In a recent interview with Backstage Pass-Rock News, Bruce Kulick discussed how his experience working with Meat Loaf helped prepare him for his time with KISS.
“That year was wild, to go from nothing to headlining arenas, and touring the world,” the guitarist said about the time following Meat Loaf’s debut album, ‘Bat Out of Hell.’ “It was a long year. There was a lot of it that was very hard for me just emotionally I believe. And I love Meat Loaf. This is not a slag but he was definitely using something and he was just very what mood is he going to be in.”
Kulick added, “Look out. My brother wasn’t afraid of him but I was. By the way, of course, years later I always had a great relationship with him and it was so sad when he passed away but it was a great experience for me because that would kind of get me ready for KISS.”
He explained the challenges of performing at such a level, saying, “Doing arena tours is different and it’s wonderful and yet it’s very hard. It’s a different kind of pressure and it’s different things that you have to deal with but I will admit I’m really glad I got that under my belt before I got the call to join KISS.”
In a 2021 conversation with Rolling Stone, Kulick shared how he initially began working with Meat Loaf. “Once again, I have to thank my brother. Because he was four years older, he was already working hard at different sessions and bands in New York. I was the shy younger brother,” he said.
He also revealed, “[Meat Loaf drummer] Joe Stefko recently told me, ‘Did you know that I was the guy that called your brother and told him that this guy has a record deal? ‘It’s weird. It’s a big band. You have to come down and audition. I know your brother plays too. They are looking for two guitar players. Come down.'”
Kulick continued, “That news, I just found out in the past month. I knew that Bob got the info about auditioning for Meat Loaf and wanted to do it as a brothers’ team. He knew that I’d learn the Todd Rundgren guitar parts that are quite sophisticated on that ‘Bat Out of Hell’ album. And there it was. We rehearsed for a month, and then we went on tour. We struggled at first. Then it took off like a bat out of hell. What can I say?”
Bruce Kulick played guitar in Meat Loaf’s band alongside his brother Bob Kulick before moving on to the band Blackjack and later joining KISS in 1984.
