Detroit Stories

New Alice Cooper Album is ‘Detroit Stories’

Alice has been talking to Arizona Central this week and chats about how he and the family are dealing with the current virus situation. During the interview he also reveals the title of the next studio album. The new album is called ‘Detroit Stories’ and features songs about or inspired by the city. We already know that Michael, Neal and Dennis have recorded parts for the album, and from the ‘Breadcrumbs EP’ we know that it also features various Detroit musicians which he also confirms. No release date yet but it’s getting closer!

Ryan Roxie’s latest ‘From The Trenches’ podcast features a great interview with Dennis Dunaway which is well worth watching. Dennis tells lots of stories from the early days and talks bass for over an hour and you can watch it here. There promises to be a "part 2" in the future too!

During his short livestream show the other night Roxie also announced a new project called the ‘System-12 Guitar Method’. This is a "fresh new approach to learning guitar that differs substantially from the more ‘traditional’ methods that have been taught in the past. This new ‘system’ for learning guitar is easy to understand, filled with guitar ‘life-hacks’, and focuses on the most important techniques and theories to get one playing songs and riffs faster than any other learning method out there." You can learn more and get onboard early via this Kickstarter campaign page, where you can pledge as little as $10 for various perks.

Alice is also getting into podcasting with a new one called ‘Alice Cooper’s Vintage Vault‘. The podcast features Alice talking about a subject with clips from interviews conducted for the ‘Nights With Alice Cooper’ radio show over the past 16 years. The first show is all about Slash!

Beasto Postpone and New Coop Album Confirmed

Beasto Blanco postpone shows, while Alice confirms he’s finishing new album.

I didn’t think there was very much to report this week thanks to the current Coronavirus situation, but I seem to have found a fair amount including a few links to entertain you while we get through this mess.

Sadly Beasto Blanco have had to postpone the last few dates on their current tour. They hope to reschedule the dates later in the year.

Alice sent an email to Rolling Stone in which he confirmed he will be spending the enforced time off caused by the postponed shows to finish off the new Alice Cooper album. No more details yet of course, and just because it’s nearly finished doesn’t mean they will change any planned release schedule and put it out any earlier, but it’s good to know it’s getting closer. Read the full article here.

Blue Coupe have posted professionally filmed footage of their full Sweden Rock show from last year with guest Ryan Roxie. It’s great and you can watch here.

If you’re looking for something to kill a couple of hours Ryan Roxie has been busy making podcasts. In the first he sits down with bandmate Tommy Henriksen for an interesting chat about Tommy’s career including lots of AC info, and in the latest (today) he interviews Billy Idol/Atomic Playboys guitarist Steve Stevens. The Tommy podcast is already up on Roxie’s YouTube channel and the Steve Stevens one should be there soon as well.

Nita Strauss has been chatting to Kerrang! about working for Alice, and her solo career, which you can read here.
Nita is also taking part in a cool new project put together by Dave Ellefson of Megadeth, called ‘School’s Out!‘. The idea is to help entertain youngsters during the virus crisis by offering "free music lessons and one-on-one mentoring sessions via Skype from major artists to students stuck at home due to COVID-19 restrictions." It’s free, and students aged 18 and under can sign up to get a call. The list of artists also includes former Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso along with various other Megadeth related musicians and friends. Nice one Dave!

There’s a short interview with Dennis and Cindy Dunaway at the Manchester, UK ‘Astroturf’ showing last week. I couldn’t be there but it seems to have been a great success.

The Fire Fight Australia charity show has spawned a double album featuring performances from the concert. It’s out now, and features Alice and the band performing ‘School’s Out’ at the show.

The multitalented Eric Dover (‘Eyes Of Alice Cooper’ etc) has a new band called ‘The Lickerish Quartet’ which sees him hooking up again with a couple of his pre-Alice bandmates from Jellyfish. Their debut EP is out on May 15th and is called ‘Threesome Vol. 1’. They’ve also released a video for the lead track called ‘Lighthouse Spaceship’ which is pretty awesome and you can check it out in this article about the band from PopMatters.

Kerrang! magazine have an article ranking every Alice Cooper album from worst to best. Their order is a little odd to say the least but you can check it out here.

Go Tech Daily have a longish article about the ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’ album, however it’s obviously been google translated or something, as you get classic statements like "Bob had labored with us on every single album from ‘Adore It To Demise’ to ‘Billion Greenback Infants’" I must have missed those albums! Maybe worth a read just for a laugh.

Lastly for now the ‘Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center’ is to broadcast a series of concerts on Facebook between March 23rd and 27th featuring different performers each day from the teen center, and "some other surprises". You never know who might show up at some point! Check it out via facebook.

