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With
the two band appearing on tonight's bill this review had to be split into
two parts. Such is the respect I have for both bands, that to give either
just a few line would be disrespectful to both parties.
So this is the second part
of what was a truly memorable night of rock.
With over 30 albums under
his belt, Alice Cooper still has the passion for the music. Something that
can't be said for any other rock musician alive today.
Alice is a man who
looks better today than when he did when Vince Damon Furnier ceased to
exist and Alice Cooper was born.
Opening up with the classic
(what am I saying every Alice song is a classic!) 'Dept Of Youth' Alice had
the crowd in his hands and could manipulate them any way he wanted.
Rolling through the set that
mixed tracks from the new album Dirty Diamonds, 'Dirty Diamonds' and 'Woman
Of Mass Distraction', with old favourites like 'No More Me Nice Guy', 'Billion
Dollar Babies', 'Lost In America', and 'I Never Cry', there was
something for everybody, both fans old and new. With in some cases at least
three generations of Alice fans in the crowd.
Alice's backing band has to
be his strongest to date and remains almost complete as that featured on
the 'The Eyes Of Alice Cooper' album. With Eric Singer on drums, Ryan Roxie
on lead guitar, Chuck Garrick on bass, but with the exception of Eric Dover
who has now been replaced by Damn Yankees guitarist Damon Johnson. All of which do a
sterling job, not only with the new tracks, but with the older tracks too.
The entire set just rolls
along without any song seeming out of place, and with each one leading nicely into
the next, continues along the theme of the night which is always the
life, death and rebirth of Alice's character.
With tracks like the
immortal 'I'm Eighteen', 'Go To Hell' (which is the first time we see
Alice's daughter on stage, taking over the mantle where Alice's now wife
left off), and one of my favourite Alice tracks 'Black Widow', to which
followed a drum solo from the legendary Eric Singer.
The band returned to the
stage where we saw the first of many costume changes, with Alice dressed in
top hat and tails and red shirt looking quite dapper as Alice only could.
They did a couple of the
more recent songs from the vast Alice back catalogue, firstly a storming
rendition of 'Gimme This Gimme That', and then the massive 'Feed My
Frankenstein', which always goes down well with the fans.
What Alice Cooper show wouldn’t
be complete as at one point a snake made an appearance, and as sure as
apples is apples, said reptile came on stage draped around Alice's neck on
the song 'Welcome To My Nightmare'. From this point on the real Alice show
everyone is familiar with started, continuing on with 'Only Women Bleed' and the
'Ballad Of Dwight Fry'. Anyone who has seen an Alice Cooper show before
knew what was going to happen and those who haven’t seen the live show
would have read about it at some point.
As he was dragged away and
the guillotine was brought on stage the crowd went wild. The rebirth of
Alice's character was complete. His decapitated head was added to the
parts of his frankenstein's body created earlier in a huge upright coffin
which towered center stage. The lights went out and first
few chords of 'Schools Out' were heard. The show had reached its climax and
anything from here on in was a bonus. The bonus was of course the encore with a
track that put Alice firmly back on the map, 'Poison'.
Over the years Brittany
Spears has been the butt of an Alice show but this year Brittany has been
given a reprieve and this year it was Paris Hilton's turn to be ridiculed
on stage. As Alice's daughter came on stage dressed up as Paris, complete with the little
Chihuahua in bag, and fake photographer entourage, the little dog promptly
went for her throat, only to have her flee from the stage once more, flashing her knickers as she went.
Who said those small dogs have
no use?.
Then it was time for the icing on the cake as far as I was
concerned, because the final track of the night was my favourite Alice track
'Under My Wheels', which rounded off another sterling Alice Cooper show. I
can't wait for the next one.
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