|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOOPER, AliceUS group/leader. Original lineup: Alice Cooper (b Vincent Furnier, 4 Feb. '45, Detroit), vocals; Glen Buxton (b 17 June '47, Wash. DC), lead guitar; Dennis Dunaway (b 15 March '46 CA), bass; Michael Bruce (b 21 Nov. '48 CA), keyboards, guitar; Neal Smith (b 10 Jan. '46, Wash. DC), drums. Cooper brought up in Phoenix; formed first band Earwigs '65 with Buxton, Dunaway and two others who left as Bruce joined and group changed name to the Spiders. Had local hit; Smith joined and name changed again to the Nazz (no connection with later group of that name). Moved to LA late '60s; Alice Cooper as name of both group and leader: this ambiguity may have appealed to Frank Zappa, reportedly impressed by their ability to empty a local club with their performance; he signed them to his label Straight. Two albums later switched to WB '71, prod. Bob Ezrin: LP Love It To Death contained first US hit single 'I'm 18'; belated success paid off huge debts group had incurred. Killer '71 did even better in the album chart. Notorious at the time for excess (theatrical gore); LP School's Out '72 was biggest hit; title track made USA top ten, no. 1 in UK; great chart success in UK, where three singles (all from '73 album Billion Dollar Babies) made top ten. Cooper then recruited ex-Lou Reed and Mitch Ryder sidemen (original group later worked as Billion Dollar Babies without success); subsequent Cooper releases used session musicians. Son of a clergyman who once shocked with androgyny and chopped-up doll babies had TV special '75, became game-show guest; had ballad hits '76--7. Also had well-known alcohol problem; exorcized it in From The Inside '78, with some lyrics by Bernie Taupin. Contributed to film Roadie '80. LPs Flush The Fashion '80; Zipper Catches Skin, Live In Toronto '82, Dada '83; to MCA for Constrictor and Raise Your Fist And Yell; to Epic for Trash '89, Hey Stoopid '91, The Last Temptation '94; latest comeback was A Fistful Of Alice '97, the greatest hits performed live on Guardian/EMI. |