My Top 5 Over-all Best Visual Concerts Part 3

#1. So this leaves none other than the great ALICE COOPER group. My first glimpse of the group was back in l976 when I was in the fourth grade. I'm Eighteen was the radio hit. I remember sneaking out of bed just to see them perform on Don Kirshner's Rock Conert tv show. The first album I had was Love it to Death. There wasn't a bad song on it. Everyone remembers School's Out, the album shaped like an old wooden school desk and lifted up to reveal its contents just like a desk back then opened. Prior to becoming the Alice Cooper Group, they were known as the Spiders and released I believe 2 albums. The Killer album had to be one of the dreariest albums, the Billion Dollar Babies album was decorated lime green with a snakeskin texture - of course. That opened up to reveal trading cards of the band, a huge Billion Dollar paper dollar along with the album. Muscle of Love, lol. I had almost forgotten that album.

LOL! And the list goes on and on. As with all things, the band eventually did go their separate ways but headman Alice Cooper continued on with many albums, with the most theatrical being Welcome to my Nightmare and still performing all the original hits. Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith can all be found on their own websites.

I unfortunately never had the opportunity to see the Alice Cooper band during the 70's. I almost had my Mother convinced to take me to Madison Square Garden in NY to see them but thank you dear older brother for telling her "no way" I don't think I'll ever forgive him for that. Alice Cooper, lead vocals - had a one of a kind screamish voice, almost kid-like at times, Dennis Dunaway pounded out bass, Glen Buxton on guitar, Michael Bruce played keyboards/guitar, and the great Neal Smith brought the beat home on drums. But in the early 80's I saw Alice Cooper for the first time at a club here in NJ. It was awesome.
Since then my family and I go to see the show every chance we get.

Visually, it's the most entertaining and fun show to watch. How can you resist watching Alice Cooper squirm out of a straight jacket? The bloody finish to the guillotine act as his head plops into a bucket! The top hat during Elected, the baby doll at the end of the machette. And if you ever had a cavity in your life you can relate to the pain Alice Cooper endured as Unfinished Sweet was aching to get him!!! The entire show of Welcome to My Nightmare has it all. Life-size spider on stage chasing Alice Cooper around, demons and other wacky monsters running about. Alice Cooper will never perform without the help of his favorite pal, the boