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Susan Foreman 8th September 2022 01:53 PM

Alice has just started the latest leg of his US tour with a show at the Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on September 7th

Unsurprisingly, the setlist is unchanged from the previous leg
  • Intro: Nightmare Castle
  • Feed My Frankenstein
  • No More Mr. Nice Guy
  • Bed of Nails
  • Hey Stoopid
  • Fallen in Love (with extended guitar and harmonica intro)
  • Be My Lover
  • House of Fire
  • Under My Wheels
  • He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)
  • Go to Hell
  • I'm Eighteen
  • Poison
  • Billion Dollar Babies
  • Guitar Solo (Kane Roberts)
  • Roses on White Lace
  • My Stars
  • Devil's Food
  • Black Widow Jam (with Black Juju drum solo)
  • Steven
  • Dead Babies
  • I Love the Dead
  • Escape
  • Teenage Frankenstein
  • School's Out / Another Brick In The Wall

The big news, of course, is that (after 33 years) Kane Roberts is back in the band, having taken over from the departed Nita Strauss

He might be older, but his arms still look too big for his body!


Susan Foreman 12th September 2022 05:28 PM

Live review / Metal Rules

"Alice Cooper Wicked as Ever on Opening Night of Detroit Muscle 2022 Tour! Wind Creek Casino, PA – 9/7/22!

When things go bump in the night, there is a good chance that Alice Cooper is behind it. Tonight it wasn’t just a bump; the Alice Cooper Band came kicking and screaming into Bethlehem, PA, on the opening night of their Detroit Muscle 2022 Tour, with Hell in tow! It was evident that no one in the sold-out venue would be safe from Alice and his band of mercenaries


There’s a reason why Alice has survived a 50+ year career, the pandemic, and the industry’s ups & downs as he knows how to give his fans the hits compassed in a macabre show of epic proportions with tremendously talented musicians. Alice’s goal is to make everyone feel on edge during the 90-minute show, regardless if it’s your first time seeing him or your 100th! In a prior interview, Alice explained that sentiment to me, “My show has a reputation that its goings to be different from anything they have ever seen before. Even if they have seen it, there will be a new aspect or song that we added to change it up. Whether we are playing in front of 500 people or 5 million, we’ll give it our all and make it the best show you have ever seen. We only know how to do it that one way! When the curtain goes up, it’s an all-out assault on the audience. When I get off stage, and I’m exhausted, I know I gave that audience everything I have! And the next night, I will do it all over again. I never get tired of the songs once I see the crowd’s reaction.”

The show opened with a frightful and sonically powerful “Feed My Frankenstein” and proceeded to tear through “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Bed of Nails,” and the crowd pleaser “Hey Stoopid.” It was one of the best setlist in recent years, by including classics, “Go to Hell, “Poison,” and “House of Fire.” Throughout the show, Alice brought a diverse montage of ghoulish characters along for the ride. It was as if they walked off the silver screen and onto the stage; case in point when Jason of Friday the 13th slayed a few unsuspecting fans who happened to wander on stage during “He’s Back,” and an engorged tattooed baby terrorizes the band during “Billion Dollar Babies.” It’s all done in good clean fun, and fans were screaming for more! During “Steven,” a psychotic specter played by Alice’s wife, Sheryl, chases him around the stage only to trap him in a guillotine and then cut his head off in a bloody confrontation! Have no fear; Alice returns meaner and better than ever to finish the show.


Alice’s band consists of a group of tight-knit, top-notch musicians, including guitarists Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, bassist Chuck Garric, drummer Glen Sobel, and returning guitarist Kane Robert. Kane was Alice’s, a Rambo-esque guitarist in the late 80s who performed on Constrictor and Raise Your Fists and Yell albums.

Few can argue that Alice is the greatest theatrical frontman who established the blueprint for how bands should deliver a performance. At 74, the notorious shock-rocker is in peak shape physically and vocally. He has maintained his thrilling stage persona and villainous antics without apology since the late 1960s. Don’t expect him to break character by introducing a song, smiling, or laughing, as that never happens. Band members and the audience also need to be extra vigilant to avoid getting hit with a cane, whip, sword, dagger, or crutch, which Alice wields in almost every song. When evil incarnate is right in front of you, it is hard not to get too close!

