Bob Kulick

January 16, 1950 – May 29, 2020

A “heartbroken” former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick has revealed the passing of his elder brother Bob, the guitarist whose playing graced albums by Kiss, Meat Loaf, W.A.S.P., Michael Bolton, Lou Reed and Diana Ross, among many others. No cause of death has so far been confirmed for the 70-year-old.

Kulick was one of the first bald hard rockers to find fame. The New Yorker auditioned for Kiss in 1972, and despite losing out to Ace Frehley he added uncredited solos to many of their albums including Unmasked, Killers, Alive II and Creatures Of The Night, and also played on Paul Stanley’s self-titled solo debut in 1978.

Kulick was a member of cult AOR act Balance, and during the 90s featured in the groups Skull, Blackthorne and Murderer’s Row. He also worked as a producer for Motörhead. Surprisingly, Kulick contributed a popular song called Sweet Victory to the children’s TV show Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Meat Loaf has thanked Kulick for “a contribution that can never be repaid” on the Bat Out Of Hell tour in 1977, recalling: “We started with being booed in Chicago, but sold almost seven million in the States.”

Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. said: “An extraordinary talent has been silenced. I’m not sure if Bob would know how much his talent would be held in awe by his peers and the world.”