Long-time lead guitarist of Grand Funk Railroad, Bruce Kulick has departed the band. He had been a full-time member of the band for 23 years. Prior to joining GFR, Bruce played in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s with KISS, Union with John Corabi, Meatloaf’s touring band with his late brother Bob Kulick during their heyday, and many others. Bruce gave a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock announcing his departure, and hinting a new music, and perhaps a long-gestating rock memoir are in his future plans. His final show with the band was on December 14th, 2023 in Marietta, Ohio. 

From the interview: 

“I really wanted to look at what I wanted to do personally and creatively,” he says. “I’ve always loved playing with Grand Funk for all of those years, but all of that travel for most weekends of every month, all year, the time involved became more and more difficult.”

  Bruce, I imagine that a lot went into making the decision to step away from Grand Funk after such an incredible run.

I think many of my fans were aware that for the last 23 years, if they really studied my career, I’ve been performing with Grand Funk Railroad. Every year was solid with dates. It could happen in any month. It wasn’t like, “Okay, we’re doing three months and then you’re off for the rest of the year,” however a lot of other bands [might do it]. As a band that can do the fly dates, as it’s called, every month, basically, there were dates. During the second half of the year, especially in the fall, when I started to think about 2024, I really wanted to look at what I wanted to do personally and creatively.

With the travel, It really made my days at home become more like, “Well, what can I accomplish that I love to do [with] my career, before I’ve got to go travel again?” That would be very hard. You can do some things on the road. You fly and you see a guy with a laptop and he’s doing all of his business there. But I don’t fly that well so I’m [not] suddenly going to be Mr. Creativity on the long flights. In addition, I should mention that the band, 80% of the time, was performing on the East Coast or in the Midwest, which meant I had the longest trips of all of the guys in the band. Whenever they came out to Vegas to perform, they were aware of the trip, from the East Coast, where most of the other guys live — and then going back — how it just kicks your ass.

Read the full interview here. 

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-kulick-leaves-grand-funk-railroad/