TRASH CAN ALLEY
ALICE COOPER is undoubtedly one of rock's greatest showmen he has been an influence on just about everybody - KISS, MOTLEY CRUE, POISON (the list is endless).
Following the commercial chart success of his latest album Trash, Alice Cooper was showcasing his new band to "Toy Town" after playing a legendary one-off gig at London's Marquee Club on Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd.
Wembley Arena was almost at capacity for this, his first of two London shows, as the eager punters shuffled along the aisles to their seats clutching their armoury of beer bottles that would see them through the show.
As the stage curtains were ripped apart, Alice emerged from a giant dustbin 'whipping the audience' into a frenzy, as he propelled the band into the opener "Trash". Older classics "Billion Dollar Babies" and "Eighteen" followed as Alice hit out at the steel chains which dangled down from the impressive stage set, which was a collage of sparkling clean metallic stalagmites.
The commerciality of the Trash material worked well within the cavernous confines of the hallowed hall as Alice and his band (Al Pitrelli and Pete Friesen on guitars, Tommy T-Bone Caradonna on bass, Jonathan Mover on drums, and Derek Sherinian on keyboards) blew the lids off the punters' beer bins (honestly!).
"I'm Your Gun" and the anthemic "House of Fire" were delivered up as Alice, resplendent in skin-tight, red leggings teased the crowd into submission! "This Maniac's in Love With You" and the rebellious "No More Mr Nice Guy" introduced the set proper, as Alice appeared alongside a cardboard cut-out of himself - a master of self parody. It's unmistakably Alice! Who else? He succeeds with a wit and humour few can copy!
Mood changes are a hallmark of the Cooper live show; the stage was delved into darkness as we were treated to the horrors of "Welcome to My Nightmare." The visuals were superb - spiders, snakes, crazed psychiatric doctors (even Freddy Krueger); everything you could dream of (or wouldn't particularly want to!) "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" saw the master of stage craftsmanship in a straitjacket grappling with his paranoia - you could actually feel pity for him! The reflective qualities of the ballad "Only Women Bleed" showed Alice in another light, as he skilfully swept away the tears of terror!
Remember Alice was responsible for setting many rock and roll trends, especially with his elaborate 70s TV productions, years before MTV had even been dreamt of!
Indeed the climax of the whole show came when the guillotine was wheeled on to the stage and Alice was beheaded! Was this the end? NO! The master of the macabre re-emerged to a standing ovation, with the huge commercial smash "Poison"; the nightmare was obviously over! A gyrating guitar line linked us into "Spark in the Dark," followed by the pleasure and pain of "Bed of Nails," which soon drove the message home. Encoring with his 1971 number one "Schools Out," Alice proved to us all that he was sounding as fresh and vital as ever! The immediacy of the Trash material blended the Alice Cooper legacy with the flashy musician musicianship and fluid song-writing of the 90s - hard edged yet very melodic!
After all "everybody relates to trash!"
"I'm Your Gun" and the anthemic "House of Fire" were delivered up as Alice, resplendent in skin-tight, red leggings teased the crowd into submission! "This Maniac's in Love With You" and the rebellious "No More Mr Nice Guy" introduced the set proper, as Alice appeared alongside a cardboard cut-out of himself - a master of self parody. It's unmistakably Alice! Who else? He succeeds with a wit and humour few can copy!
Mood changes are a hallmark of the Cooper live show; the stage was delved into darkness as we were treated to the horrors of "Welcome to My Nightmare." The visuals were superb - spiders, snakes, crazed psychiatric doctors (even Freddy Krueger); everything you could dream of (or wouldn't particularly want to!) "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" saw the master of stage craftsmanship in a straitjacket grappling with his paranoia - you could actually feel pity for him! The reflective qualities of the ballad "Only Women Bleed" showed Alice in another light, as he skilfully swept away the tears of terror!
Remember Alice was responsible for setting many rock and roll trends, especially with his elaborate 70s TV productions, years before MTV had even been dreamt of!
Indeed the climax of the whole show came when the guillotine was wheeled on to the stage and Alice was beheaded! Was this the end? NO! The master of the macabre re-emerged to a standing ovation, with the huge commercial smash "Poison"; the nightmare was obviously over! A gyrating guitar line linked us into "Spark in the Dark," followed by the pleasure and pain of "Bed of Nails," which soon drove the message home. Encoring with his 1971 number one "Schools Out," Alice proved to us all that he was sounding as fresh and vital as ever! The immediacy of the Trash material blended the Alice Cooper legacy with the flashy musician musicianship and fluid song-writing of the 90s - hard edged yet very melodic!
After all "everybody relates to trash!"
Mark Crampton
Photos: Nigel Hinkes
Riff Raff
January 1990
Photos: Nigel Hinkes
Riff Raff
January 1990
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