Kane shared a crazy stage mishap from the 80s that involved himself, Alice, and a flame-throwing machine gun guitar, “When we went overseas, we were not allowed to take over any charges and had to purchase explosives in England for a show at Wembley. Pre-show, my tech told me the new configuration on the guitar was all figured out. We were on a huge stage; when it came time for the solo, I pulled the trigger, and the guitar shot a 30-foot flame through the air. Alice showed up at the edge of the stage while I was doing my solo, which he never does, so I backed up to a safe distance and aimed the guitar at him. I pulled the trigger, but this time I heard what sounded like two pieces of metal slap together, and a roman candle missile shot out of the guitar hitting Alice in the leg. He almost fainted, and I thought I had killed him. The audience goes nuts as they thought it was part of the show. This is all happening while the guitar is still shooting flames! My tech ran on stage, took the guitar while it was still on fire, and ran outside with it.” Good news, fans; the machine gun guitar is back, but now it’s modified to shoot CO2 rather than flames


There is an unbridled passion with these musicians as they each take turns in the spotlight for solos or critical moments in the song alongside Alice. Ryan and Tommy are the melody markers to Kane’s shredding. Instead of a wall of noise that you might expect with three guitarists, they all take different nuances of the songs. When Ryan, Chuck, Kane, and Tommy take center stage, standing shoulder to shoulder like the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, they deliver a monstrous wall of guitars. They all work off each other nicely, with their sound and styles merging perfectly. Glen is the fiery drummer who keeps the band’s time, pace, and form. Chuck is the Beastmaster of the group who lays down the low end. You have him to thank when you feel the beat kicking you in the ass. He brings energy to the big moments and understands the sensitive ones making the music sound and feel good. He also knows the balancing act of when to use it and when to entertain the audience.

It is evident that Alice and his band are a force to be reckoned with, and he is just as charismatic as he was at the beginning of his career. He still packs the vocal ability fans expect, dresses the part, and commands the stage while his band delivers every song perfectly and entertains the crowd."

Susan Foreman 22nd September 2022 08:40 PM

1 Attachment(s)
It seems that EARMusic are re-releasing the 'Detroit Stories' LP as a picture disc vinyl set


Susan Foreman 23rd September 2022 07:41 AM

A change to the setlist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman (Post 675722)
  • Intro: Nightmare Castle
  • Feed My Frankenstein
  • No More Mr. Nice Guy
  • Bed of Nails
  • Hey Stoopid
  • Fallen in Love (with extended guitar and harmonica intro)
  • Be My Lover
  • House of Fire
  • Under My Wheels
  • He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)
  • Go to Hell
  • I'm Eighteen
  • Poison
  • Billion Dollar Babies
  • Guitar Solo (Kane Roberts)
  • Roses on White Lace
  • My Stars
  • Devil's Food
  • Black Widow Jam (with Black Juju drum solo)
  • Steven
  • Dead Babies
  • I Love the Dead
  • Escape
  • Teenage Frankenstein
  • School's Out / Another Brick In The Wall

'House Of Fire' has been dropped from the show, and it has been replaced by 'Freedom'


Demdike@Cult Labs 23rd September 2022 10:55 AM

Have to say i do like that set list. Freedom would be awesome to hear and see live.

There are several songs from the two albums that got me into Alice featured - Constrictor and Raise Your Fist and Yell.

Justin101 23rd September 2022 11:58 AM

Very similar to the last set I saw back in 2019, i'd have liked to hear Freedom but we got He's Back, Teenage Frankenstein and Roses on White Lace so it was still pretty good.

I understand it's a complicated stage show and you can't just chop and change but it needs to be switched up a bit more, when 75% of the set has been the same for 15+ years it needs a bit of variety.

I know it's entirely different, but Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos are both famous for having unique set lists every night.

Demdike@Cult Labs 23rd September 2022 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin101 (Post 676276)
I know it's entirely different, but Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos are both famous for having unique set lists every night.

Yeah but Alice has only made 28 studio albums plus two with Hollywood Vampires. How's he supposed to vary his set list? :lol:

He should get rid of Another Brick in the bloody boring Wall to start with.

Susan Foreman 23rd September 2022 06:53 PM

Two weeks into the tour and (judging by the above video) Kane still looks very stiff and nervous

Justin101 23rd September 2022 07:35 PM

He just can’t move because of those insane biceps lol

Demdike@Cult Labs 23rd September 2022 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin101 (Post 676292)
He just can’t move because of those insane biceps lol

Plus he's not showing off auditioning for a pop star's band.

Susan Foreman 4th October 2022 04:52 PM

New video for 'Under My Wheels', use to promote the 'Live From The Astroturf' release


Susan Foreman 5th October 2022 06:00 PM

Nita made a surprise appearance with Alice Cooper during his show at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado on October 4th during 'School's Out'


Susan Foreman 12th October 2022 09:02 AM

The 20th Annual Christmas Pudding charity event in aid of the Solid Rock Teen Centers is due to be held at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on December 3rd!

Conformed guests include Alice, Sammy Hagar, Rob Zombie, the Gin Blossoms, Six Wire, Wally Palmar and Jim Breuer


Susan Foreman 14th October 2022 07:42 PM

ALICE COOPER Celebrates 50 Years Of "School's Out" With Limited Posters & Cereal Box / Braveworlds


"50 years of no more pencils.
50 years of no more books.
50 years of no more teachers' dirty looks!

Celebrate 50 years of Alice Cooper's phenomenal "School's Out" with these dementedly dazzling 24" x 18" hand-numbered posters... Featuring a learning environment that would only be accredited by Alice


Bathed in a blood-red light, screams of school spirit fill the hallways, and snakes, poisons, swords, and guillotines fill the lockers. Have no class? Proudly display it on your walls! Limited to only 50 prints, do not miss out before School's Out forever!


