One of the most influential guitarists of '70s hard rock, he's also the guy who designed KISS's logo, one of the most distinct in rock and roll and, for that matter, popular culture. But he seems as proud of his solo career as he is of anything that he did during his KISS eras (1973-1982, and 1996-2002). And he acts as if he still has something to prove.

When he came to the Radio.com offices, he was full-on in promotional mode, talking about his new album Space Invader, and still jazzed from performing the night before on The Tonight Show with the Roots (they jammed on his 1978 hit "New York Groove"). "That was a real treat," he said, noting that he's been friends with Roots guitarist "Captain" Kirk Douglas for years.

During the conversation, he discussed his knack for choosing great covers - including "New York Groove" - his new album, his fianc�e, his sobriety and his recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Radio.com: It was cool to watch you play "Back in the New York Groove" on TV with the Roots. When you first covered it did you know you had a hit on your hands?

Ace Frehley: You know, I wasn't really too hot on the idea of doing "New York Groove," that idea came from [producer] Eddie Kramer. Who knew it was gonna be my biggest hit? On my new album, Space Invader , the record label came up with the idea for me to do [the Steve Miller Band's] "The Joker." I didn't think it was heavy enough, compared to the rest of the songs on the record. But I did the best I could, I layered a lot of guitars on it, I added a ripping solo. I'm real happy with the end result.

You've done a lot of great covers, and they end up sounding like Ace songs: besides "New York Groove" and "The Joker," I'm thinking about the Rolling Stones' "2000 Man" and the Move's "Do Ya." How do you know when a song will be a good fit for you?

I don't know man! The guy who co-wrote "Past the Milky Way," the love ballad on this album, he's the guy who came up with the idea for me to do "2000 Man" (which he recorded for the 1981 KISS album Dynasty). He was an engineer working at North Lake Studios in Westchester [New York], where I did a lot of demos back in the KISS days. It's amazing how people sometimes have this sixth sense about what would be a great song for me to do. And I just go along with the party! As for "The Joker," it's not really something that I think I would write, but the opening line ["Some people call me the space cowboy"]� I am the "space cowboy!"