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Artist: Alice Cooper Venue: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Date:
13 November 2005
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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Singer on drums, Ryan Roxie on lead guitar, Chuck Garrick on bass, but with the exception of Eric Dover who has now been replaced by Damn Yankees guitarist Damon Johnson.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. Setlist: Dept
of Youth, No more Mr Nice Guy, Dirty Diamonds, Billion Dollar Babies,
Lost in America, I Never Cry, Woman of Mass Destraction, I'm
Eighteen, Between High School and Old School, Go to Hell, Black Window,
Gimme This, Feed my Frankenstein, Welcome to my Nightmare, Ballad of
Dwight Fry, Only Women Bleed, Schools Out, Poison |
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