2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ace Frehley will release Space Invader, his first new solo album in five years, via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music) on June 24th, 2014. The album will include at least nine brand new original songs as well as a cover of Steve Miller’s The Joker. This album is the first release under Frehley’s new universal deal on eOne Music.
Frehley has released an official statement surrounding the exciting news:
“Life on Earth has been very good to me, and the body of work I’ve created over the years has withstood the test of time. Today I see no obstacles before me and my creativity has never been more fine tuned. Growing up in an Alien world has enhanced my senses and allowed me to succeed where others would have failed. The best is yet to come!”
Widely known as the original “Space Ace” and founding guitarist for 16 cumulative years (over 2 tenures) of the multi platinum selling rock band KISS, Frehley is demonstrably the most popular original member. In addition to having the best selling solo album career (vintage or current) among the original foursome, Frehley’s self titled Ace Frehley, released in 1978, went on to sell over one million copies, producing the only Top 40 single, “New York Groove,” from any of the legendary KISS solo albums; (peaking at #13). The massive hit was most recently featured in an episode of cult show Entourage and was also KISS’ second bestselling download in 2012, besting such KISS Army anthems as I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Beth and Calling Dr. Love even after 36 years.
Since departing from KISS, Frehley went on to release four more solo albums and one live EP including his most recent effort, Anomaly in 2009, which debuted at #27 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and received a welcoming response among critics. “Anomaly shows why many rock and metal guitarists list ‘Space Ace’ as a prime six-string influence,” said Rolling Stone.
Ace Frehley will participate in the 2014 Revolver Golden Gods Awards show by presenting the Dimebag Darrell “Best Guitarist” Award alongside label-mate Zakk Wylde. The awards show will take place on April 23rd, 2014 at the Club Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now. Frehley comments, “It’s exciting to finally be part of the Golden Gods, awards and an honor to be part of any Dimebag memorial award. He was a friend, and I know everyone misses him, as do I.”
95 Responses
Rock on Ace!
Oh for the love of God, who buys that whole , “I’m not from this planet crap” any more? Just release the album so you can sell 25,000 copies and Trunk can sing it’s praises no matter how it sounds.
Sour Grapes? You don’t have to be here.
It’s foolish of Ace to reveal any information from his upcoming album. You know Tommy is stalking him trying to get some ideas since he has no originality of his own. On the next KISS album Tommy will say to Gene and Paul hey listen to these new ideas I’ve come up with for songs:
LA Groove
Missile Ride
3000 Man
Electrocute Me
Tommy is such a joke. What was his song on the last album? Outta This World. Wow there’s some original material. Wonder if it was an old Ace demo lying around. Best part of Ace’s book was when he decked Tommy. He probably ran and cried to Gene/Paul. I would have paid more than the cover band charges for their Meet and Greets to see that.
He should go back to getting the band’s meals.
I read somewhere that Ace was going to do a cover of Space Truckin’ by Deep Purple. Eddie said he wanted Ace to do a cover of Joe Perry song. But anyway I cannot wait, I am sure it’s going to be a great follow up to Anomaly. Thanks Eddie love the show!!
Hey Eddie, I read in a Rolling Stone piece today (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ace-frehley-preps-first-solo-album-in-five-years-20140327) that Ace is also planning what he’s calling a covers/remakes album to go with the new album (the “remakes” part catching my attention). For some reason, I’m assuming that could possibly mean he’d do versions of early tracks he wrote before he had the confidence to sing them (“Cold Gin,” “Parasite,” “Strange Ways,” “Getaway”), maybe the original riff-based pieces he helped co-write (“Flaming Youth,” perhaps), maybe tougher versions (i.e. before they were Poncia’d) of songs like “Save Your Love,” “Talk to Me” and “Two Sides of the Coin” and perhaps a definitive recorded version of “Don’t Run” before it became “Dark Light.” Can you maybe confirm or deny any of his plans for this? Or even better, if you’ve got his ear, you could put this idea in his head?
Eddie,
Listened to both unmasked and dynasty today and it’s funny that ace’s stuff in both of those albums are all 6 really high lights! Paul mentioned that he stopped growing ? He has as many songs on those 2 albums as the other 2 knuckleheads! Just an observation. I still love Torpedo Girl and hard times!
