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Pleased he seems to have dropped the cover versions. When you've made as many albums as Alice has you don't need to be doing covers. |
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'Sun Arise' on 'Love It To Death' 'Gutter Cats Vs. The Jets on 'Schools Out' [while not a cover itself, it does 'borrow' liberally from 'When You're A Jet' on the 'West Side Story' soundtrack] 'Hello Hooray' on 'Billion Dollar Babies' 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows' on 'Goes To Hell' 'Talk Talk' from 'Flush The Fashion' '7 And 7 Is' on 'Special Forces' 'Pretty Ballerina' on 'The Eyes Of Alice Cooper' |
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Only my opinion. As i said with all Alice's records he really doesn't need to play anything he hasn't recorded. I bet Alice devotees are happier with Roses on White Lace than they are a Pink Floyd cover. |
I never think of Hello Hooray as a cover. :lol: Type the song title into Google and it's an Alice Cooper version that's there in your face. |
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First time I heard it, I thought it was horrible and that the two songs didn't fit, and my opinion of it hasn't changed over the years 'Schools Out' is probably the quintessential Alice song, and should be played straight |
Just read that Alice has contributed vocals to a track on the forthcoming solo record from Phil Campbell. Rob Halford, Dee Snider, Whitfield Crane and Skindred's Benji Webbe also sing on tracks. |
Little Betty Not so Little Betty Roses On White Lace |
Teenage Frankenstein Dead Babies |
Ghost's Tobias Forge on Aussie tv's Rage program. Quote:
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September 13th - Alice is due to release a tribute to the 'Garage Rock Heroes' from his hometown Detroit City. Entitled 'The Breadcrumbs EP', it features six brand new recordings and will be available both as a digital download and on limited edition (20,000), numbered 10” Vinyl. The six tracks are as follows: 1. Detroit City 2020 [Presumably an updated version of the Alice Cooper song from 'The Eyes Of Alice Cooper'] 2. Go Man Go 3. East Side Story [Thought to be an early Bob Seger song released as 'The Last Heard' in 1966.] 4. Your Mama Won't Like Me [The title of a Suzi Quatro song and album from 1975] 5. Devil In A Blue Dress/Chains Of Love ['Devil' is though to be a cover of a 1964 Shorty Long song] 6. Sister Anne [1971 MC5 song] |
Shame that EP isn't getting a cd release. I have a record player but would prefer cd. |
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25th July, 1989 - 30 years ago today, 'Trash', the 11th solo album by Alice and the 18th album overall, was released It reached #2 on the UK album chart, helped by the lead single (which also reached #2 on the singles chart) This was Alice's most successful commercial album. He had moved from the MCA label to Epic, and brought in producer and song writer Desmond Child. This was an album specifically designed to hit the top of the charts, and boy - did it succeed! Unfortunately during this upgrade, something was lost from the mix, and that 'something' was the Alice Cooper that long standing fans wanted. There is little of the humour or horror material that the older fans loved |
Ultimate Classic Rock has a new exclusive interview with Alice: "Alice Cooper Talks About Resurrecting Lost Catalog Classics https://townsquare.media/site/295/fi...jpg?w=980&q=75 Alice Cooper will reveal the first part of a Detroit-themed music project he’s been working on recently in September. Breadcrumbs finds the legendary rocker paying tribute to his “garage rock heroes from his hometown Detroit city” with special guests like MC5’s Wayne Kramer and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad. The six-song EP teases a future album that should arrive sometime in 2020. Working with his usual collaborator, Bob Ezrin, Cooper had a specific reason for giving the record a Motor City flavor. “The Detroit sound is Alice Cooper," Cooper told UCR earlier this year. "That’s where we wrote Killer, Love It to Death, School’s Out and Billion Dollar Babies. I’ve always looked at Alice Cooper as sort of a Detroit band, really. ... We’re a guitar band. We’re a guitar rock band. That’s what we’ll always be. 'Under My Wheels' is probably what an Alice Cooper Detroit band sounds like.” Cooper is currently in a familiar place. When he’s not in the studio or on the golf course, chances are pretty good you’ll find him onstage. “I didn’t expect at 71 to be in Alice Cooper and the Hollywood Vampires,” he says now. “You know, there’s two bands that are touring bands and both of them are major shows and major albums. So I wasn’t expecting that, but I’m happy to be doing it!” The second Hollywood Vampires album, Rise, was released on June 21; Cooper is thrilled with the reception it's received so far. “We didn’t expect the Vampires album to be No. 1 in England,” he says. “I mean, it’s No. 1 in five or six countries right now. We’re really, really happy with that.” The band played a string of dates leading up to the release of Rise. Cooper is now back on the road for his own tour, a lengthy run that finds him doing a major revamp to both his stage show and set list. The shows are bookended by a pair of monster songs: 1991’s “Feed My Frankenstein,” a longtime fan favorite and concert staple, and “Teenage Frankenstein,” a rarity that's making its first stage appearance since 2001. “We start with Frankenstein and end with Frankenstein, because the nature of the show is like going to the carnival, a really old carnival and being on one of those funhouse rides," Cooper explains. "Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle rides -- that’s what the stage looks like and that’s what it feels like up there. Because some of the things that happen are really carny-driven. The creepiest people to me onstage were the carnies. The show just has that feel to it. When you go to it, you’ll feel like you’re at the carnival.” The completely redesigned stage features a multi-level stone castle adorned with skulls and iron chandeliers. The castle is just one piece of a larger vision Cooper initially had for the show. “We were going to make it into an Alice Cooper castle thing," he says. But "we’ve always had this carnival