Alice Cooper
Content
Originally, there was a band called Alice Cooper led by a singer named Vincent Damon Furnier. Under his direction, Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical and violent brand of heavy metal that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood, and huge boa constrictors, all coordinated by the heavily made-up Furnier. By that time, Furnier had adopted the name for his androgynous on-stage personality. While the visuals were extremely important to the group's impact, the band's music was nearly as distinctive. Driven by raw, simple riffs and melodies that derived from '60s guitar pop as well as show tunes, it was rock & roll at its most basic and catchy, even when the band ventured into psychedelia and art rock. After the original group broke up and Furnier began a solo career as Alice Cooper, his actual music lost most of its theatrical flourishes, becoming straightforward heavy metal, yet his stage show retained all of the trademark props that made him the king of shock rock. Furnier formed his first group, the Earwigs, as an Arizona teenager in the early '60s. Changing the band's name to the Spiders in 1965, the group was eventually called the Nazz (not to be confused with Todd Rundgren's band of the same name). The Spiders and the Nazz both released local singles that were moderately popular. In 1968, after discovering there was another band called with the same name, the group changed its name to Alice Cooper. According to band legend, the name came to Furnier during a ouija board session, where he was told he was the reincarnation of a 17th-century witch of the same name. Comprised of vocalist Furnier -- who would soon begin calling himself Alice Cooper -- guitarist Mike Bruce, guitarist Glen Buxton, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith, the group moved to California in 1968. In California, the group met Shep Gordon, who became their manager, and Frank Zappa, who signed Alice Cooper to his Straight Records imprint. Alice Cooper released their first album, Pretties for You, in 1969. Easy Action followed early in 1970, yet it failed to chart. The group's reputation in Los Angeles was slowly shrinking, so the band moved to Furnier's hometown of Detroit. For the next year, the group refined their bizarre stage show. Late in 1970, the group's contract was transferred to Straight's distributor Warner Bros., and they began recording their third album with producer Bob Ezrin. With Ezrin's assistance, Alice Cooper developed their classic heavy metal crunch on 1971's Love It to Death, which featured the number 21 hit single "Eighteen"; the album peaked at number 35 and went gold. The success enabled the group to develop a more impressive, elaborate live show, which made them highly popular concert attractions across the U.S. and eventually the U.K. Killer, released late in 1971, was another gold album. Released in the summer of 1972, School's Out was Alice Cooper's breakthrough record, peaking at number two and selling over a million copies. The title song became a Top Ten hit in the U.S. and a number one single in the U.K. Billion
Dollar Babies, released the following year, was the group's biggest hit, reaching number one in both America and Britain; the album's first single, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," became a Top Ten hit in Britain, peaking at number 25 in the U.S. Muscle of Love appeared late in 1973, yet it failed to capitalize on the success of Billion Dollar Babies. After Muscle of Love, Furnier and the rest of Alice Cooper parted ways to pursue other projects. Having officially changed his name to Alice Cooper, Furnier embarked on a similarly theatrical solo career; the rest of the band released one unsuccessful album under the name Billion Dollar Babies, while Mike Bruce and Neal Smith both recorded solo albums that were never issued. In the fall of 1974, a compilation of Alice Cooper's five Warner albums, entitled Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits, became a Top Ten hit. For his first solo album, Cooper hired Lou Reed's backing band from Rock 'N' Roll Animal -- guitarists Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter, bassist Prakash John, keyboardist Joseph Chrowski, and drummer Penti Glan -- as his supporting group. Welcome to My Nightmare, Alice Cooper's first solo album, was released in the spring of 1975. The record wasn't a great departure from his previous work, and it became a Top Ten hit in America, launching the hit acoustic ballad "Only Women Bleed"; its success put an end to any idea of reconvening Alice Cooper the band. Its follow-up, 1976's Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, was another hit, going gold in the U.S. After Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, Cooper's career began to slip, partially due to changing trends and partially due to his alcoholism. Cooper entered rehabilitation in 1978, writing an album about his treatment called From the Inside (1978) with Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist. During the early '80s, Cooper continued to release albums and tour, yet he was no longer as popular as he was during his early-'70s heyday. Cooper made a successful comeback in the late '80s, sparked by his appearances in horror films and a series of pop-metal bands that paid musical homage to his classic early records and concerts. Constrictor, released in 1986, began his comeback, but it was 1989's Trash that returned Cooper to the spotlight. Produced by the proven hitmaker Desmond Child, Trash featured guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and most of Aerosmith; the record became a Top Ten hit in Britain and peaked at number 20 in the U.S., going platinum. "Poison," a mid-tempo rocker featured on the album, became Cooper's first Top Ten single since 1977. After the release of Trash, he continued to star in the occasional film, tour, and record, although he wasn't able to retain the audience recaptured with Trash. Still, 1991's Hey Stoopid and 1994's The Last Temptation were generally solid, professional efforts which helped Cooper settle into a comfortable cult status without damaging the critical goodwill surrounding his '70s output. After a live album, 1997's Fistful of Alice, Cooper returned on the smaller Spitfire label in 2000 with Brutal Planet and Dragontown a year later. The Eyes of Alice Cooper appeared in 2003 and found Alice and company playing a more strippeddown brand of near-garage rock. Dirty Diamonds from 2005 was nearly as raw and hit the streets around the same time Alice premiered his syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
ALICE COOPER LYRICS
album: "Pretties For You" (1969)
Titanic Overture 10 Minutes Before The Worm Sing Low, Sweet Cheerio Today Mueller Living Fields Of Regret No Longer Umpire Levity Ball B.B. On Mars Reflected Apple Bush Earwigs To Eternity Changing Arranging
album: "Freak Out Song" (1969)
Ain't That Just Like A Woman Painting A Picture An Instrumental I've Written Home To Mother Freak Out Song Goin' To the River Nobody Likes Me (Freak Out) Science Fiction
album: "Easy Action" (1970)
Mr and MisDemeanor Shoe Salesman Still No Air Below Your Means Return Of The Spiders Laughing At Me Refrigerator Heaven Beautiful Flyaway Lay Down And Die, Goodbye
album: "Love It To Death" (1971)
Caught In A Dream I'm Eighteen Long Way To Go Black Juju Is It My Body Hallowed Be My Name Second Coming Ballad Of Dwight Fry
Sun Arise
album: "Killer" (1971)
Under My Wheels Be My Lover Halo Of Flies Desperado You Drive Me Nervous Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Dead Babies Killer
album: "School's Out" (1972)
School's Out Luney Tune Gutter Cats Vs. The Jets Street Fight Blue Turk My Stars Public Animal #9 Alma Mater Grand Finale
album: "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973)
Hello Hooray Raped And Freezing Elected Billion Dollar Babies Unfinished Sweet No More Mister Nice Guy Generation Landslide Sick Things Mary-Ann I Love The Dead
album: "Muscle Of Love" (1973)
Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo) Never Been Sold Before Heard Hearted Alice Crazy Little Child Teenage Lament '74 Woman Machine
album: "Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975)
Welcome To My Nightmare Devil's Food
The Black Widow Some Folks Only Women Bleed Department Of Youth Cold Ethyl Years Ago Steven The Awakening Escape
album: "Alice Cooper Goes To Hell" (1976)
A Bedtime Story Go To Hell You Gotta Dance I'm The Coolest Didn't We Meet I Never Cry Give The Kid A Break Guilty Wake Me Gently Wish You Were Here I'ì Always Chasing Rainbows Going Home
album: "I Never Cry" (1976 SINGLE)
I Never Cry
album: "Lace And Whiskey" (1977)
It's Hot Tonight Lace And Whiskey Road Rats Damned If I Do You And Me King Of the Silver Screen Ubangi Stomp (No More) Love At Your Convenience I Never Wrote Those Songs My God
album: "You And Me" (1977 SINGLE)
You And Me
album: "From The Inside" (1978)
From The Inside Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills The Quiet Room
Nurse Rozetta Millie And Billie Serious How You Gonna See Me Now For Veronica's Sake Jackknife Johnny Inmates (We're All Crazy)
album: "Flush The Fashion" (1980)
Talk Talk Clones (We're All) Pain Leather Boots Aspirin Damage Nuclear Infected Grim Facts Model Citizen Dance Yourself To Death Headlines
album: "Special Forces" (1981)
Who Do You Think We Are Seven & Seven Is Prettiest Cop On The Block Don't Talk Old To Me Generation Landslide '81 (Live) Skeletons In The Closet You Want It, You Got It You Look Good In Rags You're A Movie Vicious Rumours Look At You Over There, Ripping The Sawdust From My TeddyBear
album: "Zipper Catches Skin" (1982)
Zorro's Ascent Make That Money (Scrooge's Song) I Am The Future No Baloney Homosapiens Adaptable (Anything For You) I Like Girls Remarkably Insincere Tag, You're It I Better Be Good I'm Alive (That Was The Day My Dead Pet Returned To Save My Life)
album: "Da Da" (1983)
Da Da Enough's Enough
Former Lee Warmer No Man's Land Dyslexia Scarlet And Sheba I Love America Fresh Blood Pass The Gun Around
album: "Constrictor" (1986)
Teenage Frankenstein Give It Up Thrill My Gorilla Life And Death Of The Party Simple Disobedience The World Needs Guts Trick Bag Crawlin' Great American Success Story He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)
album: "Raise Your Fist And Yell" (1987)
Freedom Lock Me Up Give The Radio Back Step On You Not That Kind Of Love Prince Of Darkness Time To Kill Chop, Chop, Chop Gali Roses Of White Lace
album: "Trash" (1989)