A maddening neon light blankets the school halls…A rusted locker door rattles, something slithers and hisses…The pungent scent of a strange bubbling liquid wafts through the stale air…Only the mad genius of Alice Cooper could give us nightmares that we love to dream again! Limited to only 30 prints, so hurry and skip class, your teacher will understand!

Ah, and here comes…breakfast!

Toss all those ‘healthy’ cereals in the trash and get this official Alice Cooper: FEED MY FRANKENSTEIN DECORATIVE* CEREAL BOX! Now included for free with every purchase of the official Alice Cooper: WHERE’S Alice Cooper? This box is Alice approved! Sized 5 x 3.5 x 2. It is bursting with references to the twisted world of Alice Cooper. Alice fans, cereal enthusiasts, and every one else will not want to miss this one!


*This is a decorative box and does NOT contain cereal.

The celebration doesn’t end here! Here is a sneak peak of the crazy, creative process that brought this Alice Cooper posters to life!


As long time fans of Alice, we simply had to celebrate the 50th anniversary of School’s Out, but how best to do it and honor the legacy of the album? Graphic designer and resident Fantoons madman Eduardo Braun let his imagination run wild, and before we knew it, we found ourselves exploring the creepy abandoned halls of a derelict school.

What if…Alice Cooper himself brought this school back from the dead? And there it was! We crammed as many references to Alice Cooper’s amazing discography, harder than we ever crammed for any test! Filling the lockers full of “extracurricular activities” that only a deranged principal would approve of.


Lastly, to create a feeling of eerie madness, we worked on a lighting aesthetic that’d best tie all of the imagery together. We bounced back and forth from either a blood-chilling red or a twisted, intense neon. Unable to choose between the two, we said “Well, we got no choice!” We are over the moon to present not one, but two variants of this depraved love-letter (love-poster?) to Alice Cooper. Cheers!"

Susan Foreman 17th October 2022 07:36 PM

1 Attachment(s)
What an episode this would have been!

Alice with Matt Smith at the Motor City Comic Con on October 16, 2022


Susan Foreman 19th October 2022 07:50 AM

New interview at Ultimate Classic Rock

"Original Alice Cooper Group Has New Music in the Wings

Since Welcome 2 My Nightmare in 2011, Alice Cooper fans have been delighted to have members of the original band — guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith — writing and playing with the singer once more, a practice that continued on subsequent releases, Paranormal in 2017 and last year's Detroit Stories. And there's more coming, according to Cooper.

"We're working pretty close right now," Cooper told UCR during a public Q&A at the Motor City Comic Con this past weekend in suburban Detroit. "We wrote, like, 12 songs together" for future projects.

Cooper can't say when we'll be hearing any of it, however, other than that "a real, total Alice Cooper project" is in motion with producer Bob Ezrin that also includes members of his touring band and other collaborators.

"We never know when that stuff's gonna come out if it's going to make the next album or an album after that — it's sort of like putting songs in a bank," Cooper explained. "If I have time off I'll get a call from Bob [Ezrin]: 'I've got an idea for something,' and we just start writing. It's a continuing process. They kind of take on their own life, these things do.

"A lot of times a story happens; I start reading the lyrics and realize, 'Oh, my God, this is a storyline!' I just kind of surprise myself once in awhile, because I didn't set out to make anything be a storyline. We just never stop writing, and we're just trying to write great songs and then see what fits together."

Cooper told the Comic Con audience that working together has "just been a natural thing" for the four musicians (guitarist Glen Buxton died in October 1997) despite a general perception that the 1974 split was acrimonious. "Our band didn't get divorced; we just separated," Cooper explained. "We hit an area after Billion Dollar Babies and School's Out, those were giant records. We did Muscle of Love - that didn't quite get there. It was Top 10, but it wasn't up there like we wanted it to be ... and I felt that the band was disjointed. I thought that maybe we hit our peak." The group subsequently worked on other projects, and when Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare was a Top 5 platinum success in 1975, he continued his solo path, and "the band just dissipated."

"But we always did stay in touch with each other," Cooper noted. "There was no bad blood between us, anybody in the band. They were my best friends. I'd call Dennis up, 'Dennis, I need you to play bass on this.' 'OK, I'll be down there.' 'Neal, play drums on this,' or I'd want to write a song with them. I always like including them, one way or another."

The original lineup has reunited on several occasions, and Live From the Astroturf, documenting the most famous of those reunions, was recently released formally after some Record Store Day-related packages. The show took place Oct. 6, 2015, at Good Records in Dallas and was put together by store owner and Cooper superfan Chris Penn as part of a book signing event for Dunaway's memoir Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!: My Adventures in the Alice Cooper Group.

