Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick shared his thoughts about the band’s 1985 album ‘Asylum’ in a recent interview with Guitar World.
He reflected on KISS’s non-makeup era albums and discussed the significance of ‘Asylum’ in the band’s discography, along with his personal connection to the record.
“I could say all the non-makeup Kiss albums are underrated. I never really get into what album is better or worse from my era of Kiss,” Kulick said. “Each album has its standout songs and performances, and I think ‘Asylum’ fares very well overall in Kisstory. It wasn’t as big as ‘Animalize,’ but the three singles and videos are iconic!”
The guitarist highlighted a personal milestone associated with the album’s release.
“Having my face on the cover of the LP was a thrill,” he continued. “‘Asylum’ represented a real accomplishment for me personally: it was clear that I was the new guitarist for Kiss.”
Kulick offered his perspective on the album’s place in KISS history: “Every Kiss record represents a certain time in the band’s evolution. It’s up to fans to decide what they love about ‘Asylum,’ but I am forever grateful to be associated with this album.”
The album established itself as a significant milestone for both Kulick and KISS’s evolution during their non-makeup era.
Data from Wikipedia shows that ‘Asylum’ hit stores on September 16, 1985. The album earned gold certification from the RIAA by November of the same year. This achievement demonstrated the band’s strong commercial appeal during their glam metal phase.
Three notable singles propelled the album’s success and became MTV favorites: “Who Wants to Be Lonely,” “Tears Are Falling,” and “Uh! All Night.” Research from Ultimate Classic Rock revealed these tracks defined KISS’s mid-80s sound. The songs helped maintain the band’s prominence during the music video era.
The album emerged during a period of stability for KISS. The lineup consisted of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Carr, and Bruce Kulick. Documentation from KISS Concert History highlighted Kulick’s technical prowess. His reliable guitar playing stabilized the group after several lineup changes. This contributed significantly to the album’s energetic and polished sound.
The album didn’t match the platinum status of ‘Animalize.’ However, it achieved commercial success with over 500,000 copies sold in the United States by the mid-1990s. The record demonstrated KISS’s ability to evolve while maintaining their signature hard rock sound.
