Alice Cooper Leading Twilight Rockers On the Radio
Published February 28, 2006
According to Bob Ezrin, "Gordon plunked down the band's first two albums and pictures of these five 'things' of indeterminate gender and announced his intentions. Jack and his partners were these straight Canadians in their forties who surely wanted nothing to do with this 'Alice' person."
However, Gordon was persistent, and finally Richardson foisted the whole thing onto "the kid," Ezrin. A decision was made to send Ezrin to see the band, and if he liked them, then Richardson would get involved.
Soon, a trip was set up for Ezrin to go to New York to see a few acts, including Alice Cooper at Max's Kansas City.
In the city, Ezrin "followed the searchlights to the club, and suddenly I was in this dark den of spandex, spider eyes and black fingernails. I had never seen anything like it in my life," he relates. A table was reserved for him in front of the stage.
"Suddenly," he continues, "a breeze blew past my cheek, then three loud 'whacks' on the stage followed by an orange light each time. Then Alice launched into 'Sun Arise' no further than two feet from my face. With his eyes wide open, and his lips widely parted, and his red red gums, and his white white teeth, and his black black mouth and eyes, I thought I was in hell.
"I watched the show with my jaw on the table. Then my friend said, 'What the fuck was that?' I said, 'I don't know, but I loved it."
Hyped on the show and the alien atmosphere, Ezrin bounded up the stairs to the dressing room, and with a big grin on his face, announced, "We'll do it!" Rather presumptuous, considering that Ezrin was a glorified coffee boy at the time.
He continues, "The material was almost there, and my favorite song was 'I'm Edgy,' which Alice kindly told me was, in fact, 'I'm Eighteen.' 'Even better,' I said. The band was terrible but wonderful. It wasn't about 'being good,' it was about 'being.' It was the complete integration of the point of view and the personality into the presentation. They were the songs - the antics - the theatricality: they were Alice Cooper. In a world of t-shirts, jeans and beards, they were so refreshing and energizing."
Ezrin flew back to Toronto the next day, rehearsing his speech the whole way: "This isn't just about music, but a cultural movement. The whole building was full of people who looked like them and knew the words to the songs which weren't even out on record yet."
- Alice Cooper Leading Twilight Rockers On the Radio
- Published: February 28, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Media, Music: Hard Rock, Music: News
- Writer: Eric Olsen
- Eric Olsen's BC Writer page
- Eric Olsen's personal site
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Y'know, Alice never got the Guess Who sound, but the recordings of both those bands still hold up today without sounding grossly dated: no primitive synths, disco stylings, or eunuch rooster backing vocals. Hats off to both Ezrin & Richardson for their restraint.
The most interestingly written Cooper history lesson that I've read in a very long time. Well done!
thanks very much Barry, Vern, and Sharon - I was just listening to the reissue of the Guess Who's greatest hits and agree it holds up very well also: lean, melodic, sometimes even biting pop-rock with a great singer and assertive guitarist.
But Alice was something else entirely!
I love Alice Cooper and he still puts out some pretty good music.
my friend's wife won't listen to anything BUT Alice Cooper, even now - talk about brand loyalty
I am the wife of a friend that Eric mentions. Alice has been my band for 33 years. I do listen to other music but I still love Alice the best. We moved from Cleveland to Nashville recently and can not get the radio show, so Eric, please keep me up to date, you have my email-- Thanks and remember--don't count your carp before they hatch!
aah, sorry I spelled your name wrong in the email Carolyn, was in a huge hurry! They need to get the show on in Nashville!
Thank you for the interesting look behind the scene, Eric! I still see my older sister rockin' to the sound of Alice Cooper, or KISS for that matter.
Just let me try to analyze his name: We have a very interesting fact - a suggestion of stardom; great choice for a name! (Alice- as of in Wonderland) and Cooper- as of Garry Cooper, one of the biggest Hollywood Star's of the early generation! What a great mix. And as KISS, Alice Cooper is still busy - just went on his website! If he sucked, I think he would have been gone for a long time. But I bet he will remain in Rock-history forever! When I grew up, I heard that name, and thought is it a woman? Alice? Wonder if the same is happening with kids these days, when they hear the name Marilyn Manson...!
Funny, how things repeat itself.
Keep on rockin, Alice- the world of Techno and Trance should remember that there is eternal talent. Created and performed by a human. His make-up rides along with his age and it does not bother at all. Alice Cooper is ageless and will remain so, at least for the next decade. Wonderful.
I have my serious doubts, that "Marilyn Manson" would have made his career the same way as he did, with his birthname: "Brian Warner"?! That sounds just too friendly and nice! Despite his controvercy and huge success, even for the upgrowing generation; "MM" will most likely forever remain as the short for MARILYN MONROE, not Manson, or a rapper, who even received an Oscar, and simply wrote his two M's into: Eminem! Marilyn never got an Oscar. She was simply snubbed by the Academy. But I bet, if Alice Cooper continues and records the right song, he will get a shot at one. He certainly would deserve one, not only for his body of work!But unfortunately the Oscars have become, or always have been very "political" indeed.
alice, dude play some crack the sky, remember?
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Nicely put.