Guitarist BRUCE KULICK (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, ESP, ex-KISS) has issued the following update:

"Hello everyone! Just back from Japan with the ERIC SINGER PROJECT (ESP) and what a great time we had playing and visiting Tokyo. I have always loved Japan as the people are so polite and hard working, and the food and service is impeccable. We arrived via NWA on Flight 1, (I thought that was cool) on Friday afternoon, and off to the city. The airport is almost 2 hours away, and our promoter friend Takashi and the band told crazy stories to kill the time. We checked into the hotel, and we were pleased with the size of the rooms which were large considering how small they can be in Japan. We then went off to dinner. We found a cool Chinese place ironically! But the food was tasty of course and we knew we would have sushi the next few days for sure.

It was great to finally settle in and sleep, but I took a great pix from my hotel window. They love neon in the city, and blue is my fave. Next morning it was time to go sound check, and do the meet and greet and KISS Expo at the ESP school academy club that is in the facility there. It is a very modern beautiful building and there is a room where the KISS online people were using for merchandise sales that had an incredible guitar collection that the owner of the ESP schools has acquired over the years. I nearly fainted!

Sound check was fun, and then lunch at an amazing sushi place where the food just comes around on a conveyor belt! We stuffed ourselves, and that was perfect Japanese food! After lunch it was time for the signing session for the fans, and like pervious times, they gave us all wonderful gifts. From sake to socks, to candy and hats and shoes and shirts, how cool was that!

Eric and I did a Q & A for the fans, and then it was break time. We made plans for some shopping in Harajuku which the singer from NO DOUBT, GWEN STEFANI made famous with her take on the Japanese dancers and her clothing line. There was a great Jewelry place called Justin Davis that Eric knew made cool stuff. So we had fun picking out gifts. That area of Tokyo is very vibrant, and I really was happy I got to see it. I found great gifts and enjoyed the energy.

Back to the venue for show number one. We really had a great long show planned and it was very exciting. The fans in Japan are so passionate about watching, although they are a bit more reserved than some other cultures you know they don't miss a note. We were excited to have given them a cool show, and time for some of the band to visit the Hard Rock, or just rest. I chose the quiet of my room!

After a good nights rest, it was time for the same plans at the venue. Meet and greet, Q and A and then our show. I did spend some time with the crew that was helping us going over the guitars that ESP (the guitar company) provided for me to play. Some of the guys went out again to Sushi, but I ate with the crew, as even the easy food bought at a 7-11 type of place in Tokyo is VERY good cuisine!

I was able to do some local shopping in the Takadanobaba area where the Academy is located. (Say that 10 times fast!) I am a big fan of Japanese products and there is a "100 Yen" shop, which is a take off of the Dollar shops we have here in the States. I found the usual cool items for my home that I love from Japan.

Back to the venue after my shopping and walk, and the band discussed our set list which we shortened. It was Sunday and that worked better for the club. After the show which was I thought even better than the first night, we took photos with the crew, and we thanked all of the staff and gave them ESP DVD's (the live one from Australia) which they all were very happy about. We gave away the giant bottle of Sake from our friend Kuni, and gave away the Jack Daniel's too! Hope they had a good party with the alcohol!

Back to the hotel, and I had a nice dinner with some friends from Japan, (thank you!) in a Denny's style place that is, well MUCH better than a Denny's! No matter where you go in Japan, the food is simply perfect. So I want to thank Takeshi and his great staff for looking after us so well. Too many names to get into here, but they all did a great job for us. Our friend Hiro was great hanging with us all the time, and Kuni who we all have known for years was there and made things very rock n roll!

Thanks to the ESP school crew, Kaz and his staff, and the people from the Shigemori Pedal company who gave us gifts as well made perfectly in Japan! Special thanks to Keith Leroux and his friend Scott from the US for coming and making the two shows a success. Thank you Keith Tarrier for the cool live pix as well.

I look forward to coming back."