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Alice Cooper (band)

From Alfawiki
Alice Cooper
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1968 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
FounderVincent Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith
Headquarters
Phoenix
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, live performances

Alice Cooper, sometimes referred to as the Alice Cooper Group or the Alice Cooper Band, is a rock ensemble originating from Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. The founding members consisted of vocalist Vincent Furnier (who later took on the stage name Alice Cooper), Glen Buxton on lead guitar, Michael Bruce handling rhythm guitar and keyboards, Dennis Dunaway playing bass, and Neal Smith on drums. The group became widely recognized for their sophisticated and theatrical shock rock stage shows.

Among the select glam rock bands to break into the mainstream American market, they achieved prominence in 1971 with the hit single "I'm Eighteen" from their third record, Love It to Death. Their momentum sustained with the US top 10 and UK chart-topping single "School's Out" from the 1972 album of the same title. The band reached their commercial zenith in 1973 with the sixth studio album Billion Dollar Babies, which secured number one positions in both US and UK charts and delivered three singles that entered the UK top 10. Their accompanying tour set new box-office records, surpassing those held by the Rolling Stones.

The group disbanded in 1975; Vincent Furnier legally adopted the name Alice Cooper and embarked on a prosperous solo career. In 2011, the original lineup was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From 1999 through 2021, they reunited sporadically before officially regrouping in 2025, releasing their first studio album in over five decades titled The Revenge of Alice Cooper.

Early formation: The Spiders

In 1964, sixteen-year-old high schooler Vincent Furnier assembled a band comprising four fellow members of his cross-country team to participate in a local talent contest. Initially named the Earwigs, they performed Beatles-inspired parodies and won the event. Motivated by this success, they procured musical instruments and began practicing, with Glen Buxton taking a leading role in songwriting during this period. The ensemble soon changed their name to the Spiders, featuring Furnier as lead vocalist, Buxton on lead guitar, John Tatum on rhythm guitar, Dennis Dunaway on bass guitar, and John Speer on drums. Their sound was influenced by groups such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Kinks, Doors, and Yardbirds. They regularly performed around Phoenix with a spider web-themed stage design.

In 1965, the Spiders released their debut single "Why Don't You Love Me" via Mascot Records. They secured a residency as the house band at Phoenix’s VIP Club, supporting touring acts including the Lovin' Spoonful, Yardbirds, Them, Animals, Kinks, and Byrds. After completing high school in 1966 and replacing Tatum with Michael Bruce on rhythm guitar, they issued their second single "Don't Blow Your Mind," which achieved local number one status under Santa Cruz Records.

By 1967, frequent tours to Los Angeles prompted another name change to Nazz. They released the single "Wonder Who's Lovin' Her Now," coupled with "Lay Down and Die, Goodbye." Drummer John Speer was succeeded by Neal Smith. The band relocated to Los Angeles amid a period marked by desert excursions and hazardous activities. Notably, Smith sustained an accidental gunshot wound to his ankle during a hunting trip and retained a bullet fragment permanently. Additionally, they endured a severe van crash without sustaining major injuries.

New band name: Alice Cooper

In 1968, the group adopted the name Alice Cooper after discovering that Todd Rundgren was already using the name Nazz for his band. Lead vocalist Vince Furnier felt the need for a unique concept to differentiate themselves, emphasizing theatrical performance elements that were uncommon among their peers. The choice of "Alice Cooper" reportedly came from a Ouija board session, selected for its benign nature in contrast to the band's dark persona; however, Furnier later clarified that this story was likely a myth. By 1969, Furnier had legally changed his name to Alice Cooper and was credited accordingly on their debut record.

Furnier regarded this renaming as a critical turning point in their career. The classic lineup—comprising Furnier, lead guitarist Glen Buxton, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith—were all former members of the Spiders and remained together until 1974.

Their inaugural performance under the Alice Cooper name took place on March 16, 1968, although promotional flyers still identified them as the Nazz. After an unsuccessful show at the Cheetah club in Venice, California that same year, manager Shep Gordon saw promise and arranged an audition with Frank Zappa. Impressed by their commitment, Zappa signed them to a three-album contract with his Straight Records label. The band's first three albums were released through this label.

The early stage image of Alice Cooper was influenced by the all-female group The GTOs, who dressed the band members in women's attire and applied heavy makeup.

In June 1969, Alice Cooper issued their debut album, Pretties for You, which peaked at No. 193 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The band attracted negative media attention after Furnier threw a live chicken into the audience during the 1969 Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival Festival; fans proceeded to tear the chicken apart.

Their second album, Easy Action, released in March 1970, did not enter the charts. That year also saw two of their tracks included on Warner Bros' sampler compilation Zapped, featuring artists produced by Zappa.

Finding success

Due to weak sales of their initial albums and a lack of interest from California audiences, the band relocated in 1970 to Pontiac, Michigan, near Furnier’s hometown of Detroit. Their eccentric stage performances found greater appreciation among Midwestern fans familiar with proto-punk acts such as the Stooges and the MC5. Furnier remarked, "L.A. just didn't get it. They were on acid and we were basically drinking beer. We fit much more in Detroit than anywhere else."

