Veteran session guitarist Bob Kulick, best known for his work with KISS, Meat Loaf and Lou Reed, has died at 70 years of age.
The news of his passing was confirmed by Kulick’s brother on Facebook. “I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick,” said Bruce Kulick.
“His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. I know he is at peace now, with my parents, playing his guitar as loud as possible. Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during this very sad time.”
Despite being beaten in his 1972 audition to join KISS by Ace Frehley, Kulick was an active contributor to the band. He was then secretly recruited to work on several KIIS tracks that would go on to appear on Alive II.
In the years that followed, Kulick worked on further albums including Unmasked, Killers, and Creatures of the Night. His brother Bruce Kulick eventually joined KISS as their lead guitarist in 1984.
“We are heartbroken. Our deepest condolences to the Kulick family in this difficult time,” tweeted KISS.
We are heartbroken. Our deepest condolences to the Kulick family in this difficult time. https://t.co/QH049xTSvG
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— KISS (@kiss) May 29, 2020
Kulick was also well known for playing lead guitar on Lou Reed’s 1975 album Coney Island Baby. He was a member of Meat Loaf’s touring band ‘Neverland Express’ for over a decade, and was credited on the band’s 1984 release Bad Attitude.
He went on to work as a session guitarist for Diana Ross and Michael Bolton, and also produced the Grammy-Award winning Motorhead song ‘Whiplash’. The talented guitarist was also a member of cult AOR act Balance.
“R.I.P. Bob Kulick I had the pleasure of working with him on a Randy Rhoads tribute album a few years back. My condolences to his family and loved ones,” tweeted guitarist Gus G.
R.I.P. Bob Kulick. I had the pleasure of working with him on a Randy Rhoads tribute album a few years back. My condolences to his family and loved ones pic.twitter.com/Gk5aiWSlzT
— Gus G. (Official) (@gusgofficial) May 29, 2020
“Ugh, another peer, colleague & someone I considered friend has passed. I worked with Bob Kulick on many recordings through the years, most notably the many tribute albums he produced,” added Jeff Scott Soto.
Ugh, another peer, colleague & someone I considered friend has passed. I worked with Bob Kulick on many recordings through the years, most notably the many tribute albums he produced.
My condolences to his brother Bruce and extended Kulick family.https://t.co/8Snr5tRwUG
— Jeff Scott Soto (@jeffscottsoto) May 29, 2020
Kulick played guitar on wrestler Triple H’s entrance music for WWE, on a track called ‘The Game’. He also wrote a song for an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants called ‘Sweet Victory’.
Check out ‘All American Man’ by KISS:
