Christa Titus | The Hollywood Reporter
Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley has released his first solo album in five years, and by the sound of Space Invader the axeman seems to have had as much fun playing on it as — gasp — his early years in Kiss. From the opening title track to the instrumental closer, “Starship,” where Frehley signs off with his famous cackle, Space Invader offers a classic journey through Space Ace territory: lots of groove, cheerful rock’n’roll ’tude and fiery licks.
Among the surprises on his new album: a cover of Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker,” which, Frehley says, he’s “real happy” with. “I heavied it up and threw in the guitar solo and gave it a ‘New York Groove’ kind of swing in the rhythm track.”Could it be a preamble to more covers? Indeed, eOne Music suggested a covers project, which may include a rerecording of “New York Groove,” the cover of the Hello song he did for his 1978 solo album.
Read on for Frehley’s thoughts on Space Invader, his former bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and what could have been an unforgettable meeting with the late late Robin Williams — if only he could remember it.
The feedback on Space Invader: “Some of the reviews have been so over the top, some think that I paid people to write the music. [Laughs] But you know, the jury’s out. As far as I’m concerned, none of that means anything until the fans tell me what they think, because it’s for the fans. I try to make records that my fans want to hear. My last album, Anomaly, most of my fans like that record, but some of the complaints was it wasn’t heavy enough, I should have played more guitar, so when it came time to do Space Invader I kept that in mind.”
The album’s energetic vibe: “I was in a really good place [when I made it], and I’m glad that comes through with the music. A couple of the reviews have said that it sounds like I’m having a lot of fun, and the truth is, I was. I had 10 months to do it. I was working in a friend of mine’s studio up in Turlock, Calif., inside a farming community. This guy’s like a billionaire, he’s got his private studio that he rents out from time to time but he gave me carte blanche, and we had a ball working there without any pressure, without having to look at the clock.”
In episode 39 of One On One with Mitch Lafon. Mitch talks to former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick about the Rock For Ruben benefit taking place in Los Angeles on August 20th. Bruce also reflects on the late Eric Carr and the recent passing of guitarist Dick Wagner. Follow Bruce Kulick on Twitter: @brucekulick