Former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick is currently recovering following a medical procedure to address a heart valve issue. The 72-year-old musician took to his social media to update fans on his health and correct inaccurate reports regarding the nature of the operation.
After a media outlet claimed the guitarist underwent a sudden, life-saving procedure, Bruce Kulick clarified his status: “This was NOT emergency surgery.” He explained that “an aortic birth defect caused a valve to become a danger,” necessitating the planned operation.
He confirmed the procedure was “a success” and expressed deep appreciation for his medical team, thanking his “heart surgeon and their fantastic staff for looking after me like a rockstar.” Addressing his rehabilitation, he noted he is “on the road to recovery” and “taking it one step at a time.” The guitarist also stated he was incredibly “grateful” for his wife Lisa and all her “love and support.”
Following the announcement, his former Kiss bandmate Gene Simmons offered a public message of encouragement, writing: “Go Bruce, Go. With Lisa by your side, you can lick anything. You know we’re all rooting for you. And can’t wait for you and Lisa to cook up a new batch of pancakes for all of us.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, heart valve surgery is utilized to treat conditions where one or more of the heart’s four valves fail to function properly, ensuring blood continues to flow in the correct direction.
Bruce Kulick joined Kiss in 1984 during the “Animalize” tour and served as the group’s lead guitarist for 12 years. His tenure concluded just prior to the band’s 1996 original lineup reunion tour. During his decade-plus run with the band, he performed on six studio albums and two live records. His era is heavily documented on the Kissology – Vol. 2 and Kissology – Vol. 3 DVD collections.
While he did not participate in the band’s farewell tours in 2000-2001 or 2019-2023—with Tommy Thayer occupying the lead guitar position since 2002, he has remained active in the community. In 2024, he launched a brand offering period-correct guitars inspired by his time in the group. He also performed at the “Kiss Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas” event from November 14 to November 16 last year and is currently scheduled to appear at the 2026 edition of the event.
Go Bruce, Go. With Lisa by your side, you can lick anything. You know we’re all rooting for you. And can’t wait for you and Lisa to cook up a new batch of pancakes for all of us. 🤟😎 https://t.co/yOBmfPOfp6
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 23, 2026
