'Stand', which was only included on the European and American release, is a strange song for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it was listed as being a bonus song, but the album had only just been released. Most bonus songs are added to the track listing after the record had been out some time, but not here. As soon as it was released, it contained a bonus song!
Secondly, Alice had the weird idea of collaborating with hip-hop artist Xzibit. I know nothing about hip-hop music, so I can't adequately judge it. All I can say is that it is a protest song, and Alice has a good vocal hook
Afeni Shakur, who is given a namecheck in the song, is the mother Tupac Shakur, a rapper who was murdered in a drive-by shooting in September 1996
The additional musicians were Xzibit (Rap), Rick Boston (Guitars & Bass), Lyle Workman (Guitars), Daniel Lenz (Synthesizers & Loop), John Robinson (Drum)
The additional credited writer is Bridget Benenate, who had previously worked with Bewitched and 'American Idol' winner Kelly Clarkson
13/13 - Stand (Cooper, Benenate, Boston, Xzibit))
[xzibit]: Yeah
Stand Up
Ha?
What do you believe in?
Ha?
Yeah
Stand Up
Aha
C'mon
[Alice]: Just a face in the crowd
Feelin' lost, down and out
(Can you hear me now)
Millions more just like you
Afraid to do what they wanna do
(Am I getting through)
Lots of losers hanging round
Only there to bring you down
Get you feet up off the ground
Get up. Get up. Get up
If you don't stand for somethin'
You will fall for anythin'
If you don't stand for somethin'
You will fall for anythin'
Get up
[Xhibit]: Yeah Yeah
[Alice]: Don't you know that you're worth
As much as anyone on earth
(You`re a megastar)
Put your hands in the sky
Let your freaky colours fly
(Get 'em way up high)
You got style and you got game
So get it out don't be ashamed
(Xhibit: Yeah)
Let everybody know your name
(Xhibit: C'mon)
Get it on out now, what's you name
If you don't stand for somethin'
You will fall for anythin'
If you don't stand for somethin'
(Xhibit: Stand Up)
You will fall for anythin'
Get up
[Xhibit]: Yeah
Ah
Yeah
Breathe with me
Yeah
C'mon
Breathe
You can stand for peace
You can stand for war
I stand in the square I never stood before
I take a stand for my son like Afeni Shakur
I take a stand like a four double six six four
Stand alone in my struggle
Can't make me stand down
Make 'em crash and burn
Mayday mayday man down
Get up stand up get your damn hands off
If they not shackled to your feet in some handcuffs
We need solutions, not propaganda
Let the tape roll, make the whole world stand up
Hold your position, don't go backwards
X still grinding, the west's keeps shining
Don't look too long you might get blinded
Follow your heart, your head might just find it
I pray for the strength to handle what my city brings
Better stand for something (or) you're bound to fall for anything
[Alice]: If you don't stand for somethin'
(Xhibit: stand up stand up)
You will fall for anythin'
Get Up!
If you don't stand for somethin'
You will fall for anythin'
Everybody's got a voice
Now's the time to make some noise
(Let me hear you now)
Get up! "
Much better is the 'bonus' track that was only included on the Australian release of the album.
'The Sharpest Pain' is a more traditional Alice Cooper song
The 'Dirty Diamonds' tour began on June 11th, 2005, with a short warm-up show at Coopertown before travelling travwlling to Australia between June 21st - July 5th. Mainland Europe followed, with gigs between July 9th - August 13th. North America was next, with dates between August 17th - October 31st (with Cheap Trick supporting on most of the dates) before ending the 2005 tour in the UK, with dates between November 5th - November 17th. Venues visited were Brighton, London (Wembley), Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham and Bournemouth. A date at Plymouth on November 19th was cancelled. Support on these dates came from Twisted Sister.
The touring band consisted of:
Alice Cooper - Vocals
Ryan Roxie - Guitar
Damon Johnson - Guitar/Keyboards
Chuck Garric - Bass
Eric Singer - Drums
The basic setlist for this leg of the show was:
- "Department of Youth"
- "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
- "Dirty Diamonds"
- "Billion Dollar Babies"
- "Be My Lover"
- "Lost in America"
- "I Never Cry"
- "Woman of Mass Distraction"
- "I'm Eighteen"
- "Between High School and Old School"
- "What Do You Want from Me?"
- "Is It My Body?"
- "Go to Hell"
- "The Black Widow(instrumental)
- "Gimme"
- "Feed My Frankenstein"
- "Welcome to My Nightmare"
- Medley: "The Awakening"/"Steven"/"Only Women Bleed"/"Ballad of Dwight Fry"/"Killer"
- "I Love the Dead"
- "School's Out"
- "Poison"
- "Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills"
- "Under My Wheels"
The 2006 leg of the tour started in Germany, where the band played support to Deep Purple. Dates were between February 6th 2006 - February 18th. Canada was next, with dates May 1st - May 17th, before the band returned to Europe between May 27th - June 21st. There were a handful of UK dates played - May 29th at Sheffield, May 31st at Dublin, June 1st on the Isle of Man and June 3rd at the Monsters of Rock concert held at Milton Keynes (with Deep Purple, Journey, Ted Nugent, Queensryche, Thunder and Roadstar). After these dates, the band returned to North America between June 30th - November 8th, including dates as support to The Rolling Stones
The basic setlist for this leg was:
- Wicked Young Man
- No More Mr Nice Guy
- Dirty Diamonds
- Billion Dollar Babies
- Be My Lover
- Lost In America
- I Never Cry
- Woman Of Mass Distraction
- I'm 18
- You Drive Me Nervous
- Is It My Body
- Go To Hell
- Black Widow
- Feed My Frankenstein
- Welcome To My Nightmare
- Medley: The Awakening/Steven/Only Women Bleed/Steven/Ballad Of Dwight Fry/Killer)
- I Love The Dead
- School's Out
- Poison
- I Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills
- Under My Wheels
There was a DVD released of the tour, entitled 'Live At Montreux', recorded on July 12th 2005 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland. Musically, it's a good one, but the theatrics don't really kick in until we get to the 'Welcome To My Nightmare' medley, and then they are used sparingly