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Record Collector
Alice Cooper
(Record Collector, 1987-09-00)
The reception afforded Alice Cooper on his recent return to the music scene after a lengthy abscence has re-affirmed his status as one of the most individual and influential performers of the Seventies. His controversial stage antics tended to obsure his ability as a songwriter, as a sardonic observer of the spiralling decay of U.S. culture. Most of Alice Cooper's discography can be aquired with little trouble as few of his songs have not turned up on LP. However, collectors face more of a challange if they wish to seek out picture sleeve singles and first pressings of the albums....
Live at the Whiskey A-Go-Go Album Review
(Record Collector, 1992-06-00)
"Testing... another fun night". Those awkward pre-performance moments are punctuated by several anticipatory flourishes from the guitarist and the drummer, before the latter counts in his colleagues with several rim shots. An awakward bass riff, straight off a Roger Corman soundtrack, sleepwalks its way into Los Angeles clubland. The days of love and peace are over. There is a camp malevolence in the air. Alice Cooper is playing to several Warner Brothers bigwigs, who'd just signed up the band, sight-unseen, via a deal with Frank Zappa and Herb Cohen's Bizarre label. They look uneasy....
Book Review
(Record Collector, 1997-02-00)
Unlike many of his British contemporaries, Alice Cooper always insisted that his idea of rock theatre had no hidden agendas - it was simply rock music given an extravagant, and sometimes shocking, twist with the addition of a few props. Offstage, far from incorporating his "Killer" concept into his daily routine, he was a beer-swilling, television addict who enjoyed a few games of golf with the odd (aren't they all?) American President....
News Report
(Record Collector, 1997-06-00)
Alice Cooper promises the "last ever performance of 'Killer' " at his Wembley Empire Pool show. During the tour, he previews his next single, "School's Out"....
Glen Buxton 1947-1997
(Record Collector, 1997-12-00)
The riff you'll know, but the name, Glen Buxton, the original Alice Cooper guitarist who died in November from complications arising from pneumonia, has long been overshadowed by that of the band's front-man. Glam Rock was a golden era for those 'at 'em' pop intros, but rarely has a song announced itself so magnificently as Alice Cooper's "School's Out". That this celebration of the summer holidays/ode to truancy became a No. 1 was all the more joyous. Who knows? The Cooper band may have done more to foster the insurrectional spirit of punk five years later than they've been credited for - after all, Johnny Rotten past his audition for the Sex Pistols by singing along to "18"....
The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper
(Record Collector, 1999-06-00)
1972 was a vintage year for summer anthems: Mott The Hoople's "All The Young Dudes", Derek and the Dominos' "Layla", Hawkwind's "Silver Machine", even Gary Glitter's "Rock 'n' Roll Part 2". Each confirmed that rumours of pop's demise after the Beatles break-up had been premature. But one record -out-flanked them all - Alice Cooper's "School's Out". A revved-up Harley-Davidson chug-a-lug, with a machete-sharp riff that ate the Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" for breakfast, "School's Out" prompted moral guardians to reach for their panic buttons once more. ...
Book Of The Month
(Record Collector, 2000-02-00)
Alice Cooper, God Bless him. The unlikely recipient of a book dedicated to his record releases, you'd be surprised at the amount of product that the former Vince Furnier has released over the last 30 years, and Dale Sherman is the man to write it all down. Even if you're not an obsessive, this book is a treasure trove of Alice trivia because - putting the immensely detailed discographies aside you get details of TV and film appearances, comic books, and guest spots on other people's records by Vince and his band members. Did you know Alice appeared on The Gong Show in the 70s? Or that the US rocker Kane Roberts' 1987 promo cassette has no input from the man himself but carries the statement "See Kane on tour with Alice Cooper". Pretty thorough, huh? The book is also full of great illustrations, a particular favourite being the "Certificate Of Insanity" that was given away with the "From The Inside" album. Recommended for fans, but the uninitiated may be scared off....
Alice Cooper
(Record Collector, 2001-04-00)
Following the 4-CD box set come this single disc anthology, which attempts to cover the career of ol' Vince over the last 30 years or so. No easy task and, despite its inclusion of 22 tracks, not all fans will agree with the selection. Where are classics such as "Hey Stoopid" or "Road Rats", and why nothing from the 90's - a decade that saw an Alice renaissance? However, if you're more into the glam man than the hard rocker, then your tastes should be sated....
Who the **** is Alice?
(Record Collector, 2002-12-00)
The first unofficial Alice Cooper convetion, Sickcon1, was held on 2nd Novemeber at Crewe's Limelight Club. Guest of honour were Bouchard, Dunaway, Smith -- comprising founder members of the Alice Cooper band, Neal Smith (drums) and Dennis Dunaway (bass), along with Blue Oyster Culy founder Joe Bouchard, on guiatr/vocals. If was the first time in 30 years that the original Alice Cooper men had played in the UK, and also making as appearance was fellow Alice Cooper founder member Michael Bruce. The day included screenings of rare live footage, a Q&A session delving into the band's history, a memorabilia auction, an acoustic set by Joe Bouchard, and a full band performance, including an encore featuring Bruce....
School's Back
(Record Collector, 2011-08-00)
The Alice Cooper Old School collection (Universal) features a 12" box crafted to resemble a well-worn American high school dead from the Vietnam War era. ...