vibe to the Alice Cooper show anyway, so the more I looked at the set, the more I said, ‘Let’s make this more so it looks like if you were watching a movie and it was one of these old dilapidated carnival rides.' So when the curtain comes down and you see it, you’re already in it.” “My Stars,” from the School’s Out album, makes its first appearance in an Alice Cooper set since 1974, and, it turns out, it’s been buried on a shelf for decades for a specific reason. "That wasn’t even a song that we did back with the original band because we didn’t have a piano player,” Cooper notes. “It was always a song we kind of avoided a little bit, because of the fact that you need that piano in there. Now, I hardly use any tape onstage at all, unless it’s for special effects. That’s the only thing I use on that. I use the piano track on that, and then the band plays to the piano track, because we still don’t have the piano player. We didn’t have that option back in the ‘70s. Now we can do that.” “Teenage Frankenstein,” from 1986’s Constrictor, and “Roses on White Lace,” from 1987’s Raise Your Fist and Yell, are also making rare appearances onstage these days. “We found out in a strange way that every time we do an ‘80s rock song, that’s where this band shines,” Cooper says. “They can play all of the old stuff easily, but when it comes to songs like 'Bed of Nails,' 'Poison,' all of the songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s, they jump on that stuff and they play it perfectly." In other recent Cooper news, his name was on the list of artists who may have lost assets in the 2008 fire that reportedly destroyed more than 100,000 master recordings owned by Universal Music Group. Both Constrictor and Raise Your Fist and Yell were released by the company. Cooper is unclear about the status of those masters and feels for his fellow artists. “If we would have lost anything, Shep [Gordon, Cooper's manager] would have called me, so I don’t think we’ve lost anything,” he says. “I totally understand when you get bands like Tom Petty and groups like that, with all of the recording that they did, how many things got lost. I can imagine that’s devastating. That’s like if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame caught fire. All of the things in there that are irreplaceable would be lost. So who knows what the damage is on that? I don’t think they know what the damage is yet.”" |
Starting to get some reviews of the new tour, and as usual they are raving over the shows! Metal Rules .com "Alice Cooper Unleashes his Nightmare Castle on Unsuspecting Allentown, PA 7/17/19 Alice Cooper made a grand entrance at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this past Wednesday with his new stage show “The Nightmare Castle.” Donning his trademark eye make-up, a black leather jacket, and wielding a cane, he opened with “Feed My Frankenstein” while pacing the stage like a menacing ringmaster about to unleash a bizarre freak show on the unsuspecting crowd. By the look on Alice’s face, you knew he meant business. And so began the spectacle dubbed, “Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back” for a 19 date co-headlining tour across North America with Halestorm. Like a fine wine, Alice only gets better with time and never disappoints. If you’ve never experienced one of his shows, be prepared and forewarned that it can get pretty gruesome. This year’s stage resembles a medieval castle littered with torture devices, skeletons, skulls, coffins, and ghouls. During “Dead Babies” while in a straitjacket, Alice attempts to cut the head off a baby doll with a clever. His plan is foiled when two henchmen dressed as evil babies put him in the guillotine and cut his head off while the band sings, “I Love the Dead!” On “Teenage Frankenstein,” a monstrously tall “FrankenAlice wreaks havoc with Alice’s and his bandmates. During “Roses on White Lace” a bloodied bride takes Alice to the top of the castle to seduce him and who couldn’t forget when an inflatable 10-foot baby breaks through the castle wall during “Schools Out.” All of this mayhem is choreographed to Alice’s biggest hits from the last 48+ years. The thrilling madness of his show had fans entertained and in awe! The set list reads like a greatest hits CD with some deep cuts thrown in for good measure, the classics included “Under My Wheels,” “Billion Dollar Baby,” “Poison,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Dead Babies,” and of course “I’m Eighteen.” The deep cuts that excited Alice’s loyal subjects were: “Bed of Nails,” Raped & Freezin,” and “Muscle of Love.” His 75-minute show paid homage to his musical career and many of his macabre antics from the 70s. Both longtime fans, as well as first-timers, got more than they bargained this evening. Prior to his performance, I asked Alice about his macabre show; he replied, “My show has a reputation for being different from anything you’ve ever seen. Even if you’ve seen a show before, there will be some new aspects or songs that will be different.” Bassist Chuck Garric mirrored the sentiment, “We always have something to prove, and there is always a new fan in the audience. It’s always somebody’s first concert. I think there is more pressure if you have seen us ten times because you know what to expect. I think it’s important to give it your all every show. I’m giving 110%.” His band sounded fantastic! They are a tight-knit group that which includes guitarists Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen, and Nita Strauss. You couldn’t get three better guitarists on the same stage who genuinely complimented each. They each bring a unique quality and style of playing that gives the songs dimension and power. Bassist Chuck Garric who has been with Alice since 2002, bashed out bass lick after lick with sheer brute force while playing soulfully and tastefully in the pocket of Glen Sobel’s drum playing. Each band member received their own time center stage while Alice poked, prodded, and taunted them with swords and canes. Fortunately, they never missed a beat! For the finale, Lzzy Hale joined Alice and his band for “Schools Out” amidst the swirling confetti and excitement of the fans! At 71 years old, it’s quite evident that Alice is still a force not to be reckoned with stemming from his charisma that hasn’t changed since the inception