Poison Spark In The Dark House Of Fire Why Trust You Only My Hart Talkin' Bed Of Nails This Maniac's In Love With You Trash Hell Is Living Without You I'm Your Gun
album: "Hey Stoopid" (1991)
Hey Stoopid Love's A Loaded Gun Snakebite
Burning Our Bed Dangerous Tonight Might As Well Be on Mars Feed My Frankenstein Hurricane Years Little by Little Die for You Dirty Dreams Wind-Up Toy
album: "The Last Temptation" (1994)
Sideshow Nothing's Free Lost In America Bad Place Alone You're My Temptation Stolen Prayer Unholy War Lullaby It's Me Cleanced By Fire
album: "Brutal Planet" (2000)
Brutal Planet Wicked Young Man Sanctuary Blow Me A Kiss Eat Some More (Taste The Pain) Pick Up The Bones Pessi-Mystic Gimme It's The Little Things Take It Like A Woman Cold Machines Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me
album: "Dragon Town" (2001)
Triggerman Deeper Dragontown Sex, Death And Money Fantasy Man Somewhere In The Jungle Disgraceland Sister Sara Every Woman Has A Name I Just Wanna Be God It's Much Too Late Sentinel
album: "The Eyes Of Alice Cooper" (2003)
What Do You Want From Me Between High School & Old School Man Of The Year Novocaine Bye Bye Baby Be With You Awhile Detroit City Spirits Rebellious The House Is Haunted Love Should Never Feel Like This The Song That Didn't Rhyme I'm So Angry Backyard Brawl
album: "Hell Is" (2003)
Poison House Of Fire Hell Is Living Without You Bed Of Nails Only My Heart Talkin' Hey Stoopid Love's A Loaded Gun Feed My Frankenstein Hurricane Years Lost In America Stolen Prayer It's Me Cleansed By Fire Fire Go To Hell (Live) School's Out (Live)
album: "Dirty Diamonds" (2005)
Woman Of Mass Distraction Perfect You Make Me Wonna Dirty Diamonds The Saga Of Jesse Jane Sunset Babies (All Got Rabies) Pretty Ballerina Run Down The Devil Steal That Car Six Hours Your Own Worst Enemy Zombie Dance Stand The Sharpest Point
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Born February 4, 1948 Detroit, Michigan
1. School's Out Well we got no choice all the girls and boys Makin' all that noise 'cause they found new toys Well we can't salute ya can't find a flag if that don't suit ya that's a drag School's out for summer school's out forever school's been blown to pieces No more pencils no more books no more teacher's dirty looks yeah Well we got no class and we got no principals and we got no innocence We can't even think of a word that rhymes School's out for summer school's out forever my school's been blown to pieces No more pencils no more books no more teacher's dirty looks
Out for summer out till fall we might not come back at all School's out forever school's out for summer School's out with fever school's out completely . Poison Your cruel device Your blood like ice One look could kill My pain, your thrill I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Your mouth, so hot Your web, I'm caught Your skin, so wet Black lace on sweat I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (And pins) I want to hurt you just to hear you screaming my name Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (Deep in) I want to kiss you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Poison One look could kill My pain, your thrill I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Poison I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison, yeah I don't want to break these chains Poison, oh no Runnin'deep inside my veins, Burnin'deep inside my veins It's poison I don't want to break these chains 3. House Of Fire House of fire
House of fire, yeah Let's build a house of fire, baby Not one of wood or stone Walk thru my door of desire, baby Come on in and make it your home Don't need a window to watch you, baby Don't need no roof overhead Don't need no key to unlock ya, baby I'll use my lovin'instead I won't tire Take me higher Building a house of fire, baby Buildin'it with our love We are buildin'a house of fire every time we touch House of fire House of fire We ain't gotta pay rent now, baby No landlord to throw us out I want to play in your garden, baby When you want it give me a shout I won't tire Take me higher Building a house of fire, baby Buildin'it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch We are building this house together, baby Standing on solid ground We are building a house of fire That you can't tear down Brick by brick the flames get higher Build it strong with our desire Building a house of fire, baby Building it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch We are building this house together, baby Standing on solid ground We are building a house of fire That you can't tear down Building a house of fire, baby Building it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch 9. Hell Is Living Without You I can't find your face in a thousand masqueraders You're hidden in the colors of a million other lost
charades In life's big parade I'm the loneliest spectator Cuz you're gone without a trace in a sea of faceless imitators I can't take another night Burning inside this Hell is living without your love Ain't nothing without your Touch me Heaven would be like hell Is living without you Try to walk away When I see the time I've wasted Starving at a feast And all this wine I never tasted On my lips Your memory has been stained It is all in vain Tell me who's to blame I can't take another night Burning inside this Hell is living without your love Ain't nothing without your Touch me Heaven would be like hell Is living without you Nights get longer and colder I'm down begging to hold ya On my own and I feel like hell Is living without you Nights get longer and colder I'm down begging to hold ya On my own and I feel like hell Is living without you
Early Life and Career
Furnier was born in Detroit at a hospital that carried the nickname "The Butcher Shop", but, after a stream of illnesses, moved to Phoenix, Arizona in his youth. His grandfather, Thurman Furnier, was an ordained Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite). Cooper's father, Ether Furnier, was an ordained Elder. Cooper had some distant French Huguenot ancestry; the remainder of his ancestry was English. Cooper, influenced by British Bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks and in particular The Yardbirds, formed a number of rock bands in the 1960s, including the Earwigs, The Spiders, and The Nazz. Upon learning that Todd Rundgren also had a band called The Nazz, Furnier changed the band's name to Alice Cooper (the name Alice Cooper is said to have been agreed
upon after one of Furnier's Ouija sessions, and learning that he was a reincarnation of a 17th century "witch" of the same name, according to band legend, although Cooper in interviews has said the name actually came out of thin air conjuring an image of "a cute little girl with an axe behind her back".) The classic Alice Cooper group line up consisted of guitarists Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith. After moving to California in 1968, the band enlisted Shep Gordon as their manager. They recorded their first album Pretties For You on Frank Zappa's "Bizzarre" label.[1] Frank told them to show up for the recording at 8:00 and the band mistakenly assumed he meant 8:00 AM, they showed up reeling drunk which is quite apparent when listening to this recording. The second album Easy Action was recorded on Frank Zappa's label, Straight Records. This album featured the hit "Refridgerator Heaven". The two competent but outlandish albums, received a frosty public and critical reception. Warner Brothers then purchased Straight Records from Frank Zappa and Alice Cooper was more highly promoted with this major label. Around this time, fed up with Californians' indifference to their act, the band relocated to Alice Cooper's birthplace, Detroit, where their wild stage act was much better received. Detroit would remain the act's home base until the mid-1970s. "LA just didn’t get it. They were all on the wrong drug for us. They were on acid and we were basically drinking beer. We fit much more in Detroit than we did anywhere else..." [2] Although the band incorporated theatrics in their stage act from the outset, a chance case of press misreporting an unfortunate, unrehearsed stage routine involving Cooper and a live chicken led to the band changing tack - capitalizing on tabloid sensationalism and creating a new sub-genre, shock rock. Cooper claims that the chicken incident was an accident. He says he thought, "Chickens have wings, so they must be able to fly" so when it was on the stage, he threw it out over the crowd, with the intention of having the chicken fly away. But chickens cannot fly particularly well, and the bird was instead ripped to shreds by the rowdy audience. Zappa phoned him shortly afterward to ask if the rumor that he had ripped the head off a live chicken and drunk its blood onstage was true. Cooper denied the rumor, whereupon Zappa told him, "Well, whatever you do, don't tell anyone you didn't do it." [3] Cooper says he didn't know they couldn't fly because he said that he had never been on a farm in his life. Cooper claims "We drove the stake through the heart of the "Peace and Love Generation". Other quotes from the DVD biography include "Alice Cooper is unkillable" and "Welcome To My Nightmare is just a record that you never get tired of and can put on when all else fails". [edit]
1970s
In 1970, after the band had recorded two records on Straight Records, the band, under the Warner Brothers label, teamed up with fledgling producer Bob Ezrin on their
album entitled Love It to Death. This was the first of more than 10 Alice Cooper group and solo albums done with Ezrin who is credited with having helped to create their definitive sound. A hit single soon followed in 1971's 'I'm Eighteen'. The band's trailblazing mix of shock and glam theatrics stood out amongst bearded, denim-clad hippy bands by sporting sequined costumes by the prominent rock fashion designer Cindy Dunaway (Pink Floyd, The Who), and stage shows that involved Gothic torture modes imposed on the lead singer. His outspoken views on the Vietnam War stood out no less, as Cooper was always staunchly pro-war — in stark contrast to the vast majority of musicians at the time, who were rebelliously anti-war. The follow up Killer included further singles in 'Under My Wheels' and 'Be My Lover' and also one of the most critically acclaimed Cooper songs in the epic 'Halo Of Flies', which was a Top 10 hit in Holland. In the summer of 1972, Alice Cooper released the appropriately-titled School's Out. The album reached number two on the charts and sold over a million copies. The title song went Top 10 in the US, was a number one single in the UK, and remains a staple on classic rock radio.