Collaborating with producer Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper released the single "I'm Eighteen" in November 1970, which broke into the Top 40 by early 1971. This breakthrough led Warner Bros to heavily back their third album, Love It to Death. Initially launched through Straight Records, Warner reissued it after acquiring Zappa’s label, significantly increasing its reach. Under Ezrin’s guidance, their style evolved from psychedelic rock toward a more focused, guitar-driven hard rock, with lyrics delving into themes of excess and mental instability.

During their first headlining tour in 1971, an encounter with a woman carrying a boa constrictor inspired Furnier to incorporate snakes into their live performances. With Love It to Death and its successor Killer achieving chart success, the band enhanced their shows with elaborate props and gothic horror motifs, becoming major concert attractions across the US and UK. Attempts by members of British Parliament in 1972 to ban their concerts only heightened their fame. The 1973 Billion Dollar Babies tour set new box office records. Cindy Dunaway (Neal Smith's sister and Dennis Dunaway's spouse) contributed costume designs and occasionally appeared onstage.

A concert held in São Paulo in 1973 attracted an audience of 158,000 people indoors—a Guinness World Record at that time. Following Killer, Alice Cooper released three additional albums that reached the top ten charts, culminating with 1973’s Billion Dollar Babies, which topped charts both in the US and UK. They headlined successful tours from 1972 through 1974 before disbanding. Their commercial achievements were underscored when Furnier appeared on Forbes magazine’s cover in 1973 as one of America’s highest-earning music icons.

Disbandment of the original group

The initial Alice Cooper ensemble performed their last concert on April 8, 1974, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Various explanations for the split exist: Smith mentioned a need for a break and solo endeavors, Cooper attributed it to conflicts over expensive stage production expenses, and Bruce pointed to Buxton's struggles with substance abuse. The dissolution became public knowledge in 1975. Vincent Furnier proceeded under the name "Alice Cooper" with a refreshed lineup and officially adopted the moniker. Meanwhile, Bruce, Dunaway, and Smith established Billion Dollar Babies, releasing a single album titled Battle Axe in 1977.

Reunions: 2010 to present

Although the original members occasionally performed together and with Glen Buxton prior to his passing in 1997, a reunion with Alice Cooper took place on October 23, 1999, at CoopersTown in Phoenix. Another gathering occurred on December 16, 2010, at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, followed by appearances on television including the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and London's Jägermeister Ice Cold 4D event. Bruce, Dunaway, and Smith contributed to three tracks on Cooper’s 2011 release Welcome 2 My Nightmare.

The documentary film Super Duper Alice Cooper debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2014. On October 6, 2015, an unannounced reunion concert happened in Dallas during Dunaway’s book signing event; Ryan Roxie filled in for Buxton. Although there were intentions to produce a new album, only two additional tracks were included on Cooper’s Paranormal.

The surviving members performed a brief five-song set in Nashville on May 14, 2017, followed by a UK tour later that year. In 2021, they reunited again for Cooper’s Detroit Stories album; with producer Bob Ezrin and Cooper hinting at the possibility of another new record.

On April 19, 2025, it was announced that the band would release their first studio album together in over five decades, titled The Revenge of Alice Cooper, slated for July 25 via earMusic. Produced by Bob Ezrin, this album features previously unreleased contributions from Glen Buxton.

Musical style

Alice Cooper's sound is frequently characterized as "sleazy" and "gritty yet anthemic" hard rock, blending influences from glam rock, shock rock, heavy metal, glam punk, proto-punk, and classic rock 'n' roll. Their initial two records, Pretties for You and Easy Action, showcased a style rooted in psychedelic rock, acid rock, and experimental rock, reflecting their association with Frank Zappa's Straight Records. With the release of Love It to Death, they transitioned toward a "motor city garage rock" aesthetic that continued through Killer and Muscle of Love. Alice Cooper is acknowledged as an early influence on punk rock and has impacted multiple genres including hard rock, glam rock, heavy metal, new wave, and gothic rock. Their legacy can be seen in bands such as Sex Pistols, Nine Inch Nails, Ramones, New York Dolls, Guns N' Roses, Devo, Cheap Trick, Ozzy Osbourne, The Cramps, Kiss, Plasmatics, Misfits, White Zombie, and Marilyn Manson.

The band’s inspirations include rock pioneers from the 1950s and ’60s such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds, Love, and The Doors, along with artists like Jim Morrison and Pink Floyd. They also drew from proto-punk groups like MC5 and The Stooges. Although frequently cited influences include Arthur Brown and Screaming Lord Sutch, the band has not officially confirmed these associations.

Band members

Founding members

Additional personnel

  • Mick Mashbir – guitar (1973–1974)
  • Bob Dolin – keyboards, backing vocals (1973–1974)
  • Steve Hunter – lead guitar (2010, 2011)
  • Ryan Roxie – lead guitar (2015, 2017)

Discography

Studio releases

Compilation albums

Sources

External links

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