Bob Kulick

Guitarist Bob Kulick stands as the likeliest candidate should an honor ever be created for a “fifth member of Kiss.” He auditioned for the role of the band’s original lead guitarist, contributed uncredited guitar parts to multiple Kiss albums across the years, and later helped bring his younger brother Bruce Kulick into the group. Born in Queens, New York, Kulick spent the early 1970s performing with local outfits, appearing on a handful of recordings by the little-known act Hookfoot, and supporting Patti LaBelle’s group LaBelle on the road. An advertisement in the Village Voice brought him to a Kiss audition on January 17, 1973; although Ace Frehley secured the position, Kulick formed a lasting connection with Paul Stanley and remained in touch with the band. In 1976 he played on Lou Reed’s Coney Island Baby, and the following year he supplied lead guitar—still uncredited—for most of the newly recorded studio tracks that filled side four of Alive II. His sole credited Kiss-related session arrived in 1978 when he appeared on Paul Stanley’s self-titled solo album. Four years later he was asked to contribute lead guitar to the four new studio cuts included on the otherwise retrospective Killers collection. In 1984 Kulick urged the group to recruit his younger brother as lead guitarist, and the suggestion was accepted. Five years after that he joined Stanley onstage for a brief club tour mounted under the singer’s name. Throughout the 1980s he also recorded and toured with Meat Loaf, while additional session work took him to projects by Mark Farner, Diana Ross, Janis Ian, and W.A.S.P.; over time he has produced and performed on numerous heavy-metal tribute albums.