Album cover for Billion Dollar Babies Billion Dollar Babies, released in 1973, was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching no. 1 in both the US and Britain. 'Elected' a 1972 top 10 UK hit included on the album (featuring one of the first creative promo films 3 years before Queen's promo video to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'), was followed by 2 more UK top 10 singles in 'Hello Hooray' and 'No More Mister Nice Guy' which was the last UK single from the album and also reached number 25 in the U.S. The title track, featuring guest vocals by Donovan, was also a US hit single. With a string of successful concept albums in the bag and several hit singles, the band toured the world - attempts to ban their shocking act by politicians and pressure groups only serving to fuel the myth of Alice Cooper and generate more audience interest. The 1973 US Tour broke box office records set by The Rolling Stones. The 1974 tour raised rock theatrics to a new level. The stage show, which had a gothic horror theme, featured numerous special effects. The highlight of the show was Cooper's "death" onstage, either by beheading or by hanging. The guillotine, trick noose and other stage effects were designed for the band by stage magician James Randi. During some of the shows, Randi appeared onstage as the executioner. Cooper's stage antics influenced later bands like Kiss and Blue Oyster Cult.
A film 'Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper' (recently re-released on DVD) was released and saw the band as the biggest act in the world at that time. Muscle of Love the last album from the classic line up marked Alice Cooper's last UK top 20 single in the 1970s, with 'Teenage Lament 74'. Even a James Bond theme song was recorded for 'The Man with the Golden Gun', but a different song of the same name by LuLu, was chosen instead. In 1974, the band split - Cooper himself wanting to retain the theatrics that had brought them so much attention, the rest of the group wanting to concentrate on the music which had given them credibility. His first solo album was Welcome to My Nightmare. He was backed by Lou Reed's band, guitarist Dick Wagner, guitarist Steve Hunter, bassist Prakash John, keyboardist Joseph Chrowski, and drummer Penti Glan. The album was another top 10 hit for Cooper and is regarded along with the stage show as ground breaking moments in rock history. In addition, the 1975 US TV special 'The Nightmare' was the first video album, and as with the album, featured horror movie film star Vincent Price, several years before he guested on Michael Jackson's Thriller (song). A concert film, Welcome to My Nightmare (film) was released in late 1975. Though it failed at the box office, it later became a midnight movie favorite and has become a cult classic. It is during this time he founded The Hollywood Vampires. In 1978 he appeared on The Muppet Show where he played himself. Following two less acclaimed studio albums, Alice Cooper Goes to Hell and Lace and Whiskey, along with the 1977 live album The Alice Cooper Show (recorded in Las Vegas), it was clear that the musician was in need of specialized help with his alcoholism, and in 1977 Cooper was hospitalized in a New York sanitarium for alcoholism. At his alcoholic peak some fans rumored that he was up to two cases of Budweiser and a bottle of whiskey a day. This may be responsible for a surprise return to form on the hard-rocking, semiautobiographical album From The Inside, which Cooper co-wrote with Bernie Taupin. Around this time, Cooper led celebrities in raising money to remodel the famous Hollywood Sign in California. Cooper himself chipped in over $27,000 for the project, doing it in memory of friend and comedian Groucho Marx. [edit]
1980s
His albums from the beginning of 1980s, Flush the Fashion, Special Forces, Zipper Catches Skin, and DaDa, were not commercially successful, especially in comparison to previous sales. They were regarded as very strange and bizarre at that time, and are now considered cult classics. Flush the Fashion has a spare, edgy musical sound that was so unexpected as to have been truly baffling to long-time fans. The songs are typically clever, however, and hold up very well. Special Forces was a bit darker and more cynical, but continued with the experimental sound. However, even DaDa, the
best of the alternative albums, had only mildly positive commercial and critical response. DaDa was again produced by Bob Ezrin, who used one of the first samplers (the famous Fairlight) instead of real drums. Cooper then released Constrictor (1986), a heavier album, which had more, but still very limited, success, followed by Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987) which had a rougher sound than its predecessor. Both Constrictor and Raise Your Fist and Yell were recorded with guitarist Kane Roberts & bassist Kip Winger, both of whom would leave the band by the end of 1988 (although Kane Roberts played guitar on 'Bed Of Nails' on the 1989 Trash, album). Kane Roberts would go on as a solo artist, while Kip formed Winger. Roberts' stage attire was unusual since he was basically a Rambo-clone - muscular body, scanty clothing and a guitar that resembled a machine gun. Keep in mind that Heavy Metal music was very popular during this time of the late 1980's and some in the music industry said that Alice was being successfully "resurrected" for the Metal era of music. In 1986 he sang the theme song "The Man Behind the Mask" for the movie Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) Also in 1986, Megadeth was asked to open for Alice Cooper during current US Tours. After noticing the hardcore drug and alcohol abuse in the band, Cooper personally approached them to try and help them control their "demons", and stayed close to front man Dave Mustaine ever since. Mustaine considers him his God Father(VH1 Behind the Music 2001). In 1987, he made a brief appearance as a vagrant in the horror movie Prince of Darkness directed by John Carpenter. His role had no lines, and consisted of menacing the protagonists, and impaling one of them with a bicycle frame. He also appeared at WrestleMania III escorting wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts to the ring. After the match was over, Cooper got involved and threw Jake's snake Damien at The Honky Tonk Man's manager Jimmy Hart. Jake considered the involvement of Cooper to be an honor, as he idolized Cooper in his youth and has remained a fan of his. In 1989, his career experienced a real revival with the Desmond Child produced album Trash, which spawned the hit single 'Poison', reaching # 2 in the UK and #7 in the US, and a worldwide arena tour. It was during this time in the 1980s he became a born-again Christian and became sober. [4] [edit]
1990s
In 1991, the album Hey Stoopid was released; it sold very well, and spawned several hit singles . He also appeared on the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion I, singing backup on the track The Garden. He also made a brief appearance as the abusive stepfather of Freddy Krueger in the 1991 Nightmare On Elm Street film Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.
