songs. That's the biggest challenge for KISS, getting new songs to become important in the set. I knew with I hear "Psycho Circus"-I was involved with helping Paul with the demo of it-that, "Oh, this is a great opener for the concert." So, to see that open the show in a giant stadium, that was thrilling to me. But again, it's hard. [Laughs] I was obviously involved with certain things that are just a lot closer than a fan. I did like the drums, the thing moving out over the stage, the CO2 blasting out underneath it. Where I was, it was blasting out on me! [Laughs].

RL: For you, there must be a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in knowing that, you, too, have contributed greatly to the legend of the KISS spectacle.

BK: I was very proud of a couple of the tours we did that don't get talked about in the press, the ones with the non-makeup band. The Hot In The Shade tour and even the Revenge tour with the giant Statue of Liberty. We did some really cool things.. Even Animalize, running up into the light pods and those kinds of things.

I know what it is to be on a stage and how much preparation there is, and praying that it all works. Making sure you're not in a spot where the pyro's going to blow up. This has always been KISS' problem: how do you top what you did before and make it work? This time around, the 3-d thing, certainly, came off fine.

RL: If KISS performed anything form the albums that didn't involve Peter and Ace, which songs would you like to hear them play, and why?

BK: Well, I always look at certain albums through the å80's as having a couple of key songs. What really surprises me is, they haven't touched on, let's say Creature Of The Night. Even though everyone who really knows KISS knows Ace isn't on the record, his fact is on it, y'know what I mean? [Laughs] He did the video for "I Love It Loud" and the fans would absolutely freak over that. They should do "Heaven's On Fire," "Lick It Up,""Tears Are Falling," although even sometimes we weren't sure if we should do that one. From Crazy Nights, I don't know what would fit this version of the band because I'm thinking, with a musician's hat, "What is really going to fit these guys?" And when you get into Hot In The Shade, could they do "Hide Your Heart?" Of course they could.

RL: Ace did it.

BK: Right. Could they do "Forever?" I don't know if that would fit them. Still, there are some classic songs from the å80's. From Revenge, I think it would be a little tougher, but I'm sure they could do a version of "Domino."

RL: I keep hoping and praying!

BK: Yeah, and I know there's always been the rumors, "Oh, they're going to do 'Unholy.'" I doubt it. That was even hard for the band with Eric[Singer] and myself to do. There's a lot of tricky things in it. But, they pulled of "Within," and that's not an easy sone either. But, they've been really clear about not doing material from different eras. I'm not sure why-that's their decision. They have been true to just about the cutoff point. It's odd for me, and I know a lot of diehards would love to see some songs from whatever ere. Who knows? Maybe they've got some surprises coming up in the tour.

RL: Your hectic schedule of eight European KISS Expose over the course of two weeks was the prelude to an Argentinian KISS Expo in Buenos Aries. You've still maintained really strong ties to the fans. Is that very important to you?

BK: I'm really prior of my tenure in the band, and I know that there are fans who are curios to see what Bruce is up to. And a lot of them are obviously thrilled that the guys are in the makeup, but there's also sadness about the fact that, "Well, I dug that KISS, too."

I seem to be the only guy who worked with KISS who understands the big picture. I don't wanna feel like it is a dysfunctional family. I still feel part of it, and I totally under5stand them being in makeup. I'm not bitter about it. Now, was it easy? No, of course not. The fact that it happened-it could've been done in a worse way, and it wasn't-I feel it was handled well by both me and Eric Singer, and the band. And Ace and Peter, too! They were all very cool about everything.

So why not keep the contact with the fans? Sometimes in KISS, there would be periods of time when we weren't doing anything. I can't say that that's what's been happening cine I left the band, because I have so much. Now that I'm not a member, that umbrella of KISS, which really kind of covers everything, is suddenly gone, and I can do whatever I want. I have all these things I have to talk about. Between my band, Union, doing a cover project with Eric Singer called ESP, getting Eric Carr's music out-the Rockheads that are out now- doing some session work and getting ready to do another Union record. There's a lot to promote and [the KISS Expos] are really great ways to meet with fans and share my experiences. I certainly have some great stories to tell. And, for some of them, it's really a thrill just to shake my hand and take a picture with me. I can't tell you how much that...it's something that I've been very fortunate about. There's not too many bands who have these kinds of fans and could have these kind of conventions and expos.

RL: Right. I mean, maybe the Beatles, and that's about it.

BK: When it comes to bands, I don't think there's anyone else. It's a very, very unique situation, and it's kind of fueled by this passion that the fans have. Even the people who are involved in putting on these expos, at the heard of all that, they are diehard KISS fans.

RL: What has being such an integral part of the KISS family taught you in your work with UNION?

BK: The whole ride with Gene and Paul, I got to see how two very smart people want to protect what they've created, and do the best they can with presenting what they've created. It isn't easy, åcause there's so many landmines out there.

I wanna be my own person here, but I certainly learned a lot. They had their Ten Commandments for running a band. It doesn't mean I gotta follow them, but there's certainly a lot to learn. And, I did.

On the creative process, as much as Gene and Paul certainly run the band, they were always very open to hear everyone's ideas and what you have to contribute. As absurd as your idea might be, they would entertain it. That's something I was very strong about brining to Union. No idea is stupid: let's get this going, try everyone's ideas. And because of that, entire songs used to sometimes change, for the most part extremely so, for the better.

RL: There has been a lot of speculation that KISS might do one final farewell tour and close the book. What do you think?

BK: They're gonna set up to go out again on a big tour, and, most likely, they'll call it a farewell tour. But I've been around long enough to know that people who say "farewell tour" mean they're gonna take a few years of and see if they want to work again together. That's all.

RL: Why, whatever do you mean, Ozzy? [Laughs]

BK: Exactly. Even David Bowie. The list of people who did that...But that's okay, because I think it obviously will give them some closure. Maybe in the year 2002, they decide, "Let's do another tour." I wouldn't count them out, but if they actually decide to call it "farewell," which I think they will, it just means that they can go take a break, and that they're not tied to each other. Once you gear up to do it all, you've go to do it all. And if Ace wants to really pursue a record of his own design, it's kind of hard to also be in KISS. Maybe Paul wants to get into other things, and I wish him the best with The Phantom. That's an amazing opportunity for him. And Gene is just a moguling maniac, even though he's a rock and roll icon.

These guys, like most successful performers, like to spread out and do as much as they can. Doing a farewell tour will give them the freedom to do that. And then, they'll all get to spread their wings a bit. But is doesn't mean that it's over forever. Just don't expect them to go back to the [early] å90's version of KISS or the å80's version; I just don't see that. The makeup thing is just a stronger identity for the band, although I still feel that some of the tours that I was in, and some of the records, stand up to the best of the makeup stuff.