Ace barely played on those albums…another tool that knows nothing…he only played on his songs and I think Peter might have played on a few too….Thoses solos were not Ace…of all the albums to choose to make a point you couldn’t be more wrong. Next why don’t you say how great Ace was on Creatures of the Night?? Oh that’s right he didn’t play on that either…Moron…
That’s not true, Ace played lead guitar on Gene’s and Peter’s songs too. The reason why Ace didn’t solo on Paul’s songs is because Paul took the lead breaks on those. Ace plays bass on his songs, Paul plays bass on his songs, Gene plays bass on his and Peter’s. Except the bass on “Shandi” was a guitar tech, and the bass on “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” is a session cat. Ace was in prime form during this period, he lost his gusto around The Elder, and then he left Kiss.
Shannon, it was stated that Ace barely played on those albums, perhaps a better statement would be Ace only played solo’s on more than half those albums. Of the 20 songs total between Dynasty and Unmasked, Paul took solos on at least 6 songs we know for sure. I certainly wouldn’t use either Dynast or Unmasked as a display of Ace’s chops as both albums aren’t exactly high water marks in the Kiss pantheon. Although it did show Paul to be a capable lead guitar player and counters Frehley’s comments in various comments through the years that Paul couldn’t cut it.
Sorry…”various guitar magazines”
OK, let’s go track by track: Dynasty: Ace is Lead guitar on track 1,2,4,5,7,8 (for a brief time he used a whammy bar),9. Bass on 2,7,and 9. He sings and writes 3 songs. Unmasked: Lead guitar 3,4,7,8,10(this song doesn’t have a lead break really) Bass on 3, 7. I’m guessing 10. Writes and sings three. That’s quite a contribution to two records. Those records have huge shadows of their past to live up to, but there is great music on both. A lot of what’s been said is inaccurate. Ace has a very distinctive, unique sound; a very crude delivery that really cuts through. I can pick him out apart from the rest. Even as a kid I didn’t think the first three songs on side 4 of Alive II sounded like Ace, the pull on the strings and the attack was too soft. (Even though Bob still did a helluva an Ace impression).
You know, JB, not trying to start anything with ya, your post is actually pretty accurate. It’s just that people skewer things, because Paul played lead on his songs, save for track 1 on Dynasty, it becomes “Ace barely played on those two records.”
The only thing that even remotely gives “I Was Make For Lovin’ You” any rock and roll edge is Ace’s solo. I heard that Bill Aucoin insisted Ace take the solo there just for that reason.
You are clueless
That rock and roll guitar solo in their huge disco hit off Dynasty is also unmistakably Ace.
Shannon…in regards to the above about Bob…gotta disagree. I think his playing, his feel, his attack on Alive II is brilliant. There is simply no way Ace could pull off the leads in “Larger than Life”…definitely one of Kulicks high water marks of his own career. I love early Ace…the guy had “it” whatever that is but I do totally agree with Paul…he just got to a point where he didn’t evolve to become a better player. As a guitarist myself…it’s not about evolving to the point where you totally become a new player, just better at your craft. Take EVH, he’s been doing the same thing since VH1 but Ed’s playing always remained fresh and inspiring…I can’t say the same about Ace. By Dynasty and Unmasked…his playing “to me” was just boring. That’s why I’ll give some kudos to Paul…he at least was trying to better himself as a guitarist and actually did pretty good on those tracks.
JB, always good to converse with a real music fan and not someone who tries to exert some de facto authority in an internet chat room. Good points you make there. But “Rocket Ride” has to be one of the most shredding guitar solos in history. As a guitarist you have to appreciate the left hand spread Ace employs to pull that off. “Larger Than Life,” Bob’s brilliant homage to Ace is great. I actually miss Ace’s Teutonic bomber approach there, though the note choices couldn’t have been better. Also, “Save Your Love,” for me, is one of the most stealth like solos, and it really fits the subject matter, telling a babe to get lost…anyways, good point about EVH.
I was made for lovin’ you IS NOT A DISCO SONG!!!! open your ears listen to y.m.c.a. or stayin’ alive or boogie man and then tell me you don’t hear a HUGE difference!
I heard on the radio station KLOS once that Kiss sued Blondie over “Call Me’s” similarity to this, sorry Doug, Kiss disco song. Some Kiss fan told me about Bill Aucoin insisting Ace take the lead break there. And Ace wrote 2 songs on Dynasty.
Hey George did it ever cross your mind that you are the moron? Maybe Darron was referring to Ace’s playing on HIS songs on those albums not the other songs that he didn’t play on. Darron was debating Paul Stanley’s comment that a Ace stopped growing and using those songs as examples. Why is that painfully obvious to me but escapes you so easily? 1 guess…that’s right…wait for it….you are the moron.
