Rocket Ride (song)

"Rocket Ride"
Single by Kiss
from the album Alive II
B-side"Tomorrow and Tonight"
ReleasedFebruary 22, 1978
RecordedSeptember 13–16,1977
StudioElectric Lady, New York City
Genre
Length4:08
LabelCasablanca
Songwriter(s)Ace Frehley, Sean Delaney
Producer(s)Eddie Kramer, Kiss
Kiss singles chronology
"Shout It Out Loud (Live)"
(1977)		 "Rocket Ride"
(1978)		 "Strutter '78"
(1978)

"Rocket Ride" is a song by American rock band Kiss. It was released on October 14, 1977. The song is one of five studio tracks on the live album Alive II. It song was written by Sean Delaney and guitarist Ace Frehley. The latter performed vocals, guitar and bass. It was his second vocal performance for the band. The only other member on the song is drummer Peter Criss.

A single was released on February 22, 1978. It was the second and final single from Alive II. The song peaked at number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1]

Background and recording

"Rocket Ride" was written by Sean Delaney and guitarist Ace Frehley. The latter noted it was his first vocal performance he was satisfied with. This was in the booklet for the 2001 Kiss Box Set. The song was written for Frehley's eponymous solo album. Despite this, he submitted it for Alive II instead. Of the five studio tracks, he only played on this one. Bob Kulick plays guitar on the other songs.

It is unknown where "Rocket Ride" was written. Frehley has stated that it was written at his home in the New York area. Delaney said it was written in Japan. There, the band was experiencing writer's block. Delaney came up with the lyrics and melody. He asked if Frehley had any riffs. Frehley replied, "Oh yeah, there's this one, but I don't think the guys in the band are capable of playing it."[2]

Composition and lyrics

"Rocket Ride" is a moderately fast space rock song.[3] It is written in F-sharp major. The song is set in a time signature of common time. It has a tempo of 145 beats per minute.[4] The song starts with a distorted, ascending guitar riff. This is before Frehley's singing. The song focuses on rhythm. It matches "hard-swinging verses" with a staccato chorus. Donald. A Guarisco of AllMusic described the song as "hard-rock overdrive." He also called it one of the band's "most metallic moments."[5]

The song is a double entendre. This is similar to many of Kiss's song. Space travel (appropriate to Frehley's onstage "Spaceman" persona) is used as an innuendo for sexual intercourse.

Reception

Cash Box praised the song. They highlighted its "grinding heavy guitar and driving rock beat, flashy solo and competent vocals."[6] Donald A. Guarisco of AllMusic called it a "major cult favorite." He added that the song "one of Frehley’s finest achievements as a songwriter and a guitarist."[5] Matt Wardlaw of Ultimate Classic Rock said "Rocket Ride" is more than worthy of its name; "built on top of that initial riff, there's driving energy, as Frehley’s guitar tone gives everything an appropriately lunar feel."[2]

Hide recreated the intro of the song. This was on his 1998 single "Rocket Dive." The title is also a homage to the track. Frehley went on a tour named after the song; The Rocket Ride Tour. It was in 2008, supporting his third studio album, Anomaly.

Appearances

"Rocket Ride" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:

  • Alive II – studio version
  • The Box Set – studio version
  • Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 – studio version

Track listing

7" Single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rocket Ride"Sean Delaney, Ace Frehley3:04
2."Tomorrow and Tonight"Paul Stanley3:30
Total length:6:34
12" Maxi
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rocket Ride"Delaney, Frehley4:06
2."Detroit Rock City"Stanley, Bob Ezrin3:45
3."Love Gun"Stanley3:30
Total length:11:21

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8]46
US Billboard Hot 100[9]39

References

  1. ↑ "The KissFAQ - KISS Singles Chart Action Archive". Kissfaq.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Wardlaw, Matt (February 22, 2023). "When Ace Frehley Looked Outward for Kiss' 'Rocket Ride'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ Giles, Jeff (November 24, 2015). "Kiss, 'Rocket Ride' vs. Europe, 'The Final Countdown': Rock Star Wars". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kiss "Rocket Ride" Guitar Tab in F# Major". Musicnotes. Universal Music Publishing Group. November 16, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Donald A. Guarisco. "Rocket Ride Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 25, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  7. ↑ "PeterCriss.net - The Only Official Website of Drummer Peter Criss". Petercriss.net. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5486a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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