Hurricane Alice Cooper Slammed into Gulf Coast

Class in Session

I was happily surprised to see some kids attendance. It was a casino so I wasn’t expecting much but it brought back memories of taking my own kids to see Alice in the early 90s. The School of Alice Cooper is a lesson in history, teamwork, musicianship and a bands relationship with theatrics. Cooper has gone from playing psychedelic music that evolved (and eventually inspired) glam, hard rock, heavy metal and even punk. They were the first to offer up theatrics, props and a horror schtick but never skimped on their songwriting. Their songs have stood the test of time and those in attendance received a lesson in the deepest roots of heavy metal. It was presented by a musical grandfather who has inspired such groups as KISS, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Guns & Roses, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Twisted Sister, GWAR and others. Lessons like that aren’t taught in classrooms.

Alice Cooper Banned in Mississippi (and elsewhere)

The show opened with a large newspaper headline banner hanging at the front of stage proclaiming “Alice Cooper BANNED in Mississippi. Alice made his grand entrance from behind the banner by slicing through it with a sword and stepping out onto stage. The band kicked into “Lock Me Up” (from Raise Your Fist and Yell) an old song being played for the first time. Much to the delight of die hard fans, guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss is back onstage for Alice Cooper’s Too Close for Comfort tour. The newbies are in for a treat.

Nita Strauss Returns Home

Strauss, an eight year veteran of the shock rocker took a hiatus to join Demi Lovato’s tour last year when Lovato decided to transition into a heavier rock direction. Demi couldn’t have found a more dynamic guitarists but I doubt she shares her spotlight as much as Alice does. With an illustrious career of her own, Nita slid right back into the 3 axe attack she’d shares with longtime Cooper stalwarts Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie. It was obvious she loves being back in the fold. She whipped her long blonde hair about as she ran from side to side of the stage and dazzling everyone with her abilities and her beauty.  Not since Nancy Wilson of Heart have I seen a female guitarist perform with such magnitude. Nita has truly mastered her craft and not simply as a “female” guitarist but as a “master” guitarist.

Trading in his sword for a cane, then a crutch Alice’s next 3 songs were a non-stop gut punch of greatest hits. “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “I’m Eighteen” and “Under My Wheels” all came from his initial 1970-72 heyday. It may have be a salute to the old-timers in attendance but after that the band could do no wrong.  Deep cuts? No problem! Unfamiliar songs? Bring it on….and they did.

Guitar Gods and their Axes

Guitarists Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie have supported Alice Cooper for years. Alice has always featured great guitarists from Davey Johnstone and Steve Hunter to Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dick Wagner, Kane Roberts and Reb Beach and more. Having seen and followed Alice Cooper over 45 years I’ll admit this current team takes it to the limit. Their interaction is amazing and the sound engineer had them sounding crisp, clean and loud. Tommy is also a member of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires. It’s a band that also includes Alice Cooper, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and drumming bandmate Glen Sobel. Yes, he’s Joe Perry’s guitar partner and you thought Brad Whitford was the only one. Between these Henriksen, Roxie & Strauss these powerhouses create a bombastic show for guitar aficionados. Alice should give this band a special name because they could easily go out on their own and kill it.

Former Ronnie James Dio and current Beast Blanco bassist Chuck Garric joined Alice Cooper in 2003 and gives Dio for launching his career. He has also played with LA Guns and the Eric Singer Project (a former Alice Cooper drummer now with KISS). Garric’s partner in the rhythm section is Glen Sobel who has been on Alice Cooper’s drum stool since 2011. Besides playing in the Hollywood Vampires, Glen has also filled in for Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and other bands. While NASA may only be a few miles up the road, these two guys provided a solid launch pad from which each of the other guitarists took flight.

“Bed of Nails” a deep cut from 1989’s Trashed was next. It was followed by purple and white lights flashing on Glen Sobel as he pounded out the intro to “Billion Dollar Babies” (the title track from their 1973 album). A crew member came out to shoot Alice Cooper $100 bills from a confetti cannon out over the audience.

Shreddin’ on the Blues

Anyone arguing that heavy metal players don’t understand the basics of the blues can put that bullshit aside. Roxie and Henriksen may power through historically well-worn guitar riffs but are every bit as bluesy as Aerosmith’s Perry/Whitfield or the Black Crowes. Their guitar army rose to the occasion when Alice whipped out a harmonica and started wailing the blues. If that song  “Fallen in Love” sounded more like ZZ Top than Alice Cooper you wouldn’t be far off. Alice co-wrote it with Billy Gibbons for the Paranormal album (2017) and each guitarist took turns riffing the blues.

