Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Hi Bruce, thanks for taking time to be here.

What/who first inspired you to start playing guitar and how old were you when you started playing. Thx in advance.

First The Beatles, but more importantly Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix.
Jimmy Page as well... those were the big influences. I would say I started learning at 10 or 11 years old.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Bruce, do you feel your guitar enables you to express yourself in a way that would be hard to do just using words?

"Music is what feelings sound like".

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Bruce, do you feel your guitar enables you to express yourself in a way that would be hard to do just using words?

"Music is what feelings sound like".

I admit, I am kind of emotional as a person, and playing guitar is a way to express some emotions etc.. hard to explain but I do feel like I speak through my guitar.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

(I only get one question right?)

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Bruce -

1) When you play GFR riffs, do you ever have a hard time keeping your big brass ones in your fruit-of-the-looms?

2) What influences you and your playing more: the bands you play in, or the bands you listen-to-and-don't-play-in?

Thanks,
Hunter

LOL! I think I like to play with my brass ones, no matter who I perform with!
I play what I hear in my head, but I do know how to adapt to what the songs, and the band needs... Jazzy stuff isn't for KISS you know, but I have a few of those riffs if I need to go there.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

(I only get one question right?)

If that is true I asked two (whoops!). I actually have another one if I'm allowed.

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

(I only get one question right?)

with your photo, more questions are allowed! and I do love Puerto Rico!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

LOL! I think I like to play with my brass ones, no matter who I perform with!
I play what I hear in my head, but I do know how to adapt to what the songs, and the band needs... Jazzy stuff isn't for KISS you know, but I have a few of those riffs if I need to go there.

:headbang: :thanks:

 

[Kam]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

I'm relieved to know that we're on the same side of the dogs/cats debate. I don't trust cat people at all.

Anyway, if we're allowed more than one question...You've worked with an impressive and very talented bunch of artists over the years. Who do you think you had the best chemistry with? I don't mean who was the nicest guy to hang out with, I mean who do you think really inspired you and brought out the best playing from you?

Thanks for doing this, by the way. :fing2:

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Hey Bruce! Thanks for stopping by. This is really cool so far.

When you're playing a gig, how much of your energy/mind is focused on your playing, and how much is on other things, like your physical stage presence, the audience, the other musicians, etc.?

 

[J Moose]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Hey Bruce, thanks for dropping by!

What do you feel most helped you to develop your diverse skill set and therefore longevity (career) on the instrument? Being able to cover so much musical ground with many different artists surely isn't easy...

Or IS it?!

Cheers!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

with your photo, more questions are allowed! and I do love Puerto Rico!

You were a lead guitarist in a rock band in what I think was one of the only times in recent history where great musicianship was not only encouraged but celebrated greatly. What was that like?

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Hey Bruce! Thanks for stopping by. This is really cool so far.

When you're playing a gig, how much of your energy/mind is focused on your playing, and how much is on other things, like your physical stage presence, the audience, the other musicians, etc.?

It is amazing how many things can go through my mind at a show! Watching the people, adjusting in my mind what pedal move to go to, etc. It really is a multitasking job! You want to entertain, and be great at the same time.

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

You were a lead guitarist in a rock band in what I think was one of the only times in recent history where great musicianship was not only encouraged but celebrated greatly. What was that like?

Which band do you mean? I am not really sure if you mean KISS?
As you know they didn't get much credit musicianship wise, but actually my version of KISS was very musical.

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Hey Bruce, thanks for dropping by!

What do you feel most helped you to develop your diverse skill set and therefore longevity (career) on the instrument? Being able to cover so much musical ground with many different artists surely isn't easy...

Or IS it?!

Cheers!

I guess it isn't THAT hard for me, and thank you! But honestly my iPod is so diverse, it is no wonder I can handle different situations. I am rock and funky enough for GFR and metal enough for KISS. All good!

 

[Gamera]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Welcome aboard Bruce!

Your career has spanned a few decades and a number of musical fads and trends. Classic rock, hair bands, grunge, etc.

Is there a particular period of time you look back on (or perhaps it's now) that you really acknowledge as being the most fun and creative?

Also is there a period you look back on and say "man, I'm glad that fad is over"?

 

[J Moose]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

I guess it isn't THAT hard for me, and thank you! But honestly my iPod is so diverse, it is no wonder I can handle different situations. I am rock and funky enough for GFR and metal enough for KISS. All good!

Thanks, but what I getting at was trying to get a handle on what sort of things you studied on the instrument that helped form you to be the player you are today. Was it sitting down with records, which ones? Private lessons? Books? Going outside of the "rock" stuff into other genres like classical, jazz or..?

Thanks agian!

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Welcome aboard Bruce!

Your career has spanned a few decades and a number of musical fads and trends. Classic rock, hair bands, grunge, etc.

Is there a particular period of time you look back on (or perhaps it's now) that you really acknowledge as being the most fun and creative?

Also is there a period you look back on and say "man, I'm glad that fad is over"?

Fad wise, Asylum era clothing. I didn't dig the threads then. Revenge was a better look!
Actually the work I did on BK3, my new CD is the most creative direction with my guitar work. I also dig something from WAY back in 1974, and I was selling that on my site too a few years ago. Called KKB. BK young and in a progressive band!

 

[Bruce Kulick]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Thanks, but what I getting at was trying to get a handle on what sort of things you studied on the instrument that helped form you to be the player you are today. Was it sitting down with records, which ones? Private lessons? Books? Going outside of the "rock" stuff into other genres like classical, jazz or..?

Thanks agian!

I admit not being a good reader, but I have a good ear. I sat with lots of records, and learned things. I took some private lessons, and I did study with a very progressive Jazz guy for a while a LONG time ago. That opened my mind up to things. Beck in the 70's was doing things I didn't understand. He is a genius no matter, but as soon as I learned an 11th chord or 13th chord some of the things he did stated to make sense to me.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

Re: Live - Q&A with Bruce Kulick - 5/11/10

I'm going to try to sneak in an extra question, hopefully it will turn out to be a good one.

Every touring musician has hilarious/amazing stories from the road. Would you do us the honor of sharing one of yours?