In 1992, he made a famous cameo in the movie Wayne's World, in which he discusses the history of Milwaukee in some depth. In 1994, he released The Last Temptation, a concept album dealing with issues of faith, temptation, alienation, and the frustrations of modern life. Concurrent with the release of The Last Temptation was a three part comic book series written by Neil Gaiman, fleshing out the album's story. In 1996 Cooper sang the role of Herod on the London Cast soundtrack of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1997, Cooper recorded the intro narration for the Insane Clown Posse album The Great Milenko. [edit]
2000s
A pause, lasting for six years, ended in 2000 with Brutal Planet. Brutal Planet is musically strong, dark and loud, with subject matter thematically inspired by the brutality of the modern world, although set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was succeeded by Dragontown in 2001, which has been described by Cooper as being "the worst town on Brutal Planet". These two albums are the first parts of a trilogy that was apparently put on hold with the release of The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003) People frequently mistake "The Last Temptation" for the first installment. Alice's latest album, Dirty Diamonds, seems to be in a similar vein as "The Eyes of...". Also in 2001, Cooper made a brief appearance in the movie 'Attic Expeditions' as the unstable Samuel Leventhal. In 2001, Cooper was famously interviewed by Dom Joly on the British comedy sketch show Trigger Happy TV. Joly is interrupted by his cell phone mid-interview by, supposedly, his mother. At first Joly attempts to get rid of his pesky mother whilst continuing to prompt Cooper by shaking the microphone at him, at one point explaining that 'no no mum .... I'm interviewing Alice Cooper.....Alice Cooper... no no he's a bloke'. The interview is abruptly terminated when we learn that a relative of Joly's has suffered a car accident involving a tumble 'down a ravine'. At this point Cooper turns to camera and repeats 'down a ravine' whilst suppressing a giggle. Dom then wanders off in a dazed fashion, leaving Cooper alone on the sidewalk. In 2003, Cooper again adopted a leaner, cleaner sound for The Eyes Of Alice Cooper. Recognizing that many current bands were having great success with his former sounds and styles, Cooper worked with a somewhat younger group of road and studio musicians who were very familiar with his oeuvre. However, instead of rehashing the old sounds, they updated them, often with surprisingly effective results. The resulting Bare Bones tour adopted a less-orchestrated performance style that had fewer theatrical flourishes and a greater emphasis on musicality. The success of this tour help support the growing recognition that the classic Cooper songs were exceptionally clever, tuneful, and unique. Cooper received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. It is located at the corner of Orange Drive and Hollywood Boulevard.
On January 26, 2004 Cooper's radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper, began airing in several U.S. cities. The program showcases Classic Rock, Alice's personal stories about his life as a Rock icon, obscure rock history facts, as well as interviews and special segments like the "OffBEAT News" with his counterpart, Mistress Kitty. In 2005, Cooper released his 24th studio album Dirty Diamonds; his first release on New West Records (for America.) Dirty Diamonds was released on August 2, 2005 in the U.S. and July 4, 2005 in Europe. It is a continuation of the songwriting approach the band used on The Eyes of Alice Cooper. Dirty Diamonds is Cooper's highest charting album since 1994's, The Last Temptation coming in at #169 on The Billboard 200. [5] The Dirty Diamonds tour launched in America in August 2005. On May 14, 2006, Cooper was given the "key to the city" of Alice, North Dakota. Alice (population 56) is located approx. 50 miles from Fargo, where Cooper had a concert scheduled on May 15. He also made an interview with a personality of KKBX "The Box 101.9", the radio station that broadcasts his radio show in Fargo, along with "One Red Paperclip". Cooper owns a rock and roll club and restaurant called Alice Cooper'stown in Phoenix and Cleveland. He is an avid golfer (handicap 5) and a member of Phoenix Country Club. [edit]
Discography
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Pretties for You (1969) Easy Action (1970) Love It to Death (1971) Killer (1971) School's Out (1972) Billion Dollar Babies (1973) Muscle of Love (1973) Greatest Hits (1974) Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976) Lace and Whiskey (1977) The Alice Cooper Show (Live) (1977) From the Inside (1978) Flush the Fashion (1980) Special Forces (1981) Collection (1982) Zipper Catches Skin (1982) DaDa (1983) Constrictor (1986)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Trash (1989) Hey Stoopid (1991) Beast of Alice Cooper (1993) The Last Temptation (1994) Classicks (1995) Fistful of Alice (Live) (1997) A Nice Nightmare (1997) He's Back (1997) Freedom For Frankenstein: Hits & Pieces 1984-1991 (1998) The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper (4 CD Box) (1999) Super Hits (1999) Brutal Planet (2000) The Best of Alice Cooper (2001) The Definitive Alice Cooper (2001) Dragontown (2001) Hell Is (2003) Poison (2003) The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003) School's Out and Other Hits (2004) Dirty Diamonds (2005)
•
Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987) Prince Of Darkness (1989)
•
Live At Cabo Wabo '96 (2005)
•
[edit]
Singles
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
"Caught In A Dream" (1971) #94 US "Be My Lover" (1972) #49 US "School's Out" (1972) #9 US "Elected" (1972) #26 US "Under My Wheels" (1973) #59 US "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (1973) #25 US "Hello Hurray" (1973) #35 US "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) #57 US "Teenage Lament '74" (1974) #48 US "Only Women Bleed" (1975) #12 US "Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975) #45 US "Department Of Youth" (1975) #67 US "I Never Cry" (1977) #12 US "You And Me" (1977) #9 US "How You Gonna See Me Now" (1978) #12 US "Clones (We're All)" (1980) #40 US "Poison" (1989) #9 US "House Of Fire" (1990) #56 US "Only My Heart Talkin'" (1990) #89 US "Hey Stoopid" (1991) #78 US
1. I Never Cry If there's a tear on my face It makes me shiver to the bones it shakes me babe It's just a heartache that got cought in my eye and you know I never cry I never cry Sometimes I drink more than I need Until the T.V.'s dead and gone I may be lonely but I'm never alone and the night may pass me by but I'll never cry Take away take away my eyes Sometimes I'd rather be blind Break a heart break a heart of stone Open it up but don't you leave it alone
'Cause that's all I've got give to you believe me babe it ain't been used My heart's a virgin it ain't never been tried and you know I'll never cry and you know I'll never cry and you know you know you know you know I'll never cry, I'll never cry Break a heart break a heart of stone Open it up but don't you leave it alone 'Cause that's all I've got give to you believe me babe it ain't been used My heart's a virgin it ain't never been tried and you know I'll never cry and you know I'll never cry and you know you know you know you know I'll never cry, I'll never cry 1. You And Me When I got home from work I wanna wrap myself around you I wanna take you and squeeze you 'till the passion starts to rise. I wanna take you to heaven that would make my day complete but you and me ain't movie stars what we are is what we are we share a bed some lovin' and t.v. yeah. That's enough for a workin' man what I am is what I am and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. Sometimes when you're asleep and I'm just starin' at the ceiling I wanna reach out and touch you but you just go on dreamin'. If I could take you to heaven that would make my day complete but you and me ain't movie stars what we are is what we are
and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. You and me ain't no superstars what we are is what we are we share a bed some popcorn and t.v. yeah. And that's enough for a workin' man what I am is what I am and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. When I got home from work I wanna wrap myself around you I like to hold you and squeeze you 'till the passion starts to rise. I wanna take you to heaven that would make my day complete ...
Vincent Furnier s-a nascut pe 4 februarie 1948 intr-un spital cu reputatie proasta din Detroit, supranumit “Butcher’s Palace”, nou-nascutul suferind de eczeme faciale si astm infantil. In 1965, intr-o repetitie rock acrobata, Furnier cade si isi rupe nasul, care va ramane coroiat, ramanand un semn distinctiv al imagisticii Alice Cooper. In 1968, Frank Zappa isi fondeaza propria casa de discuri – Bizarre Records – si semneaza trei anomalii ale scenei americane: Captain Beefheart, Alice Cooper si Girls Together Outrageously (singura trupa de “groupies”). GTO va sucomba in urma unor excese narcotice si sexuale, Beefheart va deveni cel mai atipic grup rock al undergroundului, iar Alice Cooper se va impune in culturapop prin showurile teatrale grotesti. Cam asa comenta dl. Vincent Furnier momentul zero al trupei care l-a facut celebru: “Zappa was regarded unofficially as a drug freak, a nut, but that wasn't the case at all. He never touched drugs and he was the straightest, strictest businessman I ever dealt with. He told me that he was starting his own record company and looking for acts to sign, especially comedy and psychedelic acts that nobody else would take a chance on... As the party went on and he got drunker, I got more insistent. Finally he said: Allright! Miss Christine, from GTO, let us into his house at the break of dawn, and we set up our equipment and lights in his basement and started playing. Zappa came rushing downstairs, naked, holding his ears. "All right, all right" he shouted, his cock swinging back and forth as he shook his head... I'll sign you! I'll sign you! Just stop playing!” La debut, formatia Alice Cooper este specializata in cacofonii si evacuarea spectatorilor din cluburi. De altfel, Zappa a folosit grupul in deschidere, pentru trierea audientei. Albumul Pretties for you este prima tentativa discografica a formulei “de aur” Alice Cooper: Vincent Furnier - voce, muzicuta, Neal Smith – baterie, Dennis Dunaway – bas, Glen Buxton – chitara solo, Michael Bruce – chitara ritm, pian, orga. Zappa a realizat selectia si mixajul celor 13 piese, pornind de la o sesiune de jam si inregistrari din care a colectat diverse deraieri Alice Cooper. O paleta restransa de riffuri garage-rock, efecte psihedelice a la
Syd Barret si disonante in exces. Este poate cel mai atipic album al grupului, cel putin pentru faptul ca se intrevede greu incotro ajung piesele (daca pleaca sau daca ajung undeva). Sing low, sweet cherio (3) si Fields of regret (6) sunt cele mai elocvente mostre de amatorism si libertinaj rock.