"[Penn] was very smart," Cooper recalled, noting that his regular touring band "had just done a show in Dallas and we had a day off. So he brought Dennis and Neal and Mike into his record store to do a signing, and they were gonna do a couple songs. They called me up and I said, 'Yeah, I'll come down, do a couple of songs.' We did, like, an hour and it ends up being on a record, and it's a video and now it's a whole thing. It was really just impromptu. We had no rehearsal. We just went up and played and it sounded great.

"That band is totally different than my stage band. They have a totally different attitude.""

Susan Foreman 24th October 2022 12:19 PM

The Hollywood Vampires UK tour dates 2023 with support from Seether and The Tubes (although The Tubes are NOT at Scarborough):

JULY

Scarborough, Open Air Theatre - Wed 5th
Swansea, Swansea Arena - Fri 7th
Manchester, AO Arena - Sat 8th
London, The O2 - Sun 9th
Birmingham, Utilita Arena - Tue 11th
Glasgow, OVO Hydro - Wed 12th


Susan Foreman 31st October 2022 08:32 PM

4 Attachment(s)
A 2002 menu from the Cooperstown restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona


Susan Foreman 3rd November 2022 07:05 PM

2 Attachment(s)
T-shirt design from the latest US tour

This is very nice!


Susan Foreman 11th November 2022 04:15 PM

Dark Side issue 237 - coming soon


Justin101 11th November 2022 04:57 PM

I don’t often buy Dark Side but I will grab that issue!

Susan Foreman 18th November 2022 06:23 PM

1 Attachment(s)
The prelude to an execution!

'Killer' live in Rotterdam, 17th November, 1972


Susan Foreman 20th November 2022 10:43 AM

Alice Scooper - the name given to one of the new snowplows in the Arizona Department of Transportation


Demdike@Cult Labs 20th November 2022 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman (Post 678950)
Alice Scooper - the name given to one of the new snowplows in the Arizona Department of Transportation

The first time i went to Flagstaff there was snow on the surrounding hills. Surprised me to be honest as i didn't associate Arizona with snow at the time.

Of course Alice lives in Phoenix doesn't he so it's a nice touch naming a snow plough after him in the state.

Susan Foreman 25th November 2022 04:15 PM

Guitar World has a new interview with Kane regarding his return to the band

"Kane Roberts on rejoining the Alice Cooper band following Nita Strauss's departure, adjusting to a Kemper and the revival of his fabled machine gun guitar

It was decades since Roberts had assumed the role of six-string sideman to one of rock's most towering figures. But that didn't stop him from throwing himself at the opportunity to accompany Cooper on the shock rock legend's recent US trek


When the announcement was made that Nita Strauss would be departing Alice Cooper's band, fans and pundits alike had a lot of questions. Sure, Cooper still had Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, but there's something about a triple-axe attack that sets the hearts of Cooper's fans alight.

It didn't take long before the questions of who would occupy Cooper's guitar vacancy were answered, with old friend and on-and-off cohort Kane Roberts being tabbed.

Of course, Roberts and Strauss are cut from the same metal-oriented cloth, but the difference between the two is immeasurable beyond the surface. Plus, Roberts had a bold and brazen history as Cooper's sideman, which couldn't be discounted.

“I love what Nita does, but I never intended to go up there and try and be her,” Roberts says. “I've got my own style, but when I signed on for this tour, I had to set aside some of what I do and become a part of what the rest of the band does. I had to find balance in embellishing things in my own way while also knowing when to step back and let Ryan and Tommy do what they do. I think it worked well.”

Once on tour, Roberts fit Cooper's current band like a glove. And while three guitars can sound busy, the three musicians' restraint was tremendous. The result was far from overindulgent, instead playing as a verifiable guitar buffet, with ample yet well-measured helpings of each player's unique strengths.

“I had a friend come to the show, and he said it was like watching Alice Cooper's band, but with this monster roaming the stage,” Roberts jokes. “And that's what Alice wanted. He wanted to bring back that sense of danger and aggression and create a vibe like we had before.

“With me in the band, Alice wanted to take advantage of that, and it's a big part of what made things as great as they were back when we used to play together.”

With the tour in his rearview mirror, Roberts now has time to reflect on his second go around with shock-rock's long-running ringmaster.

For years, the Kane Roberts era of Cooper's history has been a fan favorite, and with good reason, the music that the duo created in many ways defines Cooper's sound to this day. And now that the chance to see Roberts alongside Copper again has come and gone, many are wondering if they'll get another crack.


“Going into this, I saw it as five or six weeks,” recounts Roberts. “I didn't look past that, and I wasn't looking at this as something where I was joining the band forever. Of course, Alice and I are best friends, and I am close with everyone involved.

“Having said that, I'm open to anything, and it's just going to depend on how certain things shake out. I can say this: I love all those guys and Nita. Nita and I have always wanted to play a show together; I hope we can do that someday.”

Finally off the road and recovering from the whirlwind, Kane Roberts is catching up with Guitar World to recount his fall tour with Alice Cooper, sharing the stage with Nita Strauss, and the return of the infamous machine gun guitar.

To bring fans up to speed, how did you end up on stage with Alice Cooper again?

