KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley's Surprising Story Behind His Iconic Solo Hit "New York Groove"

In October 2025, the music world mourned the passing of Ace Frehley, the iconic KISS guitarist, who died at the age of 74. While Frehley was best known for his work with the legendary rock band, he also had a successful solo career, including one major hit - 1978's "New York Groove."

However, Frehley recently shared a surprising revelation about the song. In an interview published just 11 days before his death, he admitted that he did not actually write "New York Groove." Instead, the track was penned by British musician Russ Ballard, who originally released it with his band Hello. Frehley was unaware of this and had long believed he was the sole creator of the hit.

"A lot of people think I wrote 'New York Groove,'" Frehley told Louder. "It's not a myth that I've perpetuated, but that's the way it is. I wish I would've wrote the song, though. I would've made a lot more cash out of it."

Despite not writing the song, "New York Groove" became Frehley's biggest solo success, reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. That year, all four members of KISS released solo albums, but Frehley's was the only one to produce a hit single. The track's popularity was particularly fitting given that Frehley was born in the Bronx, New York.

Ballard, the actual writer of "New York Groove," said he came up with the song's memorable hook while on a flight to the Big Apple. "While I was sitting on the plane I got out a pen and paper and started thinking of the phrase 'back in the New York groove,'" he recalled. The song was later added to Frehley's self-titled solo album to give it a more commercial sound.

Despite the song's success, Frehley maintained that he never heard the original Hello version. "Or maybe I have and I just can't remember," he said. Regardless, the track has become an enduring part of Frehley's legacy, even if he didn't pen the lyrics himself.