Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick opened up about what really happened during the KISS Kruise event. Paul Stanley was accused of overlooking Kulick’s contribution before later issuing a public apology.
Kulick explained the backstage confusion that led to the awkward on-stage moment. A miscommunication about the setlist resulted in him nearly missing his cue to perform, and Paul Stanley’s subsequent apology played out both privately and publicly.
“I mean, look, it was covered in the press quite a few ways, but more from Paul actually really feeling bad about it and he wound up apologizing after the show,” Kulick said. “And then the next morning I’m getting texts from him and then of course he opened up the Q&A with this whole thing, ‘I have to start this with an apology to Bruce,’ you know.”
Kulick then broke down the sequence of events that caused the confusion, pointing to uncertainty over the setlist as the root of the issue.
“And it was really weird because so what was supposed to happen was I’d come out for Lick It Up, okay, the last song,” he continued. “And then I remember I discussed it with Eric and I have no reason to not believe Eric. And Eric was like Paul almost like cut out Lick It Up and everybody was like in other words there was a little confusion to the end of the show. Paul went right into it. Never should have probably should have said something but at that point Eric claimed he didn’t even know what song was next and it was there and then all of a sudden there I am.”
Kulick described the moment he found himself unexpectedly standing at the side of the stage, unsure whether to walk out.
“So, the reason why I’m sheepishly calling out on stage, this can only happen with KISS, you know what I mean? Is that Paul counts off and starts a song without remembering that, okay, this is when when Paul Bruce is going to sit in because I know he was aware of it, but almost didn’t even do the song, right?” he said. “Of course, Rock and Roll All Night was next with the confetti and all that. But Tommy’s the one I gotta — I got to give him big thumbs up and he’s like, ‘Get out of here.’ Cuz I’m like, ‘Don’t want to wait.’ you know, all of a sudden there he is there. You know, Paul’s singing and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. I’m not — I’m over here. The pedal board just barely made it out there, right?’ And then Tommy’s like, ‘Get out here. Get out here.’ And he’s waving to me.”
Despite the awkward entrance, Kulick acknowledged that some fans actually found the unscripted moment charming — though he admitted it still stung.
“So now I’m like, you know, like kind of like like creepily, you know, stepping out and and let’s face it, at that point of the song, it’s not real important, you know, like whether or not. I don’t need to be too close to anybody, but by the time it came to the solo, I got to be featured,” he said. “Now, some people thought that that was the coolest thing not to be introduced because everybody knows who I am.”
“But it was awkward. It was. And then I’m thinking, how could Paul forget me? That’s why Gene ran over and screamed out Bruce Kulick, you know what I mean? And then and then they went right into Rock And Roll All Night. And I know Paul was caught up in the moment. Look, they hadn’t played together in a long time. They were raw. They did a great job. I thought it was amazing. No click, no backgrounds, nothing helping. I was a real show and the fans loved it.”
Kulick ultimately reflected on the experience with warmth, noting that despite the confusion, the moment was still a memorable one.
“I mean, Paul was genuinely you know, felt bad that it didn’t happen and it gave me a lot of press that way, but still, it was a real thrill. It really was a thrill. I loved it. And then to be up there for rock and roll night with all the confetti and all, it was it was a lot of fun,” he concluded.
The incident carries particular weight when one considers just how significant Kulick’s history with KISS truly is. He served as the band’s lead guitarist for 12 years — longer than any member outside of the original four and drummer Eric Singer. His near-invisible entrance onto that stage made the moment all the more striking to those who know the band’s history.
Kulick joined KISS for the Animalize tour in 1984 as the official replacement for Mark St. John, who had been diagnosed with reactive arthritis. What began as a touring role quickly became a permanent position. He went on to record five studio albums with the band: Asylum (1985), Crazy Nights (1987), Hot in the Shade (1989), Revenge (1992), and Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997). He also appeared on two live albums, Alive III and Kiss Unplugged, cementing his place as one of the most prolific contributors in the band’s catalog.
His entire tenure with KISS coincided with the band’s unmasked era. Kulick never wore the iconic makeup or adopted an onstage persona. Despite that, he became one of the most recognizable figures associated with the band during one of its most commercially active periods. His departure came in 1996 when the original lineup — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss — reunited, effectively ending Kulick’s run with the group.
The KISS Kruise is an annual fan event that has brought together KISS members and their most devoted supporters since 2013. It features live performances, Q&A panels, and intimate fan interactions. It is precisely the kind of setting where a moment like this — raw, unscripted, and deeply personal — carries extra weight, given how closely fans follow every detail of the band’s history and relationships.
Even after leaving KISS, Kulick maintained a connection to the band’s world. He contributed to KISS’s Psycho Circus album and appeared on solo projects from both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. He later joined Grand Funk Railroad as lead guitarist following a personal invitation from drummer Don Brewer. His career trajectory reflects a musician who, despite the complicated circumstances of his KISS exit, never allowed bitterness to define his legacy — a quality that makes his candid account of the Kruise incident all the more compelling.
The full interview is available on the Shout It Out Loudcast YouTube channel.