“Well, it was basically that Nita [Strauss] was going to take some time and play with Demi Lovato. And they talked about it, which was amicable; nothing was contentious about it.

“So, I guess Alice was thinking of who he'd like to get to replace Nita, and somebody said, ‘What about Kane?’ So, Alice called me and said, ‘Hey, you want to do the fall tour?’ And I said, ‘Okay, let's talk about it.’ From there, he explained what happened and that Nita was taking some time, so I said, ‘Okay, I'll do it.’”

What was your process like in terms of preparation?

“I had to relearn a lot of stuff. [There were] 26 songs that I had to learn, and some of them were brand-new ones that I'd never played before. So, we got together, went in, and honestly, we only had two or three rehearsals; I play guitar, so it wasn't all that difficult.

“But it took some getting used to because there is a lot of choreography that goes on during an Alice Cooper show that you might not think of initially. For example, the first night, I got hit right below my eye with Sheryl [Cooper's wife]'s whip because I was standing in the wrong place. So, it's something where you have to keep your wits about yourself and always be aware of where you are at all times.”

What other challenges did you face once out on tour?

“Aside from the timing and the choreography, the other thing was I had to learn to be comfortable with the in-ear monitors. Because with the in-ears, my guitar sounds much thinner and tinny compared to what I'm used to.

“So, that took a couple of weeks to settle in with. I was used to having an amp pumping this stuff out behind me where you get that impact, the air that's moving, the little delay between the speakers and your ears, and stuff like that.”

Did you feel beholden to the way that Nita approaches Alice's songs? Or did you harken back to how you would have played them back in the day?

“Well, there were four other musicians there, so in many ways, I acquiesced to what they wanted me to do. I couldn't go in there and rearrange what they're doing, so what made sense was to come in and fit into what they're doing. If I were going to come in and make a bunch of changes or take over, the whole thing would have been heavier.

“If Alice wanted me to come in and music direct, as I did before, that would have been a big difference because that's where my style lies. But Ryan Roxy and Tommy Henriksen, Chuck Garric, and Glen Sobel, they're great musicians, so I was in good company.

“It made it much easier for me to come in, not necessarily about my style. Instead, I could think about the guys I was playing with and what the song needed.”

In your first go-around with Alice, you were the primary guitar player. But as you mentioned, you were up there with Ryan and Tommy this time. How did the three of you approach that?

“So, what I did was I would drop out during the verse to give the song some breathing room. And when I did that, there would only be the two guitars playing. And then I'd come back in during the next section or the chorus. It depended on the song, but overall, I wanted to clean up some of the sound because it was very dense in terms of the amount of guitar going on.

“There are also a lot of guitar solos, and my solos are radically different than the other two guys – as they should be – that's the point. So, it turned into something where I was a part of a music project that I was stepping into instead of dominating.

“I think that a lot of people thought I would come in and dominate the whole thing, but that wasn't the case. I have a ton of respect for Ryan and Tommy's abilities and what they've been doing all these years in Alice's band, and I wanted to honor that.

“So, the way I saw it was that it's my job to get in there, take what they were doing, add to it, and make it stronger. It was important for me to keep the dynamic that they had developed intact.”

After being away for so long, what stood out the most for you as the tour unfolded?

“The most memorable thing was watching Alice and thinking about how amazing he was. As far as getting comfortable, that took about a week, and suddenly, we were back to where we were.

“As you know, Alice and I are still best friends, but now it has become something where we're always laughing, hanging out, and going to dinner. We had breakfast every morning and did stuff like going to the movies. So, it turned into a wonderful hang-out, which made it a tremendous experience beyond what we did on stage.

“Aside from that, I had massive respect for Alice's ability. He still owns the audience. Like, when the band starts playing the intro to Feed My Frankenstein, which was the first song, Alice would walk out, and he's like a vacuum.

“He came out and sucked the whole audience into his persona. And that's what I remembered so vividly from back in the day, and on this tour, I got to see up close that Alice is still as powerful as he ever was.”


During your first run with Alice, you brought elements of aggression and danger to his music, which have never left. How do you measure your impact on Alice's sound?

“When I first joined Alice back in the '80s, I sat down with him before doing that Nightmare Returns Tour, and I said, ‘Look, you don't want to sound like Alice survived rehab. You want to come back as a nuclear version of who you were.’ And there was such powerfully violent music out there like Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, and all these amazing bands, and we had to compete on that level.

“So, that's how Alice and I generated that first tour and the heavy records that came after. That power and the response we got from the audience were amazing, and it showed that many people didn't expect it. A lot of people were worried about what Alice would sound like, but as soon as we came out, we hit them hard, and that silenced everyone.

“I remember that even the classics had a heavier feel. We decided with Shep Gordon to pay homage to the early stuff and keep the feel, but we made it heavier. That Detroit rock, classic vibe never left. But the power that Alice displayed during those two tours we did together, I'd say that it's still vital and more current in many ways. So, I think, yeah, I think an influence that stayed there.

