Sleaze Roxx has issued a new interview with former KISS guitarist BRUCE KULICK. The following is an excerpt from the interview, conducted by

Ruben Mosqueda:

Q: You and Eric Singer stepped aside when PETER CRISS and ACE FREHLEY came back, Eric eventually returned and now Tommy Thayer is in the band. Were you offered the opportunity to wear the Ace paint? Would you have ever done that?

A: "Great question, I do get asked on occasion... to be honest I'm relieved that I wasn't asked. Honestly playing the Ace role would be very awkward for me. It was very natural for Tommy to walk into that role, eventually being in KISS ran its course with Ace. If you followed KISS since the reunion with Ace and Peter there were a number of times where it looked like Ace was going to miss the show, so the band had Tommy dressed up as Ace backstage ready to go. They did a private gig that Ace didn't take part in, Tommy played and then they did the promo for That 70's Show, Ace didn't want to do it and Tommy stepped in. Tommy played Ace in a KISS tribute band that was very successful. He's a great guitarist and it was very natural for him to be Ace.

For me, I think after spending all those years establishing myself as the guitarist in KISS in the non make-up era, to then put on the paint wouldn't be a good match. Of course I miss the guys and miss being in the band, but I think Tommy is able to do much more for them than I would be able to right now. Playing that role would not be as comfortable for me as what I used to do. If they did a Revenge era version of the band and I wasn't there I'd be hurt, I'd be very hurt. I'm not hurt now and I think you can understand that sentiment."

Read the full interview at this location.

As previously reported, the North American release date for Kulick's new solo album, BK3, has been been bumped up to February 2nd via Fanboy/Rocket Science Ventures. Frontier's Records will still issue the album in Europe on January 29th.

According to a recent press release: If you ever play Six Degrees of Bruce Kulick, the former KISS/current GRAND FUNK RAILROAD guitarist’s résumé will keep you happily busy for hours. Having been tapped by artists as diverse as MEAT LOAF and KANYE WEST, the veteran axeman’s boundless creative energy permeates his third solo LP, BK3.

In the works for nearly six years and produced by Jeremy Rubolino, BK3 delivers explosive hard rock arrangements and addictive pop melodies that honor both Kulick’s singular past and bright future. And then there’s the jaw-dropping guest list, boasting members of KISS, THE KNACK, TOTO, MÖTLEY CRÜE and more.

“Bruce was to KISS what Ronnie Wood is to the Stones,” says Rocket Science GM & Fanboy Enterprises A&R; executive Ken Gullic. “The new guy to one generation, and the long standing stable horse to another.”

After getting his solo feet wet with 2001’s Audio Dog and 2003’s Transformer, Kulick - the often unheralded driving force on 12 years of classic KISS records, from 1984’s Animalize to 1992’s Revenge - assembled his own rock ‘n’ roll dream team. The roster: KISS icon GENE SIMMONS and up-and-coming son Nick (each vocally appearing separately), longtime friend John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, Kulick’s own UNION), The Knack mainman Doug Fieger, Toto axe authoritarian Steve Lukather, EDGUY power metal stalwart Tobias Sammet and even current KISS drummer Eric Singer.

“Many albums lack cohesion with different vocalists, but I know that my guitar playing is the glue on BK3,” Kulick says. “There was the clear goal of making absolutely the best record that I could put together. I feel like this is my Revenge.”

BK3 tracklisting:

'Fate'

'Ain't Gonna Die' (featuring Gene Simmons)

'No Friend Of Mine' (featuring John Corabi)

'Hand Of The King' (featuring Nick Simmons)

'I'll Survive'

'Dirty Girl' (featuring Doug Fieger)

'Final Mile'

'I'm The Animal' (featuring Tobias Sammet, Eric Singer)

'And I Know'

'Between The Lines' (featuring Steve Lukather)

'Life'

'Skydome' (exclusive bonus track for Europe, from the Bruce Kulick CD Audiodog)

Audio clips are currently streaming on Kulick's home-page and BK3 album page.