Rhino Records have released a new version of 1973s ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ album on Blu-Ray Audio. It’s the first proper re-release of the original quadraphonic (early surround sound) mix of the album and is not the same as the surround mix released on the DVD-A some years ago, as that was a completely new mix especially for that release. It’s currently only available directly from Rhino themselves in the US, but it seems it will be available in the UK from ‘Dig’ from August 4th with pre-orders available now. Ordering from them in the UK is likely to be substantially cheaper than ordering from the US and avoids the risk of addition import and VAT charges when it arrives in the country.
Electric Eye have a review and lots of photos from the Hollywood Vampires Paris show a few days ago.
Nita Strauss spoke to 97.7 QLZ this week which you can listen to via YouTube, where there is also fan-shot video of her full show from Mechanicsburg, PA last week.
Alice Cooper has announced five more headline shows in August with tickets going on sale tomorrow. The new shows are:
August 6th – 1st Summit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown, PA, Johnstown, PA
August 15th – Juanita K Hammons Hall, Springfield, MO
August 19th – Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, Midland, TX
August 20th – The Buddy Holly Hall at Helen DeVitt Jones Theater, Lubbock, TX
August 22nd – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
The Hollywood Vampires show at Hellfest almost didn’t go ahead after their equipment was stuck in traffic at the French border. Luckily thanks to Kiss and their crew, who were also at the festival, they managed to put together enough gear for them to play the show.
Dennis Dunaway will be appearing on ‘Voodoo Radio’ tomorrow at 7pm UK time. Anyone can listen in to this via the stations website here.
There’s a new 90 minute interview with Chuck Garric thanks to the ‘Mama Tried Show & Flat Out Friday’ Youtube channel which you can check out here.
Hollywood Soapbox has a short interview with Neal Smith talking about his latest solo album ‘Killsmith Goes West’.
Nita Strauss jumped up on stage with Demi Lovato again the other night, on a night off during her current tour, to guest on ‘Heart Attack’. Blabbermouth have videos.
‘I’m Alice’, the first single from ‘Road’ has just dropped in Australia on Spotify and Youtube but due to the time difference it won’t be playable until midnight in your local time. But when it is it should be playable below!
UPDATE: The official video has now appeared which you can see below or here.
There’s also a new show added into the schedule in Madison, WI at the Overture Center on August 10th. This is a headline show between the dates on the Motley Crue/Def Leppard tour and tickets are already on sale direct form the venue.
While we’re still waiting for the official press announcement, details of the new album have been surfacing over the last few days from various retailer listings and the appearance of the short video teaser above [since removed for some reason] suggests a full announcement won’t be long coming.
What we know so far is that the album is entitled ‘Road’ and it will be released on August 25th by earMusic in various combinations. There are *at least* three different CD versions: CD, CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray. Then there are also *at least* three double vinyl versions, in black, red and orange, which also come with the DVD. There will also be a deluxe limited edition vinyl+CD+Blu-Ray+merchandise version. The DVD contains last years Hellfest performance which was streamed live at the time. (I’ll post order links up once both AmazonUK and US have finalised their listings)
The album was produced by Bob Ezrin and features the current live band (Tommy, Roxie, Nita, Chuck, Glen) plus guest appearances by Kane Roberts, Tom Morello, Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) who all also co-write at least one song. The track listing as listed on Amazon is:
I’m Alice
Welcome To The Show
All Over The World
Dead Don’t Dance
Go Away
White Line Frankenstein
Big Boots
Rules Of The Road
The Big Goodbye
Road Rats Forever
Baby Please Don’t Go
100 More Miles
Magic Bus
Amazon.com has the following description:
“The road will make you or break you. To survive it, you need to be as tough as asphalt and move fast enough to make the competition eat dust. Throughout 2022, Alice collaborated closely with the members of his touring band as well as long-time producer Bob Ezrin, putting together what would become his brand-new studio album “Road.” You can feel the energy and lightness that the band brings with every riff and hear the story behind what inspired them. Bringing everything full circle, it channels the spirit of old school Alice with instantly recognizable grit and plenty of gusto. It’s everything you’d hope for from him and more. And this time his trusted longtime bandmates— Ryan Roxie [guitar], Chuck Garric [bass], Tommy Henrikson [guitar], Glen Sobel [drums], and Nita Strauss [guitar]—are riding shotgun. Kane Roberts (a touring and recording collaborator with Alice’s in years past who briefly rejoined Cooper on the road in 2022) makes a special guest appearance, contributing the raucous and rip-roaring “Dead Don’t Dance.” Other special contributors to the album include Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who co-wrote, and plays and sings backing vocals on “White Line Frankenstein,” and Buckcherry’s Keith Nelson and MC5’s Wayne Kramer, who also co-wrote new songs with Alice.”
Obviously I’ll post the full release information as soon as it’s released
In other news, Nita Strauss has released another track from her forthcoming second album. This one is called ‘Victorious’ and features "Dorothy" on vocals. Nita says: "‘Victorious‘ is the anthem I always wanted, a song about inspiring change, marching forward relentlessly, being willing to save yourself instead of waiting for someone to do it for you, and never backing down from a fight, Dorothy was the perfect powerhouse voice and personality to stand and deliver, and knock this one out of the park.” You can see the video below.
Radio Eksen in Istanbul, Turkey have posted a short interview with the Hollywood Vampires which you can check out here. It’s in English. The band began their European tour a couple of days ago with a similar set to the last tour but with a couple of nods to Jeff Beck added in.
The "Sally Steel Rocks! Show" has posted the second part of her interview with Alice talking about being on Hollywood Squares, what he feels his best song was, what he was like in high school. You can check it out here.
Beasto Blanco have signed a deal with COP International for two new singles later this year followed by a new album in 2024. You can read the full press release here.
The Hollywood Vampires have announced that all income from the June 10th show in Istanbul will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee
The Hollywood Vampires have announced that all income from the June 10th show in Istanbul will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee to help with aid after the devastation earthquakes in Turkey recently. They have also released ‘Raise The Dead‘ from the ‘Live In Rio’ album/DVD which came out Friday.
The News-Gazette have an interesting article which claims to show the contents of the Alice Cooper Tour Rider, that is, the part of a concert contract that shows what must be provided at each venue on the tour for the band’s comfort during their stay at the venue. While there’s nothing particular weird on there it does offer some insight to how things are done on the tour.
Alice is on the front cover of the latest issue of ‘Rock’n’Roll‘ magazine in Sweden.