“But, having said that, Alice has some insane creatives working with him. I may have had an impact, but Alice is a genius, and he's more than covered when it comes to having people around him and being in a creative environment.”

One of the tour's memorable moments was when Nita hopped on stage with all of you. How did you navigate going from three guitars to having four?

“Yeah, that was a lot of fun. Nita came on for School's Out, and the structure of that song is very basic. I remember that Nita and I were in the dressing room, and we were laughing, which was so funny. Nita has been a good friend and a supporter of mine for a long time, and I have been for her, too. I love what she does. I love the way she plays.

“We were laughing, looking at each other, like, ‘This is kind of a bucket list kind of thing, isn't it?’ We've always wanted to do a show together; hopefully, it won't be the last time we play together.

“But, with the four-guitar thing, Nita and I, we're smart enough not to saturate everything with the metal sounds that we have. So, we stepped back when needed, then stepped up to the front of the stage when it was called for.”

I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up the machine gun guitar. What challenges did you face trying to resurrect it?

“At first, they looked at making a new one, but there wasn't enough time because it was complicated. So, they found the original – there are three out there – but they found the original. It was up at the Hard Rock Cafe in New Orleans for a long time, and then the flood happened, which ruined it.

“So, they chucked it into this warehouse, the neck got cracked, and it was jacked up pretty bad. But we wanted to find a way to have it in the show, so I had my luthier fix it up as best he could. He did a great job, but it's unplayable.

“If you were at any of the shows, you'd notice that I didn't play it. It was roughed up pretty good after that flood, and there wasn't enough time to get it working. But they could at least assemble it and make it look functional.”

Back in the day, it shot fire. But this time, it looked as if only smoke was spewing out.

“Yep, that's true. We wanted it to shoot fire, but we would have had to hire a pyro guy to come on tour, and then each city, we would have had to have somebody come out and watch the whole thing. So, what they did instead was they used this cryo-smoke stuff.

“So, for me, when I played the thing in the '80s, it felt like I had this flamethrower gun guitar. But on this tour, I had a fire extinguisher gun, so I guess I was putting out the fires instead of starting them this time. [Laughs].

“But overall, it was cool because Alice and I have a tongue-in-cheek attitude toward it. But we both love the energy that the guitar brings, and it's important to my image and my era of the band. I'm glad we were able to make it work in some way.”

The machine gun guitar aside, what guitars and gear are you using these days?

“Well, they have everybody running through a Kemper. It's a great live amp, and it's supposed to have a lot more nuance and different options, and you can download sounds and put them in there.

“It's digitally generated, so what you do is you have a foot pedal in front of you, and it will say ‘clean sound,’ ‘solo,’ ‘flange,’ or whatever sort of effect. And each time you hit a pedal, it's got a different guitar sound, and you can change it as you want or need.

“I'm much more into amps; that's my thing, but the Kemper is cool and works well enough. But I'm used to having it set up with a bunch of Marshall stacks back there; that's my thing.

“Like I said before, we had the in-ears, and we had the Kemper. I had trouble getting used to that because it was an entirely different sonic environment. As far as guitars are concerned, as soon as the announcement was made, Schecter immediately stepped up to the plate for me.

“And I'm the type of person who has a sense of loyalty to people that treat me right, so I said, ‘You know what, let's give me a bunch of Schecter guitars, and I'll play them exclusively on this tour.’ And so, they threw down and gave me a bunch of them. They customized them for me and set up the neck and the action.

“Of course, I had to bring it to my guy as well. But the type of pickups in there and everything, Schecter, was very accommodating. I have to say, they are one of the best customer service companies, and they're all true rock 'n' roll people. They're the real deal, and they're a great guitar company.”


In my opinion, Schecter is a brand that doesn't get enough love. Aside from what you've mentioned, what makes them conducive to your sound and style?

“What I look for is the action on the neck and how well I can use the tremolo bar. For me, and the way that I play, that setup needs to be seamless. I can't have any issues with either of those things.

“But with Schecter, the necks were nice, and once I got my guy to lower the action and get it to the point where I felt it was comfortable with my fingers – my hands are huge – it was perfect. Because my hands are so big, I need to have them set up in a way where the strings are a certain distance from each other and everything.

“What's also great is that Schechter's default neck alignment is spot on for me. So that was a big deal. And they have things like a Sustainiac pickup that they can give you as an option, which doubles the sustain, and you can hold the note forever.

“There used to be a thing called a Sustainer, and it's like that, but a lot more functional because it's just right at your fingers. So, those guitars, combined with the Kemper and the in-ears, is what I used, and it took some getting used to, but it all worked out in the end.”

At the onset of this tour, you were looking at this with an open mind but had no definitive future plans with Alice. Has that changed?

“Well, I'm open to a lot. I would think that Nita may intend to come back. But she also has some real career decisions because she's got a viable solo career, and she's still out there killing it with Demi Lovato, too

“So, I'm sure there are a lot of plates that must be spinning, and we'll see what happens. But yes, I'm open to any discussions. It comes down to me, Alice, Shep, Bob Ezrin, and all the people in the band; we're all friends and love each other. So, it's just gonna depend on how things shake out from here on out, but my initial notion was that I would sign on for five or six weeks, and that might be it.”