of his career. He still dresses the part, commands the stage like a rock star, and packs the vocal ability that fans expect. This show is not to be missed!" Timesonline "Alice Cooper + Halestorm rock Burgettstown BURGETTSTOWN — Alice Cooper and his band took over the KeyBank Pavilion stage Friday on what can only be described as a very hot and sticky night. As the mercury and humidity pushed upward, the sweat-drenched crowd of early comers got to witness Scranton, Pa. natives, Motionless In White. Lead vocalist Chris “Motionless” Carulli performed in an oversize knit sweater, with sweat dripping from his brow as the blaring sun shone in his eyes. Next to the stage was a band that has been all the buzz in the past few years, Halestorm, fronted by the enigmatic Lzzy Hale, and backed by her brother and drummer, Arejay Hale. The band stormed through a set that highlighted Lzzy’s vocal chops including “Love Bites (So Do I)”, “Apocalyptic” and the monster hit “Freak Like Me.” The band rounded out a set of 11 songs as the sun dipped below the horizon with the track “I Miss the Misery.” As day turned to night, the tension in the air grew as thick as the humidity in anticipation that rock icon Cooper soon would take the stage. With a career that has spanned over 50 years and a catalog of both radio hits and fan favorites it must have been a daunting task to create a setlist. But the 71-year-old shock-rocker did fine from a stage featuring his new “Castle Cooper”. The entire stage was decked out as a medieval castle with macabre props and subtle hints of days gone by from Cooper’s illustrious carer. The band flew into “Feed My Frankenstein,” as guitarists Nita Strauss and Ryan Roxie tore through the riffs of the classic metal song. Next up was the anthem “No More Mister Nice Guy”, followed by the late ’80′s hair metal gem, “Bed of Nails.” The rest of the set followed suit, with “Billion Dollar Babies,” “I’m Eighteen” and “Poison” going down in order. Strauss took center stage and literally shook the foundations of the pavilion during her guitar solo on her custom-designed Ibanze guitar. At this point the band took a bit of a turn and played a group of somewhat lesser know, but equally impressive songs such as “My Star,” “Black Widow Jam,” and “Steven.” They wrapped up the set with “Teenage Frankenstein.” The encore began with “Under My Wheels,” and then was highlighted by the most popular and recognizable song in Cooper’s catalog “Schools Out.” Hale joined in on stage, as the song built in a part of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” where the kids and chanting “We don’t need no education”.” Overall an impressive performance from a master of his art. Cooper was near perfection and blew me away with his spot-on performance. His band of superb musicians made it look effortless and made us all forget that is was so hot." Eponymous Review. Com "Alice Cooper, Halestorm, Motionless in White annihilate Tinley Park School’s out for summer so, naturally, Alice Cooper was in Tinley Park to celebrate the seasonal freedom from pencils, books and teachers’ dirty looks, bringing his rock spectacle known as the Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back tour to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 21. Halestorm and Motionless in White completed the face-melting triple bill which had Chicago fans head-banging, cheering and hurling hand horns into the sky throughout the night. Motionless in White kicked things off with a trio of heavy hitters in “Rats,” “Unstoppable” and “Everybody Sells Cocaine.” Fans of the five piece loved every note and soon the group captivated the attention of even the most aloof members of the crowd. The band’s front man, Chris “Motionless” Cerulli, pointed out the audience’s growing enthusiasm, adding that it’s cool to have fun during the opening act. “Spoiler alert. By the time the show ends, you’re going to f*cking love it,” he said, referring to the group’s set, as the band dove into “Brand New Numb” off their 2019 album, Disguise. When Motionless in White’s set came to a bombastic close with “Voices,” Cerulli’s prophecy had come true. Halestorm took the stage next, rocking a no-backing tracks allowed set which included “Love Bites (So Do I),” “Do Not Disturb” and a goosebumps-inducing rendition of “Familiar Taste of Poison” during which lead guitarist Joe Hottinger and front woman Lzzy Hale found ample opportunities to shred. Hale connected with the crowd, saying that the “boss man” Alice Cooper helped her realize, back in the day, that “it’s okay to be yourself.” “When I was 11 years old, my favorite album was Love It to Death by Alice Cooper,” she said noting that she soon knew that she was not like other girls. “There wouldn’t be a ‘Mz Hyde’ without Alice Cooper.” Drummer Arejay Hale brought The Strange Case Of… single to an epic climax with a hard and fast solo that continued to build until it seemed he was hitting each drum at once. The only way to top it was to break out “big *ss drum sticks” in honor of his love of Chicago’s “big *ss deep dish pizza.” If Halestorm’s set was big, Alice Cooper’s was gargantuan in its musicianship, showmanship and stage design, which featured a multi-story layout and a collection of torture devices that sprayed confetti and Cooper cash – during “Billion Dollar Babies” – and held back monsters – in “Feed my Frankenstein.” “I’m Eighteen” found lead guitarists Ryan Roxie and Nita Strauss – the latter of whom proved her rock Goddess credentials with a sprawling yet intricate solo deeper in the set – going head to head and riff for riff as the crowd sang at the top of their lungs. Cooper got up close and personal with fans as he sang “Poison,” taking time out to muss the hair of particularly venomous members of the audience. There is a fine line fusing the terrifying with the terrifically fun, and Alice Cooper, Halestorm and Motionless in White provided fans with the chance to reside in that crazy crossroads if only for a night." Audioink "Alice Cooper Tour Review: Theatrics + Musicianship Rule on Summer Trek Alice Cooper and Halestorm brought a dramatic, bloody show to DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan Not many musicians continue to thrill audiences and fill amphitheaters decade after decade, but Alice Cooper certainly isn’t most musicians. From his