As we mark 40 years since the release of Asylum, Bruce Kulick looks back on his official debut as KISS’s lead guitarist. An Interview by Ken Sharp
Now a full-fledged member of KISS, Asylum marks the official launch of the Bruce Kulick era in KISStory. It would prove to be a rich and fertile creative period for the band, solidifying the comeback success of the Lick It Up and Animalize albums. Teeming with a batch of commercial songs (“Tears Are Falling,” “Who Wants To Be Lonely,” “Uh! All Night”) ready-made for MTV and radio, Asylum kept the momentum cranked in overdrive during KISS’s non-makeup era. The addition of Bruce Kulick on lead guitar was a masterstroke, which expanded the band’s sonic palette—his consummate six-string prowess shined on both the album and tour.
Entering the Asylum age saw KISS truly embracing the MTV pop-cultural zeitgeist. The band’s visual look changed dramatically, trading black leather and studs for a glam-metal makeover, with Paul, Gene, Eric and Bruce outfitted in garish sparkly, flashy costumes. These were costumes awash in loud colors that, in case of nuclear fallout, could seemingly glow in the dark. Similarly, the front and back cover of the album employed a striking neon Day-Glo design aesthetic that fell in line with the vibrant and bright colors of their new Asylum costumes. Spearheaded by the hit single/music video, “Tears Are Falling,” Asylum is a fan favorite and serves as a seminal touchstone in the golden age of KISS’s non-makeup era.
Looking back as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Asylum, Bruce Kulick takes us on a personal guided tour of that era.