Glasgow 1982 Release for Record Store Day

‘Live at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow 1982’ released for Record Store Day

This years Record Store Day is on April 18th and will see the official release of ‘Live at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow 1982’, a radio recording from the ‘Special Forces’ tour. Only three songs from this show have been officially released before on the ‘For Britain Only’ 12" single back in 1982. It will be a limited edition of 7000 2xLPs on black vinyl. You can see the cover below.

Blue Coupe’s appearance in the Silja Rock Cruise is the latest casualty of Coronavirus. The event has been canceled.

There are still a few tickets for the screening of ‘Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper’ in Manchester, UK on March 14th. Dennis and Cindy Dunaway will be there to answer questions and sign things.

Ryan Roxie interviews bandmate Nita Strauss in the latest edition of his ‘In The Trenches‘ podcast.

Meaww have a new interview with Calico Cooper talking about Beasto Blanco and working with her Dad.

Regular readers may remember the Main Man Records tribute to David Bowie ‘Hero’ from a few years ago. The album is the only place to find the Dennis Dunaway Project’s version of Bowie’s ‘Moonage Daydream’, which features guitarist Rick Tedesco playing Mick Ronson’s Les Paul used on the original recording. Main Man are reissuing the album on April 15th on white vinyl and you can pre-order a copy here.

The Lowertown Line has an interesting little video recalling the infamous 1978 tear gas incident at St Pauls Civic Center. Soul Asylum frontman Dave Pirner was there and shares his memories of the show.

If you’re watching the new Netflix series ‘Messiah’ watch out for a cameo appearance from The Amazing Randi!

Live at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow 1982

Upcoming Events

Just popping in to highlight a couple of things coming up. I’ll do a full news update after the tour.

Firstly of course is tonights London premiere of ‘Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper’ and ‘Cold Cold Coffin’ at the Castle Cinema in Hackney. The first showing is now sold out but there are still a few tickets for the later second showing. Dennis and Cindy Dunaway will be there along with others who worked on the films and it promises to be a fun night! Last minute tickets can be obtained at Castle Cinema, and there is no guarantee there will be any left on the door.

Then there is Ryan Roxie’s guitar clinic at ‘Sixty Sixty Sounds’ in Denmark Street, London, which is also tonight. This starts around 7pm so it’s possible to attend both this and the late film (10.45) showing in Hackney. Again, spaces are now very limited but you can still email info@sixtysixtysounds.com and ask to be put on the list. It’s free!

Lastly, just after the Alice Cooper tour ends in Cardiff Ryan Roxie and ex-Alice/Slash’s Snakepit guitarist Eric Dover set out on their own string of UK club shows as ‘Lost Angels’. It’s not often we get the chance to see the multi-talented Eric Dover in the UK so well worth the trip if you can make a show. The full list of dates appears below. There are also a few VIP packages at £55 still available for each show and you can check availability and get more info at https://lostangelsvip.blogspot.com.
The full line up for these shows is Ryan and Eric on guitar/vocals, Troy Patrick Farrell (White Lion/Gilby Clarke Band) on drums and EJ Curse (Gilby Clarke Band/Silent Rage) on bass. ‘Saints Of Sin’ will open most of the UK shows.

There will be a full news update after the tour when I have time to go through everything!

Astroturf London Guests Announced

It has been confirmed that Dennis and Cindy Dunaway are flying to London to attend the screenings of ‘Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper’ and ‘Cold Cold Coffin’ at the Castle Cinema on October 9th. They will be joined on the ‘pink carpet’ by current Alice Cooper band guitarist Ryan Roxie (after his guitar clinic earlier in the evening), Astroturf mastermind Chris Penn and ‘Cold Cold Coffin’ director Brian Cichoki. The Q&A will be moderated by NME and Kerang! writer Ian Fortnam.
There are still a few advance tickets available for both film showings which you can buy directly from Castle Cinema. This promises to be a memerable night so don’t miss out!
The films will also be showing in Hollywood on October 14th which will feature an ‘aftershow party’ at the Viper Room. The Hollywood Q&A will feature Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Cindy Dunaway, and Chris Penn. You can get tickets for this one here.

A reminder that Dennis, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith and special guest Mike Marconi, four fifths of the original Billion Dollar Babies ‘Battle Axe’ band, will be performing this Saturday (28th September) at the ‘Fore N Aft Benefit’ at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, CT. You can still get last minute tickets here. The band are due on stage at 8PM.

1883 Magazine have a new interview with Beasto Blanco/Cold Cold Coffin star Calico Cooper which you can read here.

‘Heavy 1 TV’ have a new interview with Nita Strauss during which she reveals she is already working on a second solo album for release late next year! You can watch the interview on YouTube.

Breadcrumbs EP Out Today

The new Alice Cooper 6 track EP is released today, with pre-orders actually starting to arrive yesterday in some areas. To mark the release a new lyric video has been released for lead track ‘Detroit City 2020’ which you can watch below. Billboard have a short article about the release as well.

The ‘Lost Angels’ shows with Ryan Roxie and Eric Dover are now being confirmed with only one left to be announced. The dates are as follows:
October 16th – Chinnerys, Southend on Sea
October 17th – Yardbirds, Grimsby
October 18th – Nightrain, Bradford
October 19th – La Belle Angele, Edinburgh
October 20th – Cathouse, Glasgow
October 21st – Robin 2, Wolverhampton
October 22nd – Backstage @ The Green Hotel, Kinross
October 23rd – Layton Club, Blackpool
October 24th – Zik-Zakk, Ittre, BELGIUM
October 25th – TBC
October 26th – Waterfront, Norwich
Tickets are available now from Ents24 but there are also VIP meet and greet packages available for £55 from https://lostangelsvip.blogspot.com. Numbers for these are obviously limited so get in quick!
The full line up for these shows is Ryan and Eric on guitar/vocals, Troy Patrick Farrell (White Lion/Gilby Clarke Band) on drums and EJ Curse (Gilby Clarke Band/Silent Rage) on bass. ‘Saints Of Sin’ will open most of the UK shows.

Ryan Roxie’s guitar clinic on October 9th now has an mail address for you to reserve your place and ensure you get in. You can email info@sixtysixtysounds.com and ask to be put on the list. Be aware that this event seems likely to clash with the ‘Live From The Astroturf’ film event, so it’s unlikely fans can be at both.

lost angels dates

European Tour

Dee Snider joins Alice Cooper on stage and other news this week.

The European ‘Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back’ tour began last week in Switzerland with no changes to the setlist. The opening show did feature a surprise appearance by Dee Snider on ‘School’s Out’, during which the band went into Twisted Sister’s ‘We Not Gonna Take It’ for a few bars much to the surprise of Dee it seems! You can check out video of it here.

Alice was on French TV last week appearing on a show called ‘Quotidien avec Yann Barthès’ and you can watch this on their site. It’s dubbed in French but you can just about hear Alice speaking underneath.

Going by a post to social media Alice will be premiering a track, possibly ‘Detroit City 2020’, on Monday’s ‘Nights With Alice Cooper’. The song is from the new ‘Breadcrumbs EP’ which is out next week on vinyl and download. For collectors there is a (French?) three song promo CD around which features ‘Detroit City’, ‘East Side Story’ and ‘Devil In A Blue Dress/Chains Of Love’.
UPDATE: Check out ‘East Side Story’ from ‘Breadcrumbs’ below.

Chris Penn has posted to Facebook to wan UK fans to ‘Save The Date’ of October 9th, suggesting the announcement of a London showing for ‘Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper!’. This is the day off between the Brighton and London shows, but also the day Ryan Roxie has a solo appearance, so hopefully the timings will work out!! More details once they are announced.

Before leaving the US Ryan and Tommy stopped by News Center Maine for a chat. The first clip is an interview with them, and the second clip is a fun guitar lesson by Ryan.

Dennis Dunaway has a new song on the forthcoming album by country singer Mary Lamont. The song is called ‘What Was Right For You Left Nuthin’ For Me’ and will feature on Mary’s new album ‘Not Far From Here’ which is due September 13th. Dennis doesn’t play on the album, but the connection is that before she was a country star Mary Lamont worked for Alice Cooper at Alive Enterprises, their management company.

In a few days it will be the 50th anniversary of the legendary ‘Chicken Incident’ at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival. Global News has an article about the event, and while it only mentions Alice Cooper in passing I thought the background info they have on John Lennon’s appearance was worth reading as I don’t think I’ve seen it before.

Spooky Empire

It’s been a bit quiet this last week in the space between US and European shows but here’s a few things worth mentioning.

Alice will be a guest at the Spooky Empire event at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL on November 1st and 2nd. Other guests include Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Mia Farrow, Clive Barker, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Ted Raimi among others.Tickets are on sale now

Alice will also feature on the new AXS-TV (US) series of ‘The Big Interview’ with Dan Rather. The new season kicks off on October 1st at 8PM ET/5PM PT with AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, and the Alice Cooper episode is scheduled to air on October 29th.