blockbusters ‘70s and ‘80s rock hits to his latest, 20th studio album, “Paranormal,” Cooper defies the years and continues to stay not only relevant but serve as a trendsetter in the rock and metal worlds. Throughout the years, Cooper’s live show has helped propel him to the superstar status that he is today, and that was apparent during his jam-packed show Saturday (July 20) at DTE Energy Music Theatre near Detroit, Michigan. The concert was part of his 2019 summer “Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back” tour. After a rain delay, opener Halestorm kicked off the night around 7:50 p.m. (Motionless In White, who was scheduled to go on before Halestorm, did not perform, due to the delay.) Lzzy Hale took the stage belting an acapella introduction to the band’s hit song, “I Get Off,” and when the rest of the band joined in, the stage exploded with the kind of raw energy that defines the rock ‘n’ roll genre. With a powerful female vocalist and high-energy live show, Halestorm was an apt band to set off the night. As the sun slowly set, the darkness set the perfect mood for The Coop’s menacing production. Around 9:20 p.m., the black stage curtain came down, revealing Cooper and his roster of seasoned band members ready to rock. Cooper, donning his trademark black eyeliner and shock-rock makeup, powerfully launched into “Feed My Frankenstein,” and the crowd exploded with excitement. One of Cooper’s most recognizable anthems, “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” followed. As he strutted from one side of the stage to the next, his band members took turns stepping up to the spotlight with their fiery soloing and instrumental aerobics. Guitarist Nita Strauss is charismatic and vibrant onstage, and she deftly swings from one end of the stage to the other, putting on a dramatic presentation with her guitar. Musically, the set featured hits, such as “I’m Eighteen,” “Poison” and “School’s Out,” with some songs that haven’t been performed live as much, such as “Roses on White Lace” and “Muscle of Love.” The set came complete with all the theatrics fans love about an Alice Cooper show, such as a life-sized Frankenstein during “Teenage Frankenstein” and a bloody bride for “Roses on White Lace.” From the blitz of Alice Cooper’s first moments onstage to his epic “School’s Out” finale, the Coop’s summer tour delivers a frighteningly fun, powerful, thrilling show that shows why he is everyone’s favorite shock rocker." Rocknfolk "Alice Cooper is probably an artist who knows no introduction. He is a true pioneer and a rock and roll survivor who is still going strong. Recently, he partnered up with Halestorm for a massive tour, which brought the two acts across the United States. Cooper and Halestorm are two acts with a rather different background. The former has been pushing the boundaries and breaking all the rules since the 70s, while the latter is quickly growing into one of the biggest names in the modern hard rock scene. Although some people might argue that these acts are quite different in their sound, it is interesting to see two acts that bring such a diverse dynamic to their setlist. Halestorm just released a raucous new album, and the new songs translate really well in a live setting. Cooper’s setlist, on the other hand, mostly focused on classic tracks, such as the evergreen rock anthem “School’s Out.” Those riffs really made the whole place shake, and the audience went nuts. As you would expect from such a seasoned act, Alice Cooper has an amazing stage presence, with its lavish outfits and spectacular live band, also featuring Nita Strauss, an excellent guitarist with a mind-blowing set of skills. She knows when to play within the lines and serve the songs. However, she is also a master at improvising and allowing her playing to let loose and wild. Alice Cooper surrounded himself with talented musicians, and the quality of the show was truly astounding. From the skills of these performers, down to the passion and focus displayed with each song. Halestorm definitely pulled their weight as well. Big riffs, huge vocal hooks ad larger-than-life song structures. All the ingredients of a great rock band are there, and they certainly know how to cater to the audience. On this tour, the band is definitely taking home an army of new fans. Even those people who showed up for Alice Cooper alone responded well to Halestorm. This is the kind of band that really lets you enjoy the songs, even if you do not necessarily know them. Their tracks are rock and roll bangers that will make people move with crazy riffs and lots of energy. Alice Cooper / Halestorm is a dream bill for many, and this tour is definitely one of the hottest to travel through the world this summer!" |
New interview in the Rochester City Newspaper "Alice Cooper: Prodigal son Alice Cooper’s life has been a strange journey that almost parallels a biblical story. The rock icon grew up in the church, abandoned it, almost died, and came back to embrace Christianity. Along the way, Cooper picked up a serious golf habit, established a nonprofit foundation for at–risk teenagers, and crossed paths with a host of famous people. Even at 71 years old, Alice Cooper still means business. Cooper sounded matter-of-fact during a recent phone conversation, a few minutes before rehearsing with his band for a show in Dubuque, Iowa. He’ll be rolling in to Greater Rochester area on August 7 for a show at CMAC. An edited version of the interview follows. CITY: When I was a boy, I read your autobiography, “Me, Alice.” It’s probably one of my favorite rock and roll books ever. Alice: It’s so funny, because that was a great work of fiction. When we were doing “Me, Alice,” we were literally drinking and making things up as we went along. “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster” actually is the real story. Will you be golfing in Rochester? Very rarely do I get to a city where I don’t play nine holes. So I will be playing somewhere in Rochester. It’s weird that a character like Alice Cooper would be a two handicap. How did you develop such a great knack for storytelling? My dad was a wordsmith. He was a pastor. He couldn’t do a sermon without telling at least three jokes, but they were all appropriate to what the stories were. My dad kept me very sharp. We would challenge each other when I