The Strange Story Behind Ace Frehley’s Cover Of “Life of a Stranger”

Ace Frehley, known for featuring cover songs on all his solo albums, has taken an intriguing turn with his newest cover choice.

Since his debut solo album in 1978, where his rendition of Hello’s “New York Groove” soared to No. 13 on the pop charts, Frehley has made covering renowned tracks a tradition. Over the years, he’s tackled hits from bands like ELO, Sweet, and the Steve Miller Band, peppering his studio albums with these renditions alongside original compositions. Additionally, he’s dedicated entire records to covers, such as 2016’s Origins Vol. 1 and 2020’s Origins Vol. 2.

However, on his recently released album, 10,000 Volts, Frehley veered off the beaten path, selecting a relatively obscure song that caught his attention during a viewing of a 2002 Jason Statham movie.

“It’s called ‘Life of a Stranger,'” Frehley shared:

“That song was over the [closing credits] for the movie The Transporter. I never forgot that song, even though it was done quite differently from the way I recorded it. It was performed by this woman, Nadia and it was recorded very Europop. You know, with just a drum machine, very sparse.”

Initially hesitant about covering “Life of a Stranger,” particularly due to its demanding vocal range, Frehley found encouragement from his co-writer and producer, former Trixter guitarist Steve Brown.

“I played it for Steve and he fell in love with the song as well,” Frehley recalled:

“He can hear a good song just like I can, with a good melody and storyline, a great bridge. That song is one of the few songs I’ve ever worked on where the chorus modulates twice. I said to Steve, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sing this, with the modulation.’ He goes, ‘Don’t worry about it, Ace. I’ll get you to sing it.’ He just pushed me. I nailed it. Steve was like that. He had a lot of faith in me. Sometimes I don’t always have as much faith in me as other people do. I don’t know why.”

Frehley’s venture into covering “Life of a Stranger” showcases his willingness to explore unexpected avenues while collaborating with trusted partners like Brown, resulting in a refreshing twist to his musical repertoire.