Road Dog Music Group have posted a new interview with Michael Bruce which you can watch on YouTube.

Arenan in Finland have an interview with Neal Smith and while most of it is in Swedish Neal’s comments are in English. This one is available for the next month only.
UPDATE: Here’s even more on Neal in Finland including video

The New Zealand Herald has a short interview with Alice promoting the recently announced New Zealand shows.

Steve Hunter’s amazing solo on ‘I Am Made Of You’ from ‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare’ made #29 on the Planet Rock “40 Greatest Guitar Solos” listener poll!

It appears that ‘Lost Angels’, a band featuring Ryan Roxie and Eric Dover (‘Eyes Of Alice Cooper’ etc), are playing some shows in the UK in October between Alice Cooper tours. An advert was posted a few times on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, but so far it seems no actual dates or venues have been properly announced! A bit of searching turned up a list of shows on Ents24, but many venue sites or their Facebook pages show no sign of the shows, so it’s hard to know exactly what is going on and if they are happening. There’s also a gap in the schedule on Ents24 suggesting there may be more shows to come (London?). ‘Lost Angels’ last played the UK some years ago, including a great show at the Camden Underworld, playing a set of covers including the odd Alice song of course.

New York Film Event Announces More Guests

More guests announced for New York Film Show

As previously mentioned both ‘Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper’ and ‘Cold Cold Coffin’ will be shown at during a special evening at Theatre 80 St Marks in New York on August 14th. More details on the event have been announced.
Each film showing will be followed by a brief Q&A, Calico Cooper will be doing a special performance to “Cold Cold Coffin”, and then Chuck Garric and Calico will perform their Beasto Blanco version of ‘Feed My Frankenstein.’ Guitarist extraordinaire Ryan Roxie will also be there playing along with Dennis Dunaway and ‘Snake Charm’ featuring Nick Didkovsky and Russ Wilson with background vocals compliments of the Darlings of The Demented, Tish and Snooky of Manic Panic fame. Signed Calico Angel posters and ‘Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!’ books, as well as some rare memorabilia will also be available for purchase. You don’t want to miss this one if you can get there. Tickets are available now.

It’s no surprise that Lzzy Hale has joined the band during ‘School’s Out’ a couple more times this week, but in Cedar Park, TX they were also joined by Hollywood Vampire Joe Perry, presumably on route to meet up with the rest of the Vampires for the ‘Late Late Show’ performance the following night.
The TV performance was perhaps a little disappointing, in that the band only performed ‘heroes’ again, as with their last TV appearance. There was also a short skit at the beginning of the show, with Alice showing Joe and Johnny the chords to the song in the dressing room, but no interview or other content. A short video posted by Glen Sobel showed they also played ‘I Want My Now’ so maybe that will show up sometime later.

Goldmine Magazine has posted their feature on the original band which has quotes from Dennis, Neal and Michael about the split and reunions.

Hollywood Vampires On Late Late Show

The Hollywood Vampires will be on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ on July 30th. The show airs at 12.35 ET/PT (11.35 CT).

Ryan Roxie has announced that he will be performing a guitar clinic at ‘Sixty Sixty Sounds‘ in Denmark Street, London on Wednesday October 9th at 7pm, the day off between the Brighton and London Alice Cooper shows. Ryan will be giving guitar tips, telling stories, signing things, and likely playing a few songs as well. The appearance is sponsored by Marshall Amps.

Alice is among the guests announced to appear on the new Wednesday 13 album. The album is called ‘Necrophaze’ and Alice provides an introduction and performs on the title track. The record is due September 27th and also features Children Of Bodom’s Alexi Laiho and Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia.

Alice Cooper spoke to Ultimate Classic Rock about the welcome addition of some rarely played songs to this year set list. He’s also interviewed by KLBJ Austin in Texas which you can listen to here.

Apparently Pandora Music in the US has a track by track breakdown of ‘Trash’ by Alice, marking the albums 30th anniversary yesterday. Unfortunately it’s not available in most other areas of the world.

Calico Cooper is listed as making a guest appearance on the new album by Finnish band ’69 Eyes’. The album is called ‘West End’ and is out on September 13th via Nuclear Blast. Calico is featured on a song called ‘The Last House On The Left’ along with Wednesday 13 & Dani Filth (Cradle Of Filth)

Mitch Lafon interviewed drummer Glen Sobel earlier this year and you can hear their chat now on YouTube.

While a lot of US newspapers are still preventing non-US fans visiting their sites you can see a few tour reviews and photos at Metal Rules,TimesOnline, Eponymous Review, Audio Ink, Metal Rules, and Rock’n’Folk.

Roxie London Clinic