With the tour in the books, what are your overarching thoughts on what must be a full-circle moment for you?

“I didn't expect it. But the thing is, I stepped into a Lamborghini-type situation because of how good this band is. The people in the band are so nice to the crew, and everyone involved is very talented and detail-oriented. We all got along as friends, and that was incredible, too.

“Even the bus was awesome, and our bus driver, Deuce, was a badass and just a cool guy. I honestly can't say that there was one aspect of it that I didn't like, and I had a great time doing it.

“In terms of the full circle thing, it's funny; I just stepped in and started doing it, but it didn't seem unusual or even that different from before. Of course, the band members, the sound, and everything were radically different, but the feeling of being on stage with Alice, playing those songs, didn't feel weird to me.

“And the fact that Alice was at the head of it and spearheading everything made it feel like I was back with the family. Alice and Sheryl Cooper, and all those people, once we got out there playing music and hanging out again, I really did feel like I was home.

“So, I got the opportunity to play great music with them, which was all positive. As far as it resonating as destiny, I didn't get that as much as it was us re-establishing our friendships through the beauty of music.”"

Susan Foreman 5th December 2022 07:14 AM

" Revival69: The Concert That Rocked the World

In 1969, there were three music festivals that changed the world. “The second most important event in rock & roll history” was a one-day event held at the University of Toronto’s 20,000 seat Varsity Stadium called the Toronto Rock & Roll Revival. An incredible back-door story of how – against all odds – a life-changing concert came together.

Director Ron Chapman reveals a series of colourful characters, murky deals and broken promises, culminating in John Brower, a young struggling promoter, putting his life on the line (literally) in order to achieve his goal

Included in the lineup were Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Gene Vincent, The Doors, Alice Cooper, and John Lennon with The Plastic Ono Band."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YRb0qY5eKc

This is the concert that features the infamous 'chicken incident'! However, it is also going to be the first chance that Alice Cooper fans will get to see the footage from when the band played musical support for Gene Vincent!

Susan Foreman 8th December 2022 02:11 PM

1 Attachment(s)
On select dates of the US stadium tour, Alice will be joining Def Leppard and Motley Crue


Demdike@Cult Labs 8th December 2022 02:26 PM

Def Leppard should be fine but if Motley Crue are half arsed at any time i wouldn't like to be hitting the stage following crazy sing-a-longs such as Poison and School's Out.

Susan Foreman 8th December 2022 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs (Post 679541)
Def Leppard should be fine but if Motley Crue are half arsed at any time i wouldn't like to be hitting the stage following crazy sing-a-longs such as Poison and School's Out.

I know of soooooooo many people who left the venue after Alice's set when he was opening for Motley Crue on their 'farewell' tour back in 2015

Demdike@Cult Labs 8th December 2022 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman (Post 679550)
I know of soooooooo many people who left the venue after Alice's set when he was opening for Motley Crue on their 'farewell' tour back in 2015

I think they are a bit more up for it now than they were then. Plus the addition of John 5 should bring a bit more movement on stage than Mick ever did.

Even when i saw them on the Dr. Feelgood and Decade of Decadence tours he was fairly static.

5's addition shouldn't have been a surprise seeing as he is a member of L.A. Rats alongside Nikki Sixx, Tommy Clufetos (Tommy Lee's injury stand in) and Rob Zombie.

Just need Vince to bow out and get Zombie to sing. :rockon:

Susan Foreman 21st December 2022 02:43 PM

1 Attachment(s)
An Alice inspired Christmas gingerbread cake!


Susan Foreman 23rd December 2022 04:26 PM

Apparently Bob Ezrin is currently working on the mixing of a new live Alice DVD

Susan Foreman 28th December 2022 07:15 PM

1 Attachment(s)
In memory of Ella Mae Furnier (1925 - 2022) - Alice's mother and biggest fan


Susan Foreman 10th January 2023 08:00 AM

There are two new Alice figures coming shortly.

The first one is from Good Records, which is hte shop in Dallas where the 'Live at the Astroturf' concert was held. It is a "Super7 ReAction Glow In The Dark' figure which, as the name suggests, glows in the dark and comes with a mic and snake!! Pre-order is available from Good Records direct - $25:00


The second figure is an 8" "Mego Action" which comes in the costume from the cover of the 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' CD. Pre-order is available from Entertainment Earth - $21:99. At time of writing, there is no picture of this one however

Susan Foreman 13th January 2023 08:09 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Alice has just announced a new US tour under the title 'Too Close For Comfort'

Whether this is a whole new tour or a continuation of the 'Nightmare Castle' tour remains to be seen!