(C) Ezra Music/Early Frost/BMI
Dollar Babies, released the following year, was the group's biggest hit, reaching number one in both America and Britain; the album's first single, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," became a Top Ten hit in Britain, peaking at number 25 in the U.S. Muscle of Love appeared late in 1973, yet it failed to capitalize on the success of Billion Dollar Babies. After Muscle of Love, Furnier and the rest of Alice Cooper parted ways to pursue other projects. Having officially changed his name to Alice Cooper, Furnier embarked on a similarly theatrical solo career; the rest of the band released one unsuccessful album under the name Billion Dollar Babies, while Mike Bruce and Neal Smith both recorded solo albums that were never issued. In the fall of 1974, a compilation of Alice Cooper's five Warner albums, entitled Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits, became a Top Ten hit. For his first solo album, Cooper hired Lou Reed's backing band from Rock 'N' Roll Animal -- guitarists Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter, bassist Prakash John, keyboardist Joseph Chrowski, and drummer Penti Glan -- as his supporting group. Welcome to My Nightmare, Alice Cooper's first solo album, was released in the spring of 1975. The record wasn't a great departure from his previous work, and it became a Top Ten hit in America, launching the hit acoustic ballad "Only Women Bleed"; its success put an end to any idea of reconvening Alice Cooper the band. Its follow-up, 1976's Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, was another hit, going gold in the U.S. After Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, Cooper's career began to slip, partially due to changing trends and partially due to his alcoholism. Cooper entered rehabilitation in 1978, writing an album about his treatment called From the Inside (1978) with Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist. During the early '80s, Cooper continued to release albums and tour, yet he was no longer as popular as he was during his early-'70s heyday. Cooper made a successful comeback in the late '80s, sparked by his appearances in horror films and a series of pop-metal bands that paid musical homage to his classic early records and concerts. Constrictor, released in 1986, began his comeback, but it was 1989's Trash that returned Cooper to the spotlight. Produced by the proven hitmaker Desmond Child, Trash featured guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and most of Aerosmith; the record became a Top Ten hit in Britain and peaked at number 20 in the U.S., going platinum. "Poison," a mid-tempo rocker featured on the album, became Cooper's first Top Ten single since 1977. After the release of Trash, he continued to star in the occasional film, tour, and record, although he wasn't able to retain the audience recaptured with Trash. Still, 1991's Hey Stoopid and 1994's The Last Temptation were generally solid, professional efforts which helped Cooper settle into a comfortable cult status without damaging the critical goodwill surrounding his '70s output. After a live album, 1997's Fistful of Alice, Cooper returned on the smaller Spitfire label in 2000 with Brutal Planet and Dragontown a year later. The Eyes of Alice Cooper appeared in 2003 and found Alice and company playing a more strippeddown brand of near-garage rock. Dirty Diamonds from 2005 was nearly as raw and hit the streets around the same time Alice premiered his syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
ALICE COOPER LYRICS
album: "Pretties For You" (1969)
Titanic Overture 10 Minutes Before The Worm Sing Low, Sweet Cheerio Today Mueller Living Fields Of Regret No Longer Umpire Levity Ball B.B. On Mars Reflected Apple Bush Earwigs To Eternity Changing Arranging
album: "Freak Out Song" (1969)
Ain't That Just Like A Woman Painting A Picture An Instrumental I've Written Home To Mother Freak Out Song Goin' To the River Nobody Likes Me (Freak Out) Science Fiction
album: "Easy Action" (1970)
Mr and MisDemeanor Shoe Salesman Still No Air Below Your Means Return Of The Spiders Laughing At Me Refrigerator Heaven Beautiful Flyaway Lay Down And Die, Goodbye
album: "Love It To Death" (1971)
Caught In A Dream I'm Eighteen Long Way To Go Black Juju Is It My Body Hallowed Be My Name Second Coming Ballad Of Dwight Fry
Sun Arise
album: "Killer" (1971)
Under My Wheels Be My Lover Halo Of Flies Desperado You Drive Me Nervous Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Dead Babies Killer
album: "School's Out" (1972)
School's Out Luney Tune Gutter Cats Vs. The Jets Street Fight Blue Turk My Stars Public Animal #9 Alma Mater Grand Finale
album: "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973)
Hello Hooray Raped And Freezing Elected Billion Dollar Babies Unfinished Sweet No More Mister Nice Guy Generation Landslide Sick Things Mary-Ann I Love The Dead
album: "Muscle Of Love" (1973)
Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo) Never Been Sold Before Heard Hearted Alice Crazy Little Child Teenage Lament '74 Woman Machine
album: "Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975)
Welcome To My Nightmare Devil's Food
The Black Widow Some Folks Only Women Bleed Department Of Youth Cold Ethyl Years Ago Steven The Awakening Escape
album: "Alice Cooper Goes To Hell" (1976)
A Bedtime Story Go To Hell You Gotta Dance I'm The Coolest Didn't We Meet I Never Cry Give The Kid A Break Guilty Wake Me Gently Wish You Were Here I'ì Always Chasing Rainbows Going Home
album: "I Never Cry" (1976 SINGLE)
I Never Cry
album: "Lace And Whiskey" (1977)
It's Hot Tonight Lace And Whiskey Road Rats Damned If I Do You And Me King Of the Silver Screen Ubangi Stomp (No More) Love At Your Convenience I Never Wrote Those Songs My God
album: "You And Me" (1977 SINGLE)
You And Me
album: "From The Inside" (1978)
From The Inside Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills The Quiet Room
Nurse Rozetta Millie And Billie Serious How You Gonna See Me Now For Veronica's Sake Jackknife Johnny Inmates (We're All Crazy)
album: "Flush The Fashion" (1980)
Talk Talk Clones (We're All) Pain Leather Boots Aspirin Damage Nuclear Infected Grim Facts Model Citizen Dance Yourself To Death Headlines
album: "Special Forces" (1981)
Who Do You Think We Are Seven & Seven Is Prettiest Cop On The Block Don't Talk Old To Me Generation Landslide '81 (Live) Skeletons In The Closet You Want It, You Got It You Look Good In Rags You're A Movie Vicious Rumours Look At You Over There, Ripping The Sawdust From My TeddyBear
album: "Zipper Catches Skin" (1982)
Zorro's Ascent Make That Money (Scrooge's Song) I Am The Future No Baloney Homosapiens Adaptable (Anything For You) I Like Girls Remarkably Insincere Tag, You're It I Better Be Good I'm Alive (That Was The Day My Dead Pet Returned To Save My Life)
album: "Da Da" (1983)
Da Da Enough's Enough
Former Lee Warmer No Man's Land Dyslexia Scarlet And Sheba I Love America Fresh Blood Pass The Gun Around
album: "Constrictor" (1986)
Teenage Frankenstein Give It Up Thrill My Gorilla Life And Death Of The Party Simple Disobedience The World Needs Guts Trick Bag Crawlin' Great American Success Story He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)
album: "Raise Your Fist And Yell" (1987)
Freedom Lock Me Up Give The Radio Back Step On You Not That Kind Of Love Prince Of Darkness Time To Kill Chop, Chop, Chop Gali Roses Of White Lace
album: "Trash" (1989)
Poison Spark In The Dark House Of Fire Why Trust You Only My Hart Talkin' Bed Of Nails This Maniac's In Love With You Trash Hell Is Living Without You I'm Your Gun
album: "Hey Stoopid" (1991)
Hey Stoopid Love's A Loaded Gun Snakebite
Burning Our Bed Dangerous Tonight Might As Well Be on Mars Feed My Frankenstein Hurricane Years Little by Little Die for You Dirty Dreams Wind-Up Toy
album: "The Last Temptation" (1994)
Sideshow Nothing's Free Lost In America Bad Place Alone You're My Temptation Stolen Prayer Unholy War Lullaby It's Me Cleanced By Fire
album: "Brutal Planet" (2000)
Brutal Planet Wicked Young Man Sanctuary Blow Me A Kiss Eat Some More (Taste The Pain) Pick Up The Bones Pessi-Mystic Gimme It's The Little Things Take It Like A Woman Cold Machines Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me
album: "Dragon Town" (2001)
Triggerman Deeper Dragontown Sex, Death And Money Fantasy Man Somewhere In The Jungle Disgraceland Sister Sara Every Woman Has A Name I Just Wanna Be God It's Much Too Late Sentinel
album: "The Eyes Of Alice Cooper" (2003)
What Do You Want From Me Between High School & Old School Man Of The Year Novocaine Bye Bye Baby Be With You Awhile Detroit City Spirits Rebellious The House Is Haunted Love Should Never Feel Like This The Song That Didn't Rhyme I'm So Angry Backyard Brawl
album: "Hell Is" (2003)
Poison House Of Fire Hell Is Living Without You Bed Of Nails Only My Heart Talkin' Hey Stoopid Love's A Loaded Gun Feed My Frankenstein Hurricane Years Lost In America Stolen Prayer It's Me Cleansed By Fire Fire Go To Hell (Live) School's Out (Live)
album: "Dirty Diamonds" (2005)
