Let's face it. Alice Cooper has been about as far off the musical map as you can get since about 1976 or so. But for me, "The Coop," as many of his fans called him back then, was a defining influence. I first discovered Alice as a teenager in the seventies. If it is your high school years that define who you will become in your adult life, the fact that Alice Cooper was my adolescent hero probably explains a lot.
You see, I discovered Alice completely by accident. I was 15 years old and had bought tickets to see The James Gang (Joe Walsh's first band) at the Paramount in Seattle when word came down that they had cancelled the show. My options at the time we're either get my money back or exchange the tickets for another show. It just so happened that Alice Cooper was playing Seattle a few weeks later as part of the Killer tour.
To a lot of my rocker pals at the time, the fact that the guy's name was Alice was enough to convince them to stay far away. Not me.
The only thing I really knew about Alice back then was that "I'm Eighteen" was a pretty damn decent rock tune, and that according to Circus Magazine he was known to rip up live chickens onstage. Freak Show? Hell, yeah, at 15 I was most definitely in.
For the next two years after seeing Alice Cooper that night — basically my entire time in high school — I listened to Alice Cooper every single day. Although everybody from Kiss back then to Marilyn Manson now would basically devote entire careers to stealing his act, what I witnessed on the Killer tour that night was like nothing I had ever seen before.
The part that I was completely unprepared for — the staged hanging during the "Dead Babies/Killer" show finale — scared the crap out of me. The fact that I was high at the time probably was a factor. But for a minute I actually thought Alice Cooper was dead. That he had actually "suicided right on the stage," no doubt inspiring that line from a Rolling Stones song released a few years later.
When he reappeared for the "Desperado" encore in white top hat and tails tossing money from the end of a sword to the crowd, there was absolutely no doubt in my 15-year-old mind: This was the coolest guy alive.
I was in my early 30s when I finally was able to meet my adolescent hero when I had made somewhat of a name for myself in the music business. By that time, Alice's glory days we're long behind him. Sure, he still had the occasional hit. I think Alice's last big single was "Poison" in 1989. But his days as the biggest concert draw in the world we're pretty much over once he disbanded the original Alice Cooper Group a couple of years after the landmark Billion Dollar Babies album and tour.
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Article comments
1 - Triniman
I just saw Alice a few days ago and will post a review. He was fantastic! Eventually, I will get these dvds. There is nothing in music like an Alice Cooper show.
2 - Scott
Hi, Glen. Hadn't been on Blogcritics in a while, so I thought I'd peek in.. I just finished reading your review of Alice's new DVD, and I must say that I really enjoyed reading that.. Brought back many great Alice memories for me.. I too saw AC during the Killer tour, and was about your age.. I see you're fifty.. I am right on our heels at 49, which I guess made me 14 at the time.. Oh the joy that night was for me, I still recall.. Sadly, after all these years I've never run into any single person who's ever mentioned seeing Alice back then.. I saw them in San Antonio, with Bang opening and Canned Heat, still with Bob Hite, but Alan Wilson was already gone by then.. Do you still recall your opening a cts that night? Was it the same line up for you?
3 - Glen Boyd
Hey Scott. My memory is a little hazy...but I believe a Bay area band called Earthquake was the opening band when I saw Alice on the Killer tour. They had a song called "Trainride" that was an FM Rock hit for about five seconds before disapearing into obscurity. When I saw Alice a few years later though on the Billion Dollar Babies tour, I have no problem whatsoever remembering the opening act...it was Flo and Eddie who we're absolutely freaking hilarious.
Triniman...you should definitely get the "Good To See You" DVD just for the historical reference of seeing Alice in his prime. But the newer "Montreux" DVD is bay far the superior performance.
Thanx for the comments you guys.
-Glen
4 - Sharon
Fantastic review Glenn and like yourself and Scott it was Killer that captured me and drew me into the fold.Its thirty years later and not only am I still there,but my addiction to Alice just keeps growing stronger.
Dirty Diamonds was/is one of the best tours in a long time.I've been around the world and back just to be able to catch it 13 times now,and its not enough. This dvd is going to earn a very honourable spot in my collection.Forever The Coop!
5 - Glen Boyd
Sharon,
WOW! 13 times this tour alone? In locations around the world no less? You are one dedicated Cooper fan. The closest I come to that sort of level of fandom with anybody is Springsteen...who I've seen 31 times, and travelled to different places around the country to do so.
It's actually been at least fifteen years since I've seen The Coop live...last time was I think around 1989, when I actually got to meet him backstage as well. Real nice guy by the way...loves his horror movies which was basically all he wanted to talk about when I met him.
He still usually plays here about once a year though...usually around Halloween at the Emerald Queen, which does a lot of the "classic rock oldies" type shows here in Seattle. I'll definitely catch him next time.
Thanks for the comment.
-Glen
6 - Jet in Columbus
Glen, let's see if this jars your memory. The first time I saw Alice Cooper was on a TV show called The Snoop Sisters starting Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick. Alice played the leader of a witch's coven, snakes and all.