Further, Paul played half the leads on Unmasked….Paul’s point about Ace’s chop’s fading is valid. Love the guy but Ace’s playing has been barely passable for years.
It was an ego thing JB. Ace was starting to assert himself as a lead vocalist. So, Paul turns around and takes over some lead guitar. Plus Paul wrote the songs and probably just thought his feel worked better. Ace’s chops weren’t fading in the studio, on tour he got lazy, but he only played guitar during the performances. These are human beings were talking about, you guys talk about them like they’re these androids or something.
Ace was hitting on all cylinders by Alive II…at that point he was at the top of his game playing wise which makes in all the more perplexing as to why the band was still leaning on Kulick. It boils down to one thing, lazy…and it’s one of the main issue’s the band had to fight with Ace along with his substance abuse. Not good combinations…the fact is Gene and Paul’s problems with Ace and Peter are 100% legitimate. The fans, regardless of what side they take at least have to acknowledge that Gene and Paul stuck it out through thick and thin. Ace and Peter didn’t. That’s why…as much as I hate what they’ve done with Tommy and Eric, as much as I wished they would’ve called it quits after the Farewell tour, as much as I wish they’d stop with the remarks…I’ll always side with Gene and Paul. As a musician who tried and failed to make it, throwing the golden goose away (twice) ala Ace and Peter is sacrilege. Especially Ace…he had real talent and just kinda pissed it away. I don’t feel sorry guys like that…too many musicians like me who wouldn’t have wasted those opportunities.
I hear ya. Also, Kiss was branching out, so here Gene and Paul are planning amusement parks, movies, we’re talking real money here, and they’re having to rely on two guys who were on self-destruct. I think that is why there is so much resentment from Paul and Gene; when you feel like someone is literally trying to take food off your table, that is serious. But they don’t have to keep reminding the real fans that they are/were the main guys. We know this already. So putting down Ace and Peter’s contributions, which have endured for decades, is pretty mind blowing to me. They have enough legitimate claims against them without having to wholesale exaggerate.
Fan since 1976- 41 shows – play guitar because of Ace! George- at what point in time did I reference the songs other than the actual ace songs. He has almost 1/3 of both albums. I was referencing specific songs on those 2 albums that he obviously played on. They are some of the best stuff in both albums! I guess I could call you illiterate because you obviously can’t read!
Really George????? Only 1 Space Ace!!! Go pop Paul’s ass cheek pimples and give Gene a good foot message!!
2000 Man is a highlight on Dynasty. Some of Ace’s best vocals IMO. Take away I Was Made for Loving You, and Dynasty is a pretty solid record. Hard to imagine back then that a band in so much turmoil could put out as good an album as that.
2000 Man sucked imo
Pete lytel sucked IMO
why do so many people have a problem with I was made for lovin’ you? my cousin used to work at studio 54 in 1979, and according to him they never played that song, and they played EVERY disco song out there! only rock & top 40 stations, not disco stations played the song, why? because IT’S NOT A FUCKING DISCO SONG!
Sorry…it is. Paul Stanley even says so. So is Another Brick In The Wall by Floyd.
miss you, do ya think I’m sexy?, heart of glass, another one bites the dust, just because you can dance to a song, don’t mean it is or make it a disco song! DID YOU EVER SEE I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN’ YOU ON THE BILLBOARD DISCO CHARTS IN 1979? besides was does paul Stanley know, if that song came out in 1984, no matter what it sounded like it wouldn’t be called a disco song, a lot of rock songs like another brick in the wall got labeled as disco-ish because of the time/era they just happened to come out in.
It’s all about the base line my friend. Calm down.
Bass…duh
It’s opinion anyway. Just like whether this or that song/band is metal. You have yours and the rest of the world has theirs .
o.k., then why does a song like another one bites the dust not get labeled as disco? have you really LISTENED to the “bass” line in that song? classic rock stations still play that song, but you’ll never hear a classic rock station play I was made for lovin’ you, but they’ll play miss you by the stones everyday, and in my opinion, miss you sounds a lot more like disco than I was made. if anybody else but kiss made that song, it wouldn’t be labeled as a disco song, just another rock song.
Another one bites is disco as are the other songs you mentioned in my opinion. The reason radio plays those songs and not iwmfly is because it’s kiss.