Dates announced:

April 29th Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH
May 2nd Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN
May 3rd Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
May 6th Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN
May 9th State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
May 10th The Louisville Palace, Louisville, KY
May 13th Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
May 14th Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC
May 15th North Charleston Performing Arts Center, North Charleston, SC
May 17th Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA


Susan Foreman 29th January 2023 08:52 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Interesting!


If the 'Too Close For Comfort' US tour is running between April 29 - May 20, the Hollywood Vampires European tour is running between June 8 - July 22 and the Def Leppard / Motley Crue / Alice Cooper dates are between August 5 - August 18, I wonder where this new one is going to fit in!

Demdike@Cult Labs 29th January 2023 09:52 PM

The first single from Crossbone Skully. The new band led by Alice Cooper's Tommy Henriksen and Glen Sobel.

Crossbone Skully - Evil World Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEb1Xu7S18


It's got a cracking AC/DC vibe to it. Probably helped by the fact that Mutt Lange is producing. The Hellhounds who perform the backing vocals and voice overs are Alice Cooper, Nikki Sixx, Joe Perry, Kane Roberts and Johnny Depp.

Susan Foreman 30th January 2023 08:06 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman (Post 681309)
Interesting!


If the 'Too Close For Comfort' US tour is running between April 29 - May 20, the Hollywood Vampires European tour is running between June 8 - July 22 and the Def Leppard / Motley Crue / Alice Cooper dates are between August 5 - August 18, I wonder where this new one is going to fit in!

At the moment, It's a US tour only


August
24 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
26 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
27 - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
29 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
30 - Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater

September
1 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
2 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
5 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
6 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
8 - Scranton, PA - The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
9 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
10 - Hartford, CT - The XFINITY Theatre
12 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
16 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
19 - Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
20 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
22 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion
23 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
24 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Susan Foreman 3rd March 2023 08:17 AM

New interview at Planet Rock

"Alice Cooper teases new live show and says 'rocking' 29th album 'will knock you out'

Alice Cooper has teased his brand-new live show and promised that his upcoming new studio album will “knock” listeners out.

Speaking on his Planet Rock radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper, the shock rock extraordinaire spoke of his exciting 2023 ahead.

He will be gracing the UK in July for a tour with his Hollywood Vampires band mates Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Tommy Henriksen, and he’ll also be embarking on an extensive solo trek across North America in April, May, September and October.

Looking ahead to the year, Alice said: “It’s Wednesday night and you’re hanging with Mr Cooper. It may be quiet right now but I’m getting ready for another year of travelling around the world to play for my adoring fans!

“I think that it’s fair to say that it’s going to be another amazing year because it’s a brand-new (Alice Cooper) show. We’re bringing an entirely new show. The castle has gone – (I) can’t tell you what it’s going to be right now but I can tell you there’s that.”

Commenting on his follow-up album to 2021’s ‘Detorit Stories’, Alice added: “There’s another album coming out that’s really gonna knock you out. Everybody really likes it, the people that have heard it so far. It’s just a rocking rock and roll album.”

The as-yet-untitled Alice Cooper record will be his 29th studio album overall factoring in the seven albums he made at the start of his career with the Alice Cooper band.

Alice has also recorded two albums with Hollywood Vampires; 2015’s ‘Hollywood Vampires’ and 2019’s ‘Rise.’

Ever the workaholic, Alice revealed in early 2022 that he was also working on his 30th album.

“I’m working on two albums right now,” he confirmed to Trunk Nation. “One is… totally written, and we’ll be doing bed tracks for that one pretty soon. The other one is just a touch in the future, but that’s being written right now too.”

He added: “They’re two entirely different kinds of albums, but they’re Alice Cooper, pure rock’n’roll albums. The two albums will really be hard rock albums.” "

Susan Foreman 6th March 2023 07:09 PM

Nita is back in the band!

Nita Strauss Officially Comes Back to Alice Cooper’s Band, Alice Says He Encourages His Musicians to ’Try New Things’ / Killer Guitar Rigs


"In a new official statement, it has now been revealed that guitarist Nita Strauss has come back to Alice Cooper’s band. Last year, Nita famously left Cooper’s band to join Demi Lovato’s live lineup but is now back according to the singer’s management. Alice Cooper’s official statement on the matter reads:
“She’s Back! Nita asked for a leave of absence to work with someone else, something I always encourage my band members to do. I like them to challenge themselves and try new things.”
Since Kane Roberts, who worked with Cooper in the past, filled in for Nita, Alice thanked him by adding:
“I’m thankful to my old friend Kane Roberts for stepping up and filling in for her, but she’ll be back with us for the new tour that starts up in late April. It’s going to be great to have her back.”
Nita also shared her statement, which reads:
“From the studio to the stage, it’s always an immense honor to make music with Alice Cooper!! I’m very excited to be rejoining the band on the road for the 2023 dates, and so I’ll see you on the road in April. Let the nightmare return!”
As of this moment, Alice Cooper is preparing for his North American tour which kicks off in late April. This run will also feature a show dubbed “Too Close for Comfort” and will last until late September this year. In addition to this, Alice Cooper will also do a few shows with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard, joining their stadium tour."


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