One of my favorite albums is Alice's answer to Jesus Christ Superstar, entitled Alice Cooper goes to Hell. People kept calling radio stations and dedicating the title song to Donny Osmond!
A little known fact is that Alice is one of the best ballad singers there is, from "Wake me Gently" to "Only my heart Talking" with Steven Tyler.
7 - Glen Boyd
I remember that show The Snoop Sisters when Alice was on it Jet. LOL...
He wore this really goofy skeleton outfit if I remember correctly...too freaking funny.
-Glen
8 - Jet in Columbus
Here's why I thought it was so helarious that they were dedicating this song to Donny Osmond...
For criminal acts and violence on the stage
For being a brat
Refusing to act your age
For all of the decent citizens you've enraged
You can go to Hell
For gambling and drinking alcohol constantly
For making us doubt our parents authority
For choosing to be a living obscenity
You can go to Hell
You're something that never should have happened
You even make your Grandma sick
You'd poison a blind man's dog and steal his cane
You'd gift wrap a lepper
And mail him to your Aunt Jane
You'd even force-feed a diabetic a candy cane
You can go to Hell
You're something that never should have happened
You even make your Grandma sick
For criminal acts and violence on the stage
For being a brat
Refusing to act your age
For all of the decent citizens you've enraged
You can go to Hell
9 - Glen Boyd
I think having to actually listen to Donny Osmond for a prolonged length of time...now that would be hell.
Too funny Mr. Jet. LOL...
-Glen
10 - Barry Stoller
Back when "Dwight Fry" and "I'm Eighteen" were the latest AC songs, the band played the Filmore East, opening for Bloodrock who were still high on the festival trail with "DOA." Obviously Coop and group, quick learners, were impressed with the crowd response to "DOA" and, as Killer evinced, AC quickly consumed Bloodrock's zeitgeist, using it as a springboard to bigger things. The difference: Bloodrock's routine drew upon the terror of Vietnam and the draft whereas AC turned that dread into (post-Vietnam) shock-value parody, thus calming the very demons they ostensibly exploited.
11 - chantal stone
Glen...great review! I'm soooooo not an Alice Cooper fan, but what a testament to your writing skills that actually have me thinking I might want to give AC a listen! Bravo
12 - Glen Boyd
Barry,
Are you sure it wasn't the other way around and Bloodrock opened for AC? "I'm Eighteen" as I recall was a way bigger single than "DOA". I did see Bloodrock open for Grand Funk once...I think Terry Knight may have managed both acts.
Chantal, thanks for the comment. Our friend Barry up above yold me I need a girlfriend when commenting on of my other posts. Whatdya say?
-Glen
P.S. Oh I forgot, theres that little matter of you already being married. Damn, shot down in flames again. LOL...
13 - Barry Stoller
Nope, it was AC opening for Bloodrock. (I spent all of 2002-'04 interviewing & researching their career when I wrote their biography American Burn, see blurb on Blogcritics' archives.) "DOA" wasn't a huge radio hit (getting only up to #36) but their festival performing prowess coupled with the almighty Capitol/Knight PR dollar assured them a great touring slot - until they fell out with Knight (who, BTW, produced Bloodrock but did not manage them; Jack Calmes, of ShowCo fame, did). (Added trivia: John Nitzinger, who wrote many of Bloodrock's tunes, later toured / co-wrote material with AC in the bad, drinking days.)
14 - Joey
Glen,
Great reading!! And right on the nose for historical sake.
I first saw AC on The Smothers Brothers Show, which isn't mentioned very often anywhere. He did the tooth act for Unfinished Sweet (Tommy Smothers was the tooth I believe). I remember being nearly hypnotized by the fact that somebody would put such outrageous theatrics into rock music.
But more importantly I remember the fear and disgust Alice brought to middle-aged Americans (30+ crowd). All those Archie Bunker's out there were claiming Alice was the decay of the youth's morals. My parents simply refused to let me (15 at the time) see the BDB tour. I literally had to contrive an "overnight campout" (which upon discovery led to a month-long grounding - you know....typical 70's stuff.)
Worth it?? You betcha!!
Anyway...Once again - Great writing.
Lifelong AC fan from WV,
Joey
15 - Gary
Hey! Glen
Nice review...enjoyed comments about the Killer days.
Alice has always played a big part in my life from 72 until now in 2006.He tours more now than he ever did so go get to see the man again,the buzz is still there,I promise you,and he plays more of the old ones than he ever did,but give those new,ns a proper listen.He still rocks along with a great band thats tight & energetic.
Off with his ead! again?
Bring on Sheffield & the Isle Of Man next week
& get back to Manchester soon Alice
Blackwidow bitten ....Gaz
16 - Katina Lee
The only thing I disagree with is about Alice being off the musical map. He tours every year and has always maintained a strong fan base. Granted he hasn't had many hits in recent years. He had hits 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1989 and 2000's Brutal Planet sold very well considering the label he was on. He still draws big crowds.