Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and occasional vocalist for KISS, has posthumously entered the Billboard top 10 with one of his best-known solo songs. Days after his death on Oct. 16 at age 74, the rocker’s 1978 track “New York Groove” surged in sales, earning him a new chart milestone more than four decades after its release. According to Billboard and Luminate data, “New York Groove” debuted at No. 4 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart this week, marking Frehley’s highest solo placement in years. The song sold just under 1,000 copies during the latest tracking period, a jump of more than 250% compared to the week prior, when sales were under 300. The increase followed a wave of fan support and streaming activity sparked by news of the musician’s death. Frehley died earlier this month following complications from a fall in his home recording studio that caused a brain bleed. His condition deteriorated in the weeks after the accident, leading to his death at age 74. KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley paid tribute to Frehley in a statement, calling him an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative chapters of the band’s history. Former KISS member Peter Criss also wrote a note about Frehley on his website, highlighting his influence and lasting legacy. The renewed attention to Frehley’s music extended to his work with KISS as well. The band’s 1979 single “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” reentered the Rock Digital Song Sales chart at No. 11 and climbed to No. 5 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, where it has now logged 16 total weeks. “New York Groove,” originally written and recorded by the British band Hello in 1975, became one of Frehley’s signature songs when he recorded it for his self-titled solo album released alongside the other KISS members’ solo projects in 1978.
Posthumous Chart Triumph: Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove” Reaches No. 4 on Billboard
