Bruce Kulick recently posted a birthday greeting for guitarist Tommy Thayer, and the message drew a range of reactions from KISS and Ace Frehley fans on X (formerly Twitter).
Although Kulick’s intention was simply to acknowledge Thayer’s birthday as a KISS guitarist, the post still triggered differing responses across the fan community. Some fans viewed the gesture positively, while others voiced concerns about Thayer’s place in the band. Kulick wrote, “Let’s wish KISS guitarist, Tommy Thayer a Happy Birthday!”
The message prompted criticism from fans uneasy about Thayer’s long-standing use of Ace Frehley’s makeup. One commenter argued that Thayer should move away from the design and create an identity of his own rather than continue with a look that was originally Frehley’s.
As the fan put it, “Tommy should show the army some love and respect first – stop wearing Aces makeup – come up with your own like it used to be done – who cares if Aces makeup was bought – still ain’t right – RIP Space Ace,” expressing frustration over what they saw as a lack of originality.
Some replies shifted focus to Kulick’s own time with KISS. One fan remarked, “He played guitar for Gene and Paul, but he was not in KISS.” This highlighted an ongoing debate about lineup distinctions and what qualifies as official membership within the band’s history.
Despite the backlash, there were also fans who appreciated Kulick’s message. One supporter called him “a class act.”
The friction sparked by Kulick’s birthday post reflects a deeper, long-running division in the KISS community regarding lineup changes and the legitimacy of newer members. Understanding the roots of this divide requires looking at the backgrounds of the guitarists involved and how each contributed to KISS’s evolving identity.
Bruce Kulick served as KISS’s guitarist during the unmasked era from 1984 to 1996, as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock. This era marked a departure from the band’s iconic makeup and theatrical personas. Kulick distinguished himself by performing without an assigned character and by giving classic solos his own stylistic twist. His time in the band represented a major change in KISS’s image and musical direction.
The controversy grew more intense when Tommy Thayer assumed the guitarist role in 2002. He adopted Ace Frehley’s original Spaceman makeup, a decision he has said—per interviews with Eddie Trunk—was not his to make. According to Thayer, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley opted to preserve the established characters rather than introduce new ones so late into the band’s career. Although Thayer acknowledged that some fans were unhappy, he expressed that he wouldn’t let the criticism affect him.
Ace Frehley himself once offered praise for Bruce Kulick, stating that Kulick “blows Tommy Thayer off the stage” due to the originality he brought to the solos. Thayer, in comparison, focuses on recreating Frehley’s playing but without the same attitude or flair, according to Frehley’s assessment. This endorsement from the original Spaceman only intensified the existing fan debate.
Kulick’s birthday message might appear simple, but it enters a long-standing discussion within the KISS fandom. The mixed responses show just how divided fans remain, with ongoing disputes about authenticity, legacy, and how best to honor the band’s extensive history.