was a kid. He was very sharp and very funny, and I always wanted to be as funny as my dad. So he was sort of my hero when it came to that. What keeps you going? I never get tired of it. I’ve never sat there and said, “Maybe I should mellow out.” I think my lifestyle has changed a whole bunch, being married for 43 years with three kids and three grandsons, but that has never watered down Alice Cooper. Everyone knows about my Christianity, the Solid Rock Foundation — that’s my lifestyle. When it comes to getting onstage and being Alice Cooper, Alice Cooper is still Alice Cooper. When you come to see the show, it’s like going to the carnival and going on that ride you’re not supposed to go on. What is something you would never do onstage? You shouldn’t do anything that would get anybody hurt. If anybody got hurt in my show, it was me. They always cut Alice Cooper’s head off. It was never anybody else getting skewered up there, unless it was a baby doll or something like that, which is an inanimate object. Is creativity something you can turn off, or is it always running in the back of your mind? When I start an album, my whole idea is that this is going to be the best album I’ve ever written. I don’t think I’ve written my best songs yet. I don’t think I’ve done my best shows yet. I think if you ask Paul McCartney, the same thing: he would say, “No, I haven’t written my best songs yet.” A real artist wants to do something better than the last time. I’ve always felt the next thing is more important than what we’ve done before. What is at the heart of your appeal? There was a huge change in my lifestyle when I quit drinking and everything like that. If I had kept doing it, I would have been gone in 1978. I could have easily joined the 27 gang, but I didn’t. God had different plans for me. The fact that the show has always been the very foremost thing in my mind is that we’ve got to be the best touring band out there and we’ve got to put on the best show of anyone. That has never changed. So when people come to see Alice, we’ve never let them down. You’ve maintained a sober lifestyle, but as cannabis is being legalized state by state, do you think there is any place for it in the creation or enjoyment of music? If I were to make one thing illegal, it would be alcohol, not marijuana. If you’re walking down a dark alley, and there are five guys drinking on one side and five guys smoking on the other side, the guys drinking are going to give you hell. They are the ones that are going to beat you up. The guys smoking want to know if you have any Doritos, or “Where did you get those shoes?” To me, I don’t really see a lot of harm in marijuana myself. I see a lot of harm in alcohol. If marijuana is a gateway drug to something harder, then of course, it’s not good. But I think it’s a lot less of a problem than alcohol is. Where is the most unusual place one of your songs has been played? When the “Trash” album came out, we had never been to Greece, and it was number one there for 26 weeks. You go to Iceland, and you find out your album is number one in Iceland and in places you never thought people even knew who you are. I guess hard rock translates to everybody. Hard rock will never go away, I think there is something primal about guitar rock, the way we play it. The movie “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” references Native American contributions to rock. You have some Native American ancestry. Do you feel a link to that legacy? I think there is something extremely tribal about rock. Think of it: it’s all drums. You have an audience that is waiting for you to give them the cue of what to rock to. All rock is based on drum beats, so if you want to take it back to the tribes — the real tribes where we all come from — that’s probably one of the most important things. I totally believe in sensationalism. You can’t just get up and rock; and you know, bands like The Yardbirds and The Who, they were great at that. But to me, it was “Why not give them a visual show as much as an auditory show.” If you’re going to say, “Welcome to my nightmare,” give them the nightmare. To me it was important to bring the visual to it. What is the best thing about being Alice Cooper? I’m starting to think that the longevity of the career is amazing. I’ve got it down so much — being a frontman and a rock singer — that as long as the band is there and I’m healthy, to me it’s the easiest thing in the world." |
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The dangers of cocaine An ill looking Alice on stage during the 'missing years', circa 1980 - 1982 Healthier, clean and sober |
There is a long interview / feature entitled "Remembering ‘Alice Cooper’ as a band", with quotes from Dennis, Neal and Michael, where they talk about the split and reunion shows at Goldmine Magzine |
A statue of Alice has been erected at the Wacken festival |
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Yesterday's show (August 7th) at the Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center in New York featured 'Desperado' between 'Eighteen' and 'Billion Dollar Babies' This is the first time that the song has been played since the 'Psychodrama' tour in 2008, promoting the 'Dirty Diamonds' album |
A couple of new concert reviews Herald-Whig "Alice Cooper shows no signs of slowing down in return to St. Louis On July 25, the godfather of macabre rock himself, Alice Cooper made his return engagement to the St. Louis area, bringing a brand new tour to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Along with his own superstar-packed band, “Ol' Black Eyes” brought along some other friends to help create a night of dark, heavy rock in the Gateway City. With a whole new stage set-up, a brand new set list, and the same over-the-top theatrics, Alice Cooper's new “Ol' Black Eyes Is Back” tour has everything you could want in a rock show: Screaming guitars courtesy of the triple-threat attack of Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henricksen, and “Hurricane” Nita Strauss, the beastly bass of Chuck Garric, the marvelous cacophony of sounds from Glen Sobel and his drum kit, and a stage full of performers led by Sheryl Cooper's demented nurse and featuring a giant FrankenAlice in chains, a swarm of helmeted knights populating the “Nightmare Castle,” and truly the creepiest