Woman Of Mass Distraction Perfect You Make Me Wonna Dirty Diamonds The Saga Of Jesse Jane Sunset Babies (All Got Rabies) Pretty Ballerina Run Down The Devil Steal That Car Six Hours Your Own Worst Enemy Zombie Dance Stand The Sharpest Point
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Born February 4, 1948 Detroit, Michigan
1. School's Out Well we got no choice all the girls and boys Makin' all that noise 'cause they found new toys Well we can't salute ya can't find a flag if that don't suit ya that's a drag School's out for summer school's out forever school's been blown to pieces No more pencils no more books no more teacher's dirty looks yeah Well we got no class and we got no principals and we got no innocence We can't even think of a word that rhymes School's out for summer school's out forever my school's been blown to pieces No more pencils no more books no more teacher's dirty looks
Out for summer out till fall we might not come back at all School's out forever school's out for summer School's out with fever school's out completely . Poison Your cruel device Your blood like ice One look could kill My pain, your thrill I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Your mouth, so hot Your web, I'm caught Your skin, so wet Black lace on sweat I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (And pins) I want to hurt you just to hear you screaming my name Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (Deep in) I want to kiss you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Poison One look could kill My pain, your thrill I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison You're poison runnin'thru my veins You're poison, I don't want to break these chains Poison I want to love you, but I better not touch (Don't touch) I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much) I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison, yeah I don't want to break these chains Poison, oh no Runnin'deep inside my veins, Burnin'deep inside my veins It's poison I don't want to break these chains 3. House Of Fire House of fire
House of fire, yeah Let's build a house of fire, baby Not one of wood or stone Walk thru my door of desire, baby Come on in and make it your home Don't need a window to watch you, baby Don't need no roof overhead Don't need no key to unlock ya, baby I'll use my lovin'instead I won't tire Take me higher Building a house of fire, baby Buildin'it with our love We are buildin'a house of fire every time we touch House of fire House of fire We ain't gotta pay rent now, baby No landlord to throw us out I want to play in your garden, baby When you want it give me a shout I won't tire Take me higher Building a house of fire, baby Buildin'it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch We are building this house together, baby Standing on solid ground We are building a house of fire That you can't tear down Brick by brick the flames get higher Build it strong with our desire Building a house of fire, baby Building it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch We are building this house together, baby Standing on solid ground We are building a house of fire That you can't tear down Building a house of fire, baby Building it with our love We are building a house of fire every time we touch 9. Hell Is Living Without You I can't find your face in a thousand masqueraders You're hidden in the colors of a million other lost
charades In life's big parade I'm the loneliest spectator Cuz you're gone without a trace in a sea of faceless imitators I can't take another night Burning inside this Hell is living without your love Ain't nothing without your Touch me Heaven would be like hell Is living without you Try to walk away When I see the time I've wasted Starving at a feast And all this wine I never tasted On my lips Your memory has been stained It is all in vain Tell me who's to blame I can't take another night Burning inside this Hell is living without your love Ain't nothing without your Touch me Heaven would be like hell Is living without you Nights get longer and colder I'm down begging to hold ya On my own and I feel like hell Is living without you Nights get longer and colder I'm down begging to hold ya On my own and I feel like hell Is living without you
Early Life and Career
Furnier was born in Detroit at a hospital that carried the nickname "The Butcher Shop", but, after a stream of illnesses, moved to Phoenix, Arizona in his youth. His grandfather, Thurman Furnier, was an ordained Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite). Cooper's father, Ether Furnier, was an ordained Elder. Cooper had some distant French Huguenot ancestry; the remainder of his ancestry was English. Cooper, influenced by British Bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks and in particular The Yardbirds, formed a number of rock bands in the 1960s, including the Earwigs, The Spiders, and The Nazz. Upon learning that Todd Rundgren also had a band called The Nazz, Furnier changed the band's name to Alice Cooper (the name Alice Cooper is said to have been agreed
upon after one of Furnier's Ouija sessions, and learning that he was a reincarnation of a 17th century "witch" of the same name, according to band legend, although Cooper in interviews has said the name actually came out of thin air conjuring an image of "a cute little girl with an axe behind her back".) The classic Alice Cooper group line up consisted of guitarists Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith. After moving to California in 1968, the band enlisted Shep Gordon as their manager. They recorded their first album Pretties For You on Frank Zappa's "Bizzarre" label.[1] Frank told them to show up for the recording at 8:00 and the band mistakenly assumed he meant 8:00 AM, they showed up reeling drunk which is quite apparent when listening to this recording. The second album Easy Action was recorded on Frank Zappa's label, Straight Records. This album featured the hit "Refridgerator Heaven". The two competent but outlandish albums, received a frosty public and critical reception. Warner Brothers then purchased Straight Records from Frank Zappa and Alice Cooper was more highly promoted with this major label. Around this time, fed up with Californians' indifference to their act, the band relocated to Alice Cooper's birthplace, Detroit, where their wild stage act was much better received. Detroit would remain the act's home base until the mid-1970s. "LA just didn’t get it. They were all on the wrong drug for us. They were on acid and we were basically drinking beer. We fit much more in Detroit than we did anywhere else..." [2] Although the band incorporated theatrics in their stage act from the outset, a chance case of press misreporting an unfortunate, unrehearsed stage routine involving Cooper and a live chicken led to the band changing tack - capitalizing on tabloid sensationalism and creating a new sub-genre, shock rock. Cooper claims that the chicken incident was an accident. He says he thought, "Chickens have wings, so they must be able to fly" so when it was on the stage, he threw it out over the crowd, with the intention of having the chicken fly away. But chickens cannot fly particularly well, and the bird was instead ripped to shreds by the rowdy audience. Zappa phoned him shortly afterward to ask if the rumor that he had ripped the head off a live chicken and drunk its blood onstage was true. Cooper denied the rumor, whereupon Zappa told him, "Well, whatever you do, don't tell anyone you didn't do it." [3] Cooper says he didn't know they couldn't fly because he said that he had never been on a farm in his life. Cooper claims "We drove the stake through the heart of the "Peace and Love Generation". Other quotes from the DVD biography include "Alice Cooper is unkillable" and "Welcome To My Nightmare is just a record that you never get tired of and can put on when all else fails". [edit]
1970s
In 1970, after the band had recorded two records on Straight Records, the band, under the Warner Brothers label, teamed up with fledgling producer Bob Ezrin on their
album entitled Love It to Death. This was the first of more than 10 Alice Cooper group and solo albums done with Ezrin who is credited with having helped to create their definitive sound. A hit single soon followed in 1971's 'I'm Eighteen'. The band's trailblazing mix of shock and glam theatrics stood out amongst bearded, denim-clad hippy bands by sporting sequined costumes by the prominent rock fashion designer Cindy Dunaway (Pink Floyd, The Who), and stage shows that involved Gothic torture modes imposed on the lead singer. His outspoken views on the Vietnam War stood out no less, as Cooper was always staunchly pro-war — in stark contrast to the vast majority of musicians at the time, who were rebelliously anti-war. The follow up Killer included further singles in 'Under My Wheels' and 'Be My Lover' and also one of the most critically acclaimed Cooper songs in the epic 'Halo Of Flies', which was a Top 10 hit in Holland. In the summer of 1972, Alice Cooper released the appropriately-titled School's Out. The album reached number two on the charts and sold over a million copies. The title song went Top 10 in the US, was a number one single in the UK, and remains a staple on classic rock radio.
