I don't intend on "spoiling it," but in case I do so inadvertently, there is the forewarning: I don't want to be banned.
Alice Cooper was the ultimate post-1960's reaction to mid-1950's phenomenon. The urban legend of the name "Alice Cooper" deriving its origins from a "17th Century Witch," coupled with outrageous stage-antics ala Grand Guignol, only served to heighten the furor of that more tranquil, but yet still "boiling time." One must remember that, when "Love It To Death" (one of their best albums, it certainly beat "Killer" and "School's Out.") came out, the sixties hug-fest was over. "The Ballad of Dwight Frye" and "Caught In A Dream," captured perfectly the absolute futility of all established "norms." Truth be told, Shep Gordon and Bob Ezrin were as much responsible for "The Alice Cooper Group," perhaps even more-so, at the beginning, tban Alice himself.
That being said, I feel the charges levelled at Alice by former band member Michael Bruce to be largely unfounded. Of course, he was there and I wasn't--however, the power, strength and above all *depth* of the original ACG was Alice himself--this is *so* evident during "Welcome To My Nightmare" (Alice Cooper's greatest work!) that it bears repeating.
That being said, there *were* some great contributions by the other bandmembers--however, none of them could sustain the image and sick-glamor of Alice himself...
Alice Cooper was the ultimate post-1960's reaction to mid-1950's phenomenon. The urban legend of the name "Alice Cooper" deriving its origins from a "17th Century Witch," coupled with outrageous stage-antics ala Grand Guignol, only served to heighten the furor of that more tranquil, but yet still "boiling time." One must remember that, when "Love It To Death" (one of their best albums, it certainly beat "Killer" and "School's Out.") came out, the sixties hug-fest was over. "The Ballad of Dwight Frye" and "Caught In A Dream," captured perfectly the absolute futility of all established "norms." Truth be told, Shep Gordon and Bob Ezrin were as much responsible for "The Alice Cooper Group," perhaps even more-so, at the beginning, tban Alice himself.
That being said, I feel the charges levelled at Alice by former band member Michael Bruce to be largely unfounded. Of course, he was there and I wasn't--however, the power, strength and above all *depth* of the original ACG was Alice himself--this is *so* evident during "Welcome To My Nightmare" (Alice Cooper's greatest work!) that it bears repeating.
That being said, there *were* some great contributions by the other bandmembers--however, none of them could sustain the image and sick-glamor of Alice himself...