baby you may ever see. And this entire three-ring circus is orchestrated by the madman himself, Alice Cooper, standing in the center of the maelstrom like a rock in the ocean, unmoved and in control at the same time. Right out of the gate, this tour kicks off with “Feed My Frankenstein,” with a brief appearance of the aforementioned FrankenAlice before launching right into the classic hit “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” Celebrating thirty years of the release of one of Alice Cooper's most successful albums, “Trash,” the band kicked into “Bed of Nails” next. Throughout the night, a blend of classic tracks and newer numbers brought something for everyone. From “Billion Dollar Babies” and “I'm Eighteen” to “Poison” and “Fallen In Love”, every era of Alice Cooper was represented. Following “Dead Babies,” a staple of Cooper's stage shows – the guillotine taking off the head of the frontman – led into “I Love the Dead.” “Teenage Frankenstein” closed out the main set, with a return of the massive monster, joining the band at the front of the stage this time and taking his own moment to shine with the rest of the rockers. The encore launched with the fast, brief rocker “Under My Wheels” before the band – already overflowing with talent – was joined by Lzzy Hale for the big closing number of the night, “School's Out” with a taste of “Another Brick in the Wall” for good measure. Alice Cooper rarely rests, it seems. Between his own band, and his Hollywood Vampires project, he always has an iron or two in the fire. If you haven't seen him live in concert, then you need to do yourself a favor and make that happen. I can honestly say that any time they're in the neighborhood, as long as they let me in the door, the role of photographer/reviewer for any show I can get to will be played by….Me!" Substream Magazine "Alice Cooper proves we’re still not worthy in Nashville Five decades hasn’t slowed Alice Cooper down one bit. The 71-year-old Detroit native seduced the crowd with his trademark top hat and cane as he sauntered onto the stage for the opening song “Feed My Frankenstein,” which is a genius song to start off a show just by the intro alone. If you are going to an Alice Cooper show, you expect the drama and theatrics and this performance was not a disappointment. The Nightmare Castle-themed stage set up was just the beginning of the amount of detail that went into the elaborate production for the night. Guillotines, straight jackets, money themed confetti as well as a dead bride portrayed by Cooper’s real life bride Sheryl Goddard are all just a glimpse into the mind of a mad genius. Theatricality aside, the music was the heart of the show and what keeps fans coming back year after year. The setlist spanned a 50-year discography with timeless hits like “Poison”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, and “I’m Eighteen” as well as deeper cuts like “Bed of Nails.” Fans also were able to see a softer side of the rocker when he paid homage to the local hockey team by donning a Nashville Predators jersey during the encore song “Under My Wheels”. Each of Cooper’s band members are an intricate part of the show dynamic. Nita Strauss (guitars), Ryan Roxie (guitars), Chuck Garric (bass guitar), Tommy Henriksen (guitars), and Glen Sobel (drums) bring their own unique style to the music that came before them. Alice and company finished off the night with the song “School’s Out” by bringing out Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm and adding a snippet from Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”. From the fans in the venue who paid to see a legend perform to the bands that shared the stage with him, you could see Alice Cooper’s handprint on each and every person in that venue. Nearly written off at the beginning of his career as a flash-in-the-pan freak sideshow, Alice has proven the doubters wrong time and time again as he continues to blow people away after half a century of show-business." In other news, some 2020 Australian dates have been announced |
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Alice has just finished the US leg of the 'Ol Black Eyes Is Back' tour, with a show at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey There is now a short break until August 31st when he starts the European leg, with a headline show at the Riverside Open Air Festival in Switzerland on August 31st Whether the set list is the same as the US tour, or has changes remains to be seen |
Alice, and a host of other musicians, are featured in a new film about musical legend Chuck Berry |
Another live review As a live act, Alice Cooper has no comparison | Hollywood Soapbox "HOLMDEL, New Jersey — Alice Cooper brought the goods — dark, decapitated, haunted goods — to the PNC Bank Arts Center for his Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back tour with Halestorm and Motionless in White. The Aug. 15 gig showcased the rocker’s unique and continued talents, and the concert proved to be a true joy to diehards who have been following the singer for decades. The eerie “Years Ago” played from the speakers for the standing crowd as the band took their place behind an enormous drop curtain sporting Cooper’s iconic blackened eyes. Once the pre-recorded track was complete, the curtain dropped, and mayhem ensued. Cooper took the stage in his first costume of the night and plowed through an anthemic rendition of “Feed My Frankenstein,” a wonderful kickoff to a 90-minute set that spanned every part of the singer’s career. Backing him was one of the best rock bands in the business: Chuck Garric on bass, Ryan Roxie on guitar, Nita Strauss on lead and rhythm guitar, Tommy Henriksen on lead and rhythm guitar, and Glen Sobel on drums and percussion. A giant, Frankenstein-like monster joined the band on stage for the opening number. The Halloween prop has become a staple of Cooper’s touring schedule, and the sight was an awesome jolt for the crowd. Another hit was given to the audience right away: “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” which went down like a double-shot of poisoned espresso. The fans, many banging their heads and pumping fists in the air, sang along to the well-known lyrics and watched as Cooper essentially staged an extravagant Halloween party. Throughout the night there was