Hot off the heels of the monster debut of Space Invader Ace Frehley has announced his touring lineup for the first leg of tour dates, his first U.S. shows in four years, which will be announced next week.
Frehley says, “I can’t wait to hit the road again with this new lineup. I’ll be performing Ace classics as well as songs off my new CD Space Invader for the enjoyment of the fans. Let There Be Rock!”
The 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has tapped none other than Richie Scarlet, who rode shotgun performing rhythm guitar and vocal duties on Ace’s Trouble Walking album from 1989, and will do so again on stage. Ritchie toured with Ace in 1984 and 1985 and periodically from 1989 through 1995 and was also known for touring with Sebastian Bach.
On bass and vocals Chris Wyse from Queens, N.Y. will man the post. Previously recording with Ozzy Osbourne and playing on Mick Jagger’s 2001 solo album, Chris is well known as the bass player from The Cult since 2006. Chris can also be heard on Frehley’s new release, Space Invader on select tracks. He also covers bass duties in his current band, Owl.
Finally, Scot Coogan will be behind the drum kit for Frehley’s upcoming tour. An Ace Frehley touring band veteran in his own right, Scott was also a member of Nikki Sixx’s Brides of Destruction recording and touring band in 2004 and Lita Ford’s touring drummer in 2012.
Ace Frehley recently made history with his new album, which debuted at #9 on the Top 200 Chart in its week of release. The LP scored the highest charting position of ANY Kiss solo album ever, and marks Frehley’s first return to the Top 10 since KISS’ 1998 Pyscho Circus reunion album. Internationally, Space Invader has debuted #1 on the Independent Chart and #16 on the Top 200 Chart in Canada, Top 40 in Switzerland and Sweden, and hit a historic benchmark for the first time ever as a solo artist in Germany.
Space Invader, Frehley’s first studio album in five years, has also received praise from critics. Rolling Stone wrote, “Gene Simmons has claimed Ace Frehley doesn’t deserve to wear KISS’ Kabuki clown paint, but the former Spaceman’s first solo LP in five years says otherwise,” while the Associated Press hailed, “…the original KISS lead guitarist has recorded his best solo album since his groundbreaking self-titled album in 1978.” Paste also confirmed, “Space Invader is a good rock album, and it’s an even better guitar record.”
Frehley stopped by The Tonight Show prior to his album release to sit in with legendary house band The Roots to perform his classic hit New York Groove. Watch it here.
74 Responses
it amazes me how some people STILL….>STILLL cant stop themselves about talking about Aces’ past on how he was “wasted” etc…….Ace obviously has EEEEVOLVED….seems like there are a few others just let it go & move on and be happy fo Ace to be sober & healthy & with us….hmmmmmm. Sorry to some of you but Ace is here, healthy, happy and making GREAT MUSIC….Thank GOD
Because it is his past Joe…no different than talking about any artists past regardless of who it is or what they’ve done. It will always be a part of who Ace was…gotta take the good with the bad. Why should Ace be treated differently. Your not Rachel are you…lol?
JB…I just looked in the mirror. Uhhh nope, Im not Rach lols….but I do believe in the past is just that THE PAST. Years that are behind us. There are a lot of people that are not happy with Ace because he HAS BURIED his past. They honestly want to see him fail but it is very evident that he hasn’t failed. Ace is mentally tough. He just wont quit. So the ONLY THING they have left to harm Ace is HIS PAST….people like this are (imo) miserable. Ace regardless of how people look at him has defeated the biggest challenge in life~~~ADDICTION! And yes we do take the good with the bad but damn, how about talking up Aces’ good.
The only reason Ace sells records is because of his past. Same reason KISS or most of these bands sell records is because of their past. So these guys have to take the positives and negatives from their pasts and face them everyday. No member of the media gives a shit about Ace Frehley the solo artist. But they do give a shit about ‘Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’ and all the stuff that comes with it.
that is all well stated DR, but that being said …Im actually talking about his past with addiction…..forget the music. The only person who I hear that gives Ace a lot of kudos is Eddie. Now I already know for a FACT that it is pissing Gene and Paul off everytime either puts music out or is in the news. The bottom line is Gene & Paul want to silence/bury Ace up period because even though Ace isn’t in the band…..HE IS STILL A HUGE PART OF Kiss today. And if you can read between the lines you will know exactly what i’m talking about.
I’ll respectfully disagree Joe on Gene and Paul getting pissed off if Ace is putting music out or getting news. Like I said, Ace is forever linked to KISS. People hear Ace Frehley, they think KISS, and that’s what Paul and Gene want. IMO, I don’t think Gene has animosity towards Ace, or Peter for that matter. Paul on the other hand….
The website for John and Tod’s new band is http://www.fourbyfate.com. Just sharing the info if anybody wants to check out what those guys have been doing.
I will check it out Dan…ty
I love hearing the Ace naysayers the tour will suck or he’ll show up drunk hilarious. They’ll be naysayers no matter what.
Yeah i have reservations about Richie too. i don’t know how he is these days but i would not be surprised if either Ace has to replace him at some point or something worse. I hope I’m wrong though. Usually Addicts have to totally cut people from there past out of there lives. I’m a huge Ace fan but when i seen him with Ritchie in Fostoria, Ohio years ago at Brewsters(1993?) it was a mess. The local opening band (uncle Knuckle funk) were better. I seen Ace on the original Comet Tour in Columbus, Ohio at the new Port with White Lion opening up and Ace and the others were really good. Todd added to the show vocally and musically. Who ever handles Ace needs to be strict about substance use and have a 0 tolerance.
I think you beat me, I saw him with about 75, just a train wreck…not a rocket ride.