Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has made history with his new album, Space Invader, which debuted at number nine on the Top 200 Chart this week. The LP scores the highest charting position of ANY KISS solo album ever, and marks Frehley’s first return to the Top 10 since KISS’s 1998 Pyscho Circus reunion album. The album has also sold better in its first week than KISS’ recently released Kiss 40 album. Internationally, Space Invader has debuted number one on the Independent Chart and number sixteen 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 below.
Space Invader features nine brand new original songs, including the first single, Gimme a Feelin’, as well as a cover of Steve Miller’s classic rock staple The Joker. Frehley also tapped long time friend and artist Ken Kelly to create the album art for Space Invader. Kelly created the iconic cover art for two of KISS’s best selling LPS, Destroyer (1976) and Love Gun (1977).
Widely known as the original “Space Ace” and founding guitarist for 16 cumulative years (over two 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 (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. The massive hit was most recently featured in an episode of cult show Entourage and was also KISS’ second best selling 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. Ace also released an autobiography titled No Regrets, which debuted at #10 on the NY Times Hardcover Non-Fiction best seller list in November 2011.
163 Responses
I am trying to be practical about all the drama that has unfolded of late. I try to look at it this way; Between Sonic Boom, Anomaly, Monster and now Space Invader, we have had A LOT of KISS to enjoy over the past years. So, come on Pete and let’s here that Rocker album that you have been promising so we can add to the cannon. KISS camp, Ace camp, Peter camp…just let’s put this stuff to one side, because we can always argue later, and just give us more tunes. Rock ‘N’ Roll is on the ropes and we need the vanguard to shore the faith up. My 2 cents.
OK. In light of what Gene has said….Hell…just ignore my last comment.
All I have to say is I LOVE IT. I am happy that ACE is getting LONG overdue credit for his talent. After several listens over the last week I will admit there are some less than stellar lyrics,, but the guitar and bass work more than make up for any short fall lyricily. I love the rolling bass in I want to hold you. Just very happy to have some great ACE. and very happy its not been on you tube other than the 3 songs allowed. This CD has done great because the fans have given it a massive push way ahead of its release. Maybe the second week will slump, but it wont go too far down I think. I just wish the bill board site was a bit easier to find the navigation on. Why not just post the category in a nice easy list and not all the BS? I cant find anything on the web page when I try.
I have been having an ongoing debate with the website Three Sides Of The Coin. I asserted the same proposition as Eddie that Ace Frehley is overwhelmingly the most popular member of KISS. They demanded facts so I mentioned the top 10 debute of SI, the highest debut of any KISS member in Kisstory. They balked and said that just because it sold 19K doesn’t prove my point since the current KISS played to over 600K people. I said that’s a straw man argument i.e. comparing apples to oranges. I mentioned that his 78 solo album sold the most and was the only 78 solo album to spawn a top 20 hit. They had no counter. I mentioned his mass influence in the world of music. Inspiring millions to start playing guitar like Dimebag. I mentioned the Reunion tour which is the highest grossing KISS tour of all time grossing over $140 million dollars. They countered with not all the reunion dates were sold out and how the Psycho Circus tour had to be cut short which I think doesn’t disprove anything. Am I wrong? Thoughts? Is Ace the most popular member of KISS?
You are not going to win with these guys. I can’t even listen to/watch their stuff anymore. They down grade, then take others to task for doing the same thing. There are other pod casts that I enjoy that are more even handed with both praise and critique. I tend to stick with those. In so far as the meat of your ongoing debate; YES. you make very valid points. That always sticks in the craw of people who are dogmatic about their positions. And if I personally had the chance to meet any member of the band it would be Ace, followed closely by Peter. If you check the post that I basically redacted; who would want to speak to either off the other two. Other than 3soc.
Grif,
thanks! It’s refreshing to talk to a sensible person. Long live Ace!
Sonic Boom and Monster have been delusive at best when I listened to them. Space Invader, I just can’t stop loving it. 🙂