Album cover for Billion Dollar Babies Billion Dollar Babies, released in 1973, was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching no. 1 in both the US and Britain. 'Elected' a 1972 top 10 UK hit included on the album (featuring one of the first creative promo films 3 years before Queen's promo video to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'), was followed by 2 more UK top 10 singles in 'Hello Hooray' and 'No More Mister Nice Guy' which was the last UK single from the album and also reached number 25 in the U.S. The title track, featuring guest vocals by Donovan, was also a US hit single. With a string of successful concept albums in the bag and several hit singles, the band toured the world - attempts to ban their shocking act by politicians and pressure groups only serving to fuel the myth of Alice Cooper and generate more audience interest. The 1973 US Tour broke box office records set by The Rolling Stones. The 1974 tour raised rock theatrics to a new level. The stage show, which had a gothic horror theme, featured numerous special effects. The highlight of the show was Cooper's "death" onstage, either by beheading or by hanging. The guillotine, trick noose and other stage effects were designed for the band by stage magician James Randi. During some of the shows, Randi appeared onstage as the executioner. Cooper's stage antics influenced later bands like Kiss and Blue Oyster Cult.
A film 'Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper' (recently re-released on DVD) was released and saw the band as the biggest act in the world at that time. Muscle of Love the last album from the classic line up marked Alice Cooper's last UK top 20 single in the 1970s, with 'Teenage Lament 74'. Even a James Bond theme song was recorded for 'The Man with the Golden Gun', but a different song of the same name by LuLu, was chosen instead. In 1974, the band split - Cooper himself wanting to retain the theatrics that had brought them so much attention, the rest of the group wanting to concentrate on the music which had given them credibility. His first solo album was Welcome to My Nightmare. He was backed by Lou Reed's band, guitarist Dick Wagner, guitarist Steve Hunter, bassist Prakash John, keyboardist Joseph Chrowski, and drummer Penti Glan. The album was another top 10 hit for Cooper and is regarded along with the stage show as ground breaking moments in rock history. In addition, the 1975 US TV special 'The Nightmare' was the first video album, and as with the album, featured horror movie film star Vincent Price, several years before he guested on Michael Jackson's Thriller (song). A concert film, Welcome to My Nightmare (film) was released in late 1975. Though it failed at the box office, it later became a midnight movie favorite and has become a cult classic. It is during this time he founded The Hollywood Vampires. In 1978 he appeared on The Muppet Show where he played himself. Following two less acclaimed studio albums, Alice Cooper Goes to Hell and Lace and Whiskey, along with the 1977 live album The Alice Cooper Show (recorded in Las Vegas), it was clear that the musician was in need of specialized help with his alcoholism, and in 1977 Cooper was hospitalized in a New York sanitarium for alcoholism. At his alcoholic peak some fans rumored that he was up to two cases of Budweiser and a bottle of whiskey a day. This may be responsible for a surprise return to form on the hard-rocking, semiautobiographical album From The Inside, which Cooper co-wrote with Bernie Taupin. Around this time, Cooper led celebrities in raising money to remodel the famous Hollywood Sign in California. Cooper himself chipped in over $27,000 for the project, doing it in memory of friend and comedian Groucho Marx. [edit]
1980s
His albums from the beginning of 1980s, Flush the Fashion, Special Forces, Zipper Catches Skin, and DaDa, were not commercially successful, especially in comparison to previous sales. They were regarded as very strange and bizarre at that time, and are now considered cult classics. Flush the Fashion has a spare, edgy musical sound that was so unexpected as to have been truly baffling to long-time fans. The songs are typically clever, however, and hold up very well. Special Forces was a bit darker and more cynical, but continued with the experimental sound. However, even DaDa, the
best of the alternative albums, had only mildly positive commercial and critical response. DaDa was again produced by Bob Ezrin, who used one of the first samplers (the famous Fairlight) instead of real drums. Cooper then released Constrictor (1986), a heavier album, which had more, but still very limited, success, followed by Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987) which had a rougher sound than its predecessor. Both Constrictor and Raise Your Fist and Yell were recorded with guitarist Kane Roberts & bassist Kip Winger, both of whom would leave the band by the end of 1988 (although Kane Roberts played guitar on 'Bed Of Nails' on the 1989 Trash, album). Kane Roberts would go on as a solo artist, while Kip formed Winger. Roberts' stage attire was unusual since he was basically a Rambo-clone - muscular body, scanty clothing and a guitar that resembled a machine gun. Keep in mind that Heavy Metal music was very popular during this time of the late 1980's and some in the music industry said that Alice was being successfully "resurrected" for the Metal era of music. In 1986 he sang the theme song "The Man Behind the Mask" for the movie Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) Also in 1986, Megadeth was asked to open for Alice Cooper during current US Tours. After noticing the hardcore drug and alcohol abuse in the band, Cooper personally approached them to try and help them control their "demons", and stayed close to front man Dave Mustaine ever since. Mustaine considers him his God Father(VH1 Behind the Music 2001). In 1987, he made a brief appearance as a vagrant in the horror movie Prince of Darkness directed by John Carpenter. His role had no lines, and consisted of menacing the protagonists, and impaling one of them with a bicycle frame. He also appeared at WrestleMania III escorting wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts to the ring. After the match was over, Cooper got involved and threw Jake's snake Damien at The Honky Tonk Man's manager Jimmy Hart. Jake considered the involvement of Cooper to be an honor, as he idolized Cooper in his youth and has remained a fan of his. In 1989, his career experienced a real revival with the Desmond Child produced album Trash, which spawned the hit single 'Poison', reaching # 2 in the UK and #7 in the US, and a worldwide arena tour. It was during this time in the 1980s he became a born-again Christian and became sober. [4] [edit]
1990s
In 1991, the album Hey Stoopid was released; it sold very well, and spawned several hit singles . He also appeared on the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion I, singing backup on the track The Garden. He also made a brief appearance as the abusive stepfather of Freddy Krueger in the 1991 Nightmare On Elm Street film Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.
In 1992, he made a famous cameo in the movie Wayne's World, in which he discusses the history of Milwaukee in some depth. In 1994, he released The Last Temptation, a concept album dealing with issues of faith, temptation, alienation, and the frustrations of modern life. Concurrent with the release of The Last Temptation was a three part comic book series written by Neil Gaiman, fleshing out the album's story. In 1996 Cooper sang the role of Herod on the London Cast soundtrack of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1997, Cooper recorded the intro narration for the Insane Clown Posse album The Great Milenko. [edit]
2000s
A pause, lasting for six years, ended in 2000 with Brutal Planet. Brutal Planet is musically strong, dark and loud, with subject matter thematically inspired by the brutality of the modern world, although set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was succeeded by Dragontown in 2001, which has been described by Cooper as being "the worst town on Brutal Planet". These two albums are the first parts of a trilogy that was apparently put on hold with the release of The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003) People frequently mistake "The Last Temptation" for the first installment. Alice's latest album, Dirty Diamonds, seems to be in a similar vein as "The Eyes of...". Also in 2001, Cooper made a brief appearance in the movie 'Attic Expeditions' as the unstable Samuel Leventhal. In 2001, Cooper was famously interviewed by Dom Joly on the British comedy sketch show Trigger Happy TV. Joly is interrupted by his cell phone mid-interview by, supposedly, his mother. At first Joly attempts to get rid of his pesky mother whilst continuing to prompt Cooper by shaking the microphone at him, at one point explaining that 'no no mum .... I'm interviewing Alice Cooper.....Alice Cooper... no no he's a bloke'. The interview is abruptly terminated when we learn that a relative of Joly's has suffered a car accident involving a tumble 'down a ravine'. At this point Cooper turns to camera and repeats 'down a ravine' whilst suppressing a giggle. Dom then wanders off in a dazed fashion, leaving Cooper alone on the sidewalk. In 2003, Cooper again adopted a leaner, cleaner sound for The Eyes Of Alice Cooper. Recognizing that many current bands were having great success with his former sounds and styles, Cooper worked with a somewhat younger group of road and studio musicians who were very familiar with his oeuvre. However, instead of rehashing the old sounds, they updated them, often with surprisingly effective results. The resulting Bare Bones tour adopted a less-orchestrated performance style that had fewer theatrical flourishes and a greater emphasis on musicality. The success of this tour help support the growing recognition that the classic Cooper songs were exceptionally clever, tuneful, and unique. Cooper received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. It is located at the corner of Orange Drive and Hollywood Boulevard.
On January 26, 2004 Cooper's radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper, began airing in several U.S. cities. The program showcases Classic Rock, Alice's personal stories about his life as a Rock icon, obscure rock history facts, as well as interviews and special segments like the "OffBEAT News" with his counterpart, Mistress Kitty. In 2005, Cooper released his 24th studio album Dirty Diamonds; his first release on New West Records (for America.) Dirty Diamonds was released on August 2, 2005 in the U.S. and July 4, 2005 in Europe. It is a continuation of the songwriting approach the band used on The Eyes of Alice Cooper. Dirty Diamonds is Cooper's highest charting album since 1994's, The Last Temptation coming in at #169 on The Billboard 200. [5] The Dirty Diamonds tour launched in America in August 2005. On May 14, 2006, Cooper was given the "key to the city" of Alice, North Dakota. Alice (population 56) is located approx. 50 miles from Fargo, where Cooper had a concert scheduled on May 15. He also made an interview with a personality of KKBX "The Box 101.9", the radio station that broadcasts his radio show in Fargo, along with "One Red Paperclip". Cooper owns a rock and roll club and restaurant called Alice Cooper'stown in Phoenix and Cleveland. He is an avid golfer (handicap 5) and a member of Phoenix Country Club. [edit]
Discography
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Pretties for You (1969) Easy Action (1970) Love It to Death (1971) Killer (1971) School's Out (1972) Billion Dollar Babies (1973) Muscle of Love (1973) Greatest Hits (1974) Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976) Lace and Whiskey (1977) The Alice Cooper Show (Live) (1977) From the Inside (1978) Flush the Fashion (1980) Special Forces (1981) Collection (1982) Zipper Catches Skin (1982) DaDa (1983) Constrictor (1986)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Trash (1989) Hey Stoopid (1991) Beast of Alice Cooper (1993) The Last Temptation (1994) Classicks (1995) Fistful of Alice (Live) (1997) A Nice Nightmare (1997) He's Back (1997) Freedom For Frankenstein: Hits & Pieces 1984-1991 (1998) The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper (4 CD Box) (1999) Super Hits (1999) Brutal Planet (2000) The Best of Alice Cooper (2001) The Definitive Alice Cooper (2001) Dragontown (2001) Hell Is (2003) Poison (2003) The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003) School's Out and Other Hits (2004) Dirty Diamonds (2005)
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Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987) Prince Of Darkness (1989)
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Live At Cabo Wabo '96 (2005)
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[edit]
Singles
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"Caught In A Dream" (1971) #94 US "Be My Lover" (1972) #49 US "School's Out" (1972) #9 US "Elected" (1972) #26 US "Under My Wheels" (1973) #59 US "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (1973) #25 US "Hello Hurray" (1973) #35 US "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) #57 US "Teenage Lament '74" (1974) #48 US "Only Women Bleed" (1975) #12 US "Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975) #45 US "Department Of Youth" (1975) #67 US "I Never Cry" (1977) #12 US "You And Me" (1977) #9 US "How You Gonna See Me Now" (1978) #12 US "Clones (We're All)" (1980) #40 US "Poison" (1989) #9 US "House Of Fire" (1990) #56 US "Only My Heart Talkin'" (1990) #89 US "Hey Stoopid" (1991) #78 US
1. I Never Cry If there's a tear on my face It makes me shiver to the bones it shakes me babe It's just a heartache that got cought in my eye and you know I never cry I never cry Sometimes I drink more than I need Until the T.V.'s dead and gone I may be lonely but I'm never alone and the night may pass me by but I'll never cry Take away take away my eyes Sometimes I'd rather be blind Break a heart break a heart of stone Open it up but don't you leave it alone
'Cause that's all I've got give to you believe me babe it ain't been used My heart's a virgin it ain't never been tried and you know I'll never cry and you know I'll never cry and you know you know you know you know I'll never cry, I'll never cry Break a heart break a heart of stone Open it up but don't you leave it alone 'Cause that's all I've got give to you believe me babe it ain't been used My heart's a virgin it ain't never been tried and you know I'll never cry and you know I'll never cry and you know you know you know you know I'll never cry, I'll never cry 1. You And Me When I got home from work I wanna wrap myself around you I wanna take you and squeeze you 'till the passion starts to rise. I wanna take you to heaven that would make my day complete but you and me ain't movie stars what we are is what we are we share a bed some lovin' and t.v. yeah. That's enough for a workin' man what I am is what I am and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. Sometimes when you're asleep and I'm just starin' at the ceiling I wanna reach out and touch you but you just go on dreamin'. If I could take you to heaven that would make my day complete but you and me ain't movie stars what we are is what we are
and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. You and me ain't no superstars what we are is what we are we share a bed some popcorn and t.v. yeah. And that's enough for a workin' man what I am is what I am and I tell you babe well that's enough for me. When I got home from work I wanna wrap myself around you I like to hold you and squeeze you 'till the passion starts to rise. I wanna take you to heaven that would make my day complete ...
Vincent Furnier s-a nascut pe 4 februarie 1948 intr-un spital cu reputatie proasta din Detroit, supranumit “Butcher’s Palace”, nou-nascutul suferind de eczeme faciale si astm infantil. In 1965, intr-o repetitie rock acrobata, Furnier cade si isi rupe nasul, care va ramane coroiat, ramanand un semn distinctiv al imagisticii Alice Cooper. In 1968, Frank Zappa isi fondeaza propria casa de discuri – Bizarre Records – si semneaza trei anomalii ale scenei americane: Captain Beefheart, Alice Cooper si Girls Together Outrageously (singura trupa de “groupies”). GTO va sucomba in urma unor excese narcotice si sexuale, Beefheart va deveni cel mai atipic grup rock al undergroundului, iar Alice Cooper se va impune in culturapop prin showurile teatrale grotesti. Cam asa comenta dl. Vincent Furnier momentul zero al trupei care l-a facut celebru: “Zappa was regarded unofficially as a drug freak, a nut, but that wasn't the case at all. He never touched drugs and he was the straightest, strictest businessman I ever dealt with. He told me that he was starting his own record company and looking for acts to sign, especially comedy and psychedelic acts that nobody else would take a chance on... As the party went on and he got drunker, I got more insistent. Finally he said: Allright! Miss Christine, from GTO, let us into his house at the break of dawn, and we set up our equipment and lights in his basement and started playing. Zappa came rushing downstairs, naked, holding his ears. "All right, all right" he shouted, his cock swinging back and forth as he shook his head... I'll sign you! I'll sign you! Just stop playing!” La debut, formatia Alice Cooper este specializata in cacofonii si evacuarea spectatorilor din cluburi. De altfel, Zappa a folosit grupul in deschidere, pentru trierea audientei. Albumul Pretties for you este prima tentativa discografica a formulei “de aur” Alice Cooper: Vincent Furnier - voce, muzicuta, Neal Smith – baterie, Dennis Dunaway – bas, Glen Buxton – chitara solo, Michael Bruce – chitara ritm, pian, orga. Zappa a realizat selectia si mixajul celor 13 piese, pornind de la o sesiune de jam si inregistrari din care a colectat diverse deraieri Alice Cooper. O paleta restransa de riffuri garage-rock, efecte psihedelice a la
Syd Barret si disonante in exces. Este poate cel mai atipic album al grupului, cel putin pentru faptul ca se intrevede greu incotro ajung piesele (daca pleaca sau daca ajung undeva). Sing low, sweet cherio (3) si Fields of regret (6) sunt cele mai elocvente mostre de amatorism si libertinaj rock.
(C) Ezra Music/Early Frost/BMI