Alice’s boa constrictor made its first stage appearance in over a decade. It’s either a new snake or it’s been eating really well. The same was huge and engaged as it actively recoiled and rose high above Alice’s head. The video close-ups enhanced his effect. He was brought out during “Snakebite” a song from 1991’s Hey Stoopid that Alice hasn’t performed since then.

Beware of the Paparazzi (unless you’ve got a sword)

“Be My Lover” (Killer 1971) and “Lost in America” (“the Last Temptation” 1994) followed.  Lost in America is a deep cut with strong lyrics that may resonate more today than when it was first released. While unfamiliar, it was an unexpected highlight. Magic also pops up from time to time. During “Hey Stoopid” a paparazzi cameraman rushed the stage so Alice calmly walked over and plunged his sword all the way through the guy. The sword to go go all the way through the guy and crew came out to retrieve him. 

Glen Sobel followed up with a drum solo and as a drummer myself, I’ve watched a million drummers twirl their sticks. Glen’s dexterity allowed him to twirl them as he was playing and not above his head like most. It made for some interesting eye candy to say the least. In the midst of his drum solo it started raining and lightening on stage. It was a really cool effect and led into the opening chords of “Welcome to My Nightmare” (1975).  Standing on the staircase and amidst white smoke, Alice led the band through the iconic song he hadn’t performed since 2017.

Dancing’ with the Dead

“Cold Ethyl”, a humorous song about necrophilia was also revived for this tour. It was a song that had preachers howling in the mid-70s while kids ran around singing, “She’s cool in bed. She’s gotta be cause Ethyl’s dead”. Some people just weren’t in on the joke. During the song Alice tossed and kicked a life size rag doll around the stage. Once Alice tossed Ethyl doll aside, he sat in a chair and bathed in red light and went into his hit ballad “Only Women Bleed”. As he sang Ethyl came to life and performed a ballet for the madman. The professional dancer was Alice’s wife of 47 years Sheryl Goddard Cooper. They met when she auditioned for the band in 1977 and has been with him ever since.

Two of Alice Cooper’s later hits came next.  “Poison” (from 1989’s Trashed) which found Cooper reunited with his sword and “Feed My Frankenstein” (from Hey Stoopid).  During Frankenstein, a large monster found its way onstage and wondered around aimlessly. Then, as on the album, Vincent Prices appears in a video describing the mating and eating ritual of “The Black Widow” before introducing the song. The original song had lyrics but the band cranks this one out as an instrumental guitar jam. Strauss, Roxie and Henriksen each stretch out to solo.

Off with his Head

Alice Cooper wouldn’t be who he is without a straitjacket and he doesn’t disappoint. “The Ballad of Dwight Frye” finds him secured in the jacket and singing insanity before breaking free to fight off his hooded oppressor. As his luck would have it, his freedom isn’t in the cards. A 19th century, blue-gowned and powder-wigged Marie Antiodeath marches Cooper to the guillotine before chopping off his head. Alice has performed the gag a thousand times and everyone knows it’s coming. Still they cheer. Once the deed is done the band breaks into “I Love the Dead” as Marie carries Alice’s head offstage. 

The Coop returns to the stage in an unrestrained straight jacket and sings “Escape” before the executioners lead him away.

Summertime’s a Comin’

A school bell kicks off arguably Copper’s most popular song “School’s Out”. Alice has traded his black leather for a white top hat and tuxedo tails and is twirling a white baton. It’s classy Alice Cooper and he leads the audience in the fist pumping, sing-a-long.  A suds machine fills the air with large snowflakes while the video walls reveal a burning school. When the band enters their final solos of the evening Alice yells, “Its Party Time”. A dozen large 5′ balloons come flying from the stage into the audience. Eventually they bounce back onstage where Alice skewers them with his sword

As the ending of “Schools Out” nears, the band starts singing Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”. The lyrics “We don’t need no education. We don’t need no thought control” over the top of the “School’s Out” must works well. After introducing the band members during the song they take their final bows. What a great way to end the song.

Alice Cooper for President

A few dark minutes pass before the encore. When the lights and video finally flood the stage, the scene is set for an American political rally. A sea of red, white and blue dominates the stage while the stairs have been spun around to form a platform for Alice’s final number. The band kicks in and wearing an American flag style leather coat Alice sings (I wanna be) “Elected”.  Videos and posters of Alice Cooper for President drop all around him. Streamers and confetti fall on the masses. The bands tight 23 song – 95 minute show comes to a close. On our way to the elevators there was nothing but excitement about the Alice Cooper Too Close for Comfort Tour of 2023. Alice Cooper for President!

CLASS DISMISSED