Website design By BotEap.comWith a real band in place, they could finally start making some music. The band changed its name several times, first the Earwigs, then the Spiders, then the Nazz. Finally, in 1968, they chose the public name ‘The Alice Cooper Band’. Three years later, Vincent legally changed his name to Alice Cooper. Some say the name comes from a Ouija board session, but Cooper himself says the name came out of nowhere, not from ghosts on the other side. He is supposed to conjure up the image of a sweet little girl holding an ax behind her. She does it! Regardless of the origin of the name, it was an excellent career move for both Alice and the rest of the group!

Website design By BotEap.comIt wasn’t long after the band and Alice’s name changed when Frank Zappa found them. Zappa was looking for odd musical acts to add to his new recording effort, Straight Records. Alice Cooper was surely weird enough that Zappa signed them to a three-album deal. The first release, ‘Pretties For You’, was anything but a flop, only peaking at number 193 for one week on the US charts. However, they continued to produce their own insane brand of rock ‘n roll.

Website design By BotEap.comCooper made a huge splash in the press during a show at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival performance in 1969. Says Alice, a chicken unexpectedly came onto the stage during her performance. She plucked the chicken, assuming she could fly, and tossed it into the crowd. The bird landed in the span of disabled people in wheelchairs sitting in front. By all accounts, these fanatics plucked the poor bird to pieces. The press, however, said that Cooper bit off the bird’s head and drank the blood. Alice, even then, refuted the accusations, saying that it was all a freak accident. However, the rumors were not quelled and the matter became the talk of the music industry.

Website design By BotEap.comCooper was nothing like the long-haired, cowboy hippie gangs of the time. These guys dressed in skintight sequined suits unlike anything seen before. His show was dark and menacing, including dramatic mock battles and gothic torture methods. At the end of the show, Alice would be tortured by her insane ways by being executed. At first this was done via the electric chair, then it became hanging, then the guillotine. Throughout the ’70s, Alice gained more and more credit, both from fans and the music industry.

Website design By BotEap.comBy the mid-’70s, Cooper had made up his mind to pursue a solo career. The decision made sense, but his heavy binge was beginning to affect his performance. He checked into the New York Sanitarium for treatment. His time there was the creation of the 1978 album ‘From The Inside’. The early years of the 1980s proved to be less than productive for Alice. Although she released several albums, none achieved the success of the 1970s.

Website design By BotEap.comHis alcohol addiction was also taking its toll and he was once again admitted for treatment. For nearly a year, Cooper stayed out of the spotlight. He focused his attentions rather on being a full-time father and working on his golf game. By the mid-’80s, Cooper was clean, sober, and ready to start rocking again. His 1986 album ‘Constrictor’ spawned a tour appropriately named ‘The Nightmare Returns’. The last leg of the tour was filmed in Detroit in late October and is even, to this day, considered the definitive Alice Cooper film. The rock music press loved the album, the singles, and the stage shows. Cooper was back in all his glory, feeding fans a wild and twisted take on our world as only he can.

Website design By BotEap.comCooper’s iconic stature increased throughout the ’90s among fans and other bands. He has worked with various new generation musicians such as Guns N’ Roses and Insane Clown Posse. Additionally, he made cameo appearances in ‘Freddy’s Dead The Final Nightmare’ and ‘Wayne’s World’. As the new century progressed, Cooper did not slow down at all. In 2000, Alice released ‘Brutal Planet’, which was a return to Alice’s rock metal style. It was inspired by the brutality of the modern world and featured a raw industrial rock feel. It was a total success and opened up Alice to a whole new generation of fans.

Website design By BotEap.comIn 2003, the critically acclaimed album, ‘The Eyes Of Alice Cooper’ was released. The tour that followed was a big change from Cooper’s theatrics of the past. The ‘Bare Bones’ tour featured a less orchestrated style of performance, focusing more on the music. The result is that Cooper’s older songs were finally realized because of the uniqueness of him. Alice continued this style for her 24th studio release in 2005, ‘Dirty Diamonds’.

Website design By BotEap.comIn 2004, ‘Nights With Alice Cooper’, Alice’s radio show began airing. Cooper offers talks with great rock and roll stars and the opportunity to listen to rare tunes by famous groups. He also shares anecdotes from his long career and offers his unique taste for humor on the show.

Website design By BotEap.comWill this rocker relax? It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen any time soon. Despite turning 60 this year, Alice is to this day one of the strongest and most talented female rockers out there.