Alice Cooper, the legendary shock rock band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968, revolutionized the rock genre with their theatrical and controversial performances. Fronted by Vincent Furnier, who later adopted the stage name Alice Cooper, the band included guitarists Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith. From their early days as The Earwigs and The Spiders, to their breakthrough with the album Love It to Death, and their rise to fame with macabre stage shows, Alice Cooper's journey is a testament to their innovative blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and shock rock theatrics. Their eclectic influences, groundbreaking performances, and iconic hits like "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out" have left an indelible mark on the rock music landscape.
The Early Years: From The Earwigs to The Spiders
Vincent Furnier's musical journey began in high school, where he formed a band called The Earwigs with fellow members of the track team. Initially performing Beatles parodies, they evolved into The Spiders and gained local popularity in Phoenix playing rock covers. Inspired by surrealist art and films like What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Barbarella, Furnier began developing the dark, androgynous Alice Cooper persona. In 1968, the band moved to Los Angeles and caught the attention of Frank Zappa, who released their first two psychedelic albums, Pretties for You and Easy Action, on his label. Though commercially unsuccessful, these early years laid the groundwork for the band's iconic sound and image.
Breakthrough with 'Love It to Death'
The Alice Cooper band's breakthrough came in 1971 with their third album, Love It to Death, produced by Bob Ezrin. Ezrin honed the band's raw energy and theatricality into a more focused, commercial sound, exemplified by the hit single "I'm Eighteen." Recorded at RCA Mid-American Recording Center in Chicago, the album showcased a heavier, more dynamic style influenced by the Detroit rock scene. Songs like "Ballad of Dwight Fry" and "Black Juju" further developed the band's dark, horror-themed imagery. Love It to Death reached #35 on the Billboard 200, achieving platinum status and establishing Alice Cooper as a major force in the emerging hard rock and heavy metal genres.
The Rise of Shock Rock: Theatrical Stage Shows
Alice Cooper's groundbreaking theatrical stage shows in the early 1970s solidified the band's reputation as the pioneers of shock rock. Their elaborate, horror-themed performances featured guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, boa constrictors, and the infamous "death" of Alice on stage. These macabre, vaudevillian live shows, designed to shock and provoke, pushed the boundaries of rock theater. Alice's androgynous, ghoulish stage persona—with tattered women's clothing, heavy makeup, and disheveled hair—subverted traditional notions of masculinity in rock. Hits like "Under My Wheels," "Be My Lover," and "School's Out" accompanied the highly choreographed, violent spectacle. The band's 1973 Billion Dollar Babies tour, featuring a life-sized dental psychosis puppet, was one of the highest-grossing of the decade. While controversial, drawing censorship and protests, Alice Cooper's revolutionary shock rock antics paved the way for future generations of theatrical metal and rock acts.
Early Musical Influence
Alice Cooper's early musical influences were diverse and eclectic, reflecting the band's experimental approach to rock music. Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, frontman Vincent Furnier was exposed to a wide range of genres, from classic rock 'n' roll and R&B to avant-garde art rock. The band drew inspiration from the raw energy of Detroit rock acts like the MC5 and The Stooges, as well as the melodic pop sensibilities of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Furnier's love of horror films and surrealist art also shaped the band's dark, theatrical aesthetic.The psychedelic rock of the late 1960s, exemplified by Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, influenced Alice Cooper's early albums, Pretties for You and Easy Action, released on Frank Zappa's label in 1969-70. These diverse influences laid the groundwork for the band's unique blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and shock rock theatrics that would define their career.
Recording 'Love It to Death'
Alice Cooper's third album Love It to Death was recorded in November-December 1970 at RCA Mid-American Recording Center in Chicago. Produced by Jack Richardson and a young Bob Ezrin, the sessions marked a pivotal moment in the band's career. Ezrin, who had seen the band's potential during a performance in New York, convinced a skeptical Richardson to let him work with Alice Cooper. Ezrin moved in with the band in Pontiac, Michigan to prepare material before entering the studio.The focused pre-production with Ezrin resulted in a more polished, commercial sound compared to the band's experimental first two albums. Ezrin tightened the arrangements, including editing the epic jam "I'm Eighteen" down to a concise three-minute single. He also contributed keyboard parts to several tracks. Other songs like "Is It My Body," "Ballad of Dwight Fry," and the psychedelic "Black Juju" showcased the band's dynamic hard rock style and macabre lyrical themes.
Breakout Single: 'I'm Eighteen'
Alice Cooper's breakout hit "I'm Eighteen" was released as a single in November 1970, three months before their third album Love It to Death. The song's raw, angsty energy and themes of teenage uncertainty resonated with audiences. "I'm Eighteen" features an iconic, arpeggiated guitar riff by Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, and an aggressive vocal performance by Alice Cooper expressing the frustrations of being "in the middle" between childhood and adulthood.Originally an eight-minute jam, producer Bob Ezrin recognized the song's potential and convinced the band to tighten it into a concise, hard-hitting three-minute rocker. "I'm Eighteen" reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971, becoming the band's first top 40 hit and convincing Warner Bros. of their commercial viability.The song's success had a significant impact on the development of hard rock, punk, and heavy metal. Joey Ramone based the Ramones' first song "I Don't Care" on the chords to "I'm Eighteen," while John Lydon of the Sex Pistols auditioned by miming to the song. Bands like Anthrax and Creed later covered "I'm Eighteen," and Kiss faced a plagiarism suit over the song's similarity to their 1998 track "Dreamin'." "I'm Eighteen" remains one of Alice Cooper's signature songs and a classic of the shock rock genre they pioneered.
Impact on Rock Music
Alice Cooper's impact on rock music cannot be overstated. The band's unique blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and theatrical shock rock forever changed the genre and influenced countless artists. Their dark, controversial stage shows featuring mock executions, snakes, and gore pushed the boundaries of live performance, paving the way for future generations of shock rockers like Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and Gwar.Musically, Alice Cooper's heavy yet melodic sound on albums like Love It to Death and Billion Dollar Babies helped bridge the gap between the psychedelic rock of the late 1960s and the emerging heavy metal of the early 1970s. Songs like "I'm Eighteen," "Under My Wheels," and "School's Out" became hard rock staples, influencing acts from Kiss and Mötley Crüe to punk bands like the Ramones and Sex Pistols.Alice Cooper's androgynous, macabre persona also had a profound effect on rock's visual aesthetic. His tattered women's clothing, heavy makeup, and disheveled hair subverted traditional notions of masculinity in rock, inspiring artists like David Bowie, the New York Dolls, and countless glam metal acts. The band's use of horror imagery, from guillotines to fake blood, became a defining feature of the shock rock genre.While controversial, drawing protests and censorship, Alice Cooper's groundbreaking music and live shows opened the door for more experimental, provocative forms of rock expression. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 solidified their status as one of the most influential and enduring acts in rock history.
Picture from "Rainbow album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll," 1978...
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