blood, swords, daggers, confetti, a crutch, a murderous nurse and lots of eye makeup. Next, the choice rarities came into play, and they definitely elevated this tour to the top of Cooper’s recent output. These were gems that needed to be dusted off: “Bed of Nails,” which is infectious and creepily romantic; “Raped and Freezin’;” and the newer country/bluesy “Fallen in Love,” which came as a surprise only to those who don’t know Cooper’s wondrous and diverse musical styles. Instead of playing these chestnuts at the expense of the hits, Cooper and his band decided to include anything and everything in the expansive set list. That meant “Fallen in Love,” a rarity, sidled up next to mainstays like “Muscle of Love,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Billion Dollar Babies” and “Poison,” which may be Cooper’s best song live. Guitar and drum solos ensued. Cooper was ceremoniously executed by decapitation, and he also killed a blood-thirsty nurse on stage. It’s all in good fun — something akin to A Nightmare on Elm Street meets Night of the Living Dead. The singer is clearly the byproduct of a Vincent Price / Rocky Horror Riff Raff mashup. Of the backing band, Strauss is a highlight. She injects each song with great energy, bounding across the stage and instigating the fans to give her more. Sobel is also an ace on drums, providing the thumping sanity for the night, but letting his fellow performers improv a bit throughout the evening. Can’t say enough about Roxie and Henriksen, two consummate performers who hit each electrified note with ease, and they love mugging to the crowd. Garric’s work is intricate and fast-paced; it’s a delight to watch his fingers move up and down that instrument, providing the band’s bleeding heartbeat throughout the night. The rarities came in blocks, so after “Poison,” Cooper reached far back for “Roses on White Lace” and “My Stars.” The band then held down the fort for “Devil’s Food” and a portion of “Black Widow.” Cooper wasn’t there because, of course, he was dead already. Perhaps the greatest gift of the night was “Steven,” the saddest and scariest song Cooper has ever performed. The opening guitar riff is pure rock at its finest. “Dead Babies,” with the requisite prop baby, and a quick “I Love the Dead” came next, followed by “Escape,” a wonderful addition to the set list. The main set, right around the 75-minute mark, then finished with “Teenage Frankenstein” and another appearance by the big man himself. The two-song encore had everyone up, jumping and dancing. “Under My Wheels” reminded the crowd the telephone is ringing, while “School’s Out” gave the thousands in attendance a rockified taste of summer fun. Members of Halestorm and Motionless in White joined Cooper on stage for both vocals and backing guitar work." |
Alice has just started the European leg of the 'Ol Black Eyes Is Back' tour, with a show at the Riverside Open Air Festival in Switzerland yesterday (August 31st) From what I am led to believe, there are no changes to the set list Dee Snider joined the band for 'School's Out' |
Official tour merchandise Some nice designs available - £30 for t-shirts https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain https://musicglue-images-prod.global...0&mode=contain |
New music Alice covers Bob Seger song 'East Side Story' on the new 'Breadcrumbs' ep "When Alice Cooper decided to do a "tip of the hat to Detroit" with his new music, he felt compelled to do some Detroit songs with a few famed Motor City players. That led to his upcoming Breadcrumbs EP, a six-song mostly covers set whose high-octane rendition of Bob Seger's 1966 single "East Side Story" is premiering exclusively below. "When people say, 'Well, what is your music?' I say it's Detroit rock -- we just put a different slant on it," says the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shock rocker, a Detroit native who moved with his family to Phoenix when he was an adolescent. "At the bottom of it, all Alice Cooper records are Detroit, Chuck Berry, hard rock and then twisting it up into what we are lyrically and performance-wise. But you take the bottom of all those songs and they're all guitar-driven rock n' roll songs, which is what I associate as the Detroit sound. I wanted to use all Detroit players and songs either about Detroit or written by (Detroit musicians)." Cooper acknowledges that he never heard "East Side Story" -- a regional hit for Seger and his band, The Last Heard, that was influenced by Them's "Gloria" -- back in the day. Rather, one of Cooper's managers, Toby Mamis, and designer John Varvatos suggested the track and referred Cooper and Ezrin to a YouTube video of Seger performing "East Side Story" on the Canadian TV show Swingin' Time. "I had never heard that song on the radio," Cooper says. "(Ezrin) and I saw that (video) and went, 'We could jazz that song up a little bit and turn it into something else.' It has a great story and I love the chord structure and everything to it. We just treated it a little more hard rock." Cooper and Ezrin recorded it during a March visit to Detroit at the suburban Rustbelt Studios (where Greta Van Fleet recorded its 2017 EPs Black Smoke Rising and From the Fires) and using players such as the MC5's Wayne Kramer, former Grand Frunk Railroad frontman Mark Farner and drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels and the Rockets, who's played with Cooper in the past. "It really does have that Detroit feel all the way through it," Cooper says. "It came out as a pretty unique song, and I think that has a lot to do with those players." Cooper got a chance to tell Seger about the recording when he caught him in Arizona on his current Farewell tour. "I said, 'We're gonna do one of your songs,' and he probably thought I wanted to do one of the hits," Cooper recalls. "I told him 'East Side Story,' and he goes, 'What?!' I said, 'Yeah, we're gonna do that one.' I hope he likes it. I'm glad we gave it a second life." The Breadcrumbs EP, out Sept. 13, also includes covers of the MC5's "Sister Anne," Suzi Quatro's "Your Mama Won't Like Me" and Ryder & the Detroit Wheels' "Devil With a Blue Dress On," as well as the new song "Go Man Go" and "Detroit City 2020," a remake of the track from his 2003 album The Eyes of Alice Cooper. The EP will also serve as an introduction to Cooper's next album, which will be all original but, he says, feature the Detroit flavor showcased on Breadcrumbs. "We knew we couldn't get to this new album until 2020, so (the EP) is kind of 'let's throw them some bread crumbs' and give everybody a feel of what it's going to be," explains Cooper, who's currently on tour in Europe. He's continued working on the album when he has time, collaborating more with Kramer and others and has even spoken with Iggy Pop about contributing to the set. "This way we don't have to put something together quickly and try to make it work. We have time to really make sure all the songs are right. "But I think people are going to be surprised by the EP. I've never done an EP before. It's a little different than the normal Alice Cooper thing, and I like that. I like stretching it a little bit."" |
More new music 'Detroit City 2020' from the 'Breadcrumbs' E.P The song is a re-working of the track 'Detroit City', originally found on the 'Eyes Of Alice Cooper' album, released in 2003 |
New song by Wednesday 13, entitled 'Necrophaze', featuring a guest appearance by Alice |
It would appear that another song has been added to the setlist on the current tour
Whether it's still in the show when it reached the UK remains to be seen |
Phil Campbell and Alice Cooper - Swing It. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2KCPboU39U Not heard Alice sing on anything this heavy since Brutal Planet twenty years ago. |
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Quite amusing as i was listening to Alice's Along Came a Spider album on the stereo when i happened across this new song. So i stopped listening to Alice so i could listen to Alice. :lol: :sigh: Perhaps you had to be there. :nod: |
This years Christmas Pudding charity concert will take place on December 14th at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix The first acts announced as appearing alongside Alice, are Paul Rodgers, Joe Bonamassa and Rob Halford |
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Shock! Horror!! Alice goes shopping! | Daily Mail "Alice Cooper and his beloved wife Sheryl Goddard appeared more in love than ever on Friday when they headed out in London on a shopping spree. The rocker, 71, looked unrecognisable as he and Sheryl headed to high street store Zara, where they blended into the crowd. The iconic rocker was without his legendary black eyeliner for the outing and went low-key with a tweed flat cap and glasses. https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10...0193764896.jpg https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10...0194150579.jpg https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10...0194141970.jpg Alice was worlds away from his rocker persona in his ensemble as he donned stone-washed jeans and a padded black coat. In June, it was reported that Alice had made a death pact with Sheryl after declaring they 'couldn't survive without each other'. The shock rock icon has been in love with his wife since meeting in 1975 but later clarified his words. He said: 'Sheryl and I do NOT have a death pact, we have a LIFE pact. We love life so much. 'What I was meaning was that because we’re almost always together, at home and on the road, that if something did happen to either of us, we’d most likely be together at the time. 'But neither of us has a suicide pact. We have a life pact. And, besides, I’m booked through 2028, so…' The rocker told how he has been married to the 'greatest girl in the world' for 43 years, with the couple having never cheated on each other. They fell in love when Sheryl began dancing in his stage shows in 1975. Emphasising his pact with his 'best friend', Alice clarified: 'There is no way of surviving without each other.' Back in 2017, Alice - real name Vincent Damon Furnier- revealed the secret to his long-lasting marriage. During an appearance on The Project, he said: 'Marry the girl you are in love with.' 'You know what, we have never cheated on each other. First of all, marry the girl you are in love with. That's the important thing. Don't just marry the girl that you love,' the rocker added. 'It is a thing that - we never fight,' Alice went on to say, adding that they're the still 'the perfect couple.' Alice married dancer Sheryl in 1976, with the couple sharing three children together, daughters Calico, 38, and Sonora, 27, and son Dashiell, 34. Amid his death pact, the performer also told how he quit taking cocaine during the 70's after revealing that many of his friends didn't live through the years of taking drugs. He said: 'I lived there during the great cocaine blizzard. I didn’t know one person that didn’t do cocaine. I lived through it but a lot of my friends did not live through it.' The star also told how he has got a body that 'doesn't get exhausted', after not smoking and ditching the booze for 37 years and counting. Last year, Alice told how he was warned by doctors to quit drinking or die 37 years ago, when he woke up throwing up blood and was taken to hospital. He recalled: 'Everything that could go wrong was shutting down inside of me. I was drinking with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix and trying to keep up with Keith Moon and they all died at 27.' https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10...0194529263.jpg https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10...0194543819.jpg The Welcome to My Nightmare rocker admitted it took his brush with death to bring him back to the church. He told the New York Daily News newspaper's Confidential column: 'My wife and I are both Christian. My father was a pastor, my grandfather was an evangelist. I grew up in the church, went as far away as I could from it - almost died - and then came back to the church.' These days the singer still performs with Alice Cooper band and he is also one third of supergroup The Hollywood Vampires - the rock band featuring Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, 56, and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, 68. The group, formed in 2015, is named after the Hollywood drinking club Alice formed in the 1970's, who's members included John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Mickey Dolenze and Keith Moon." |
Alice Cooper with Cheryl and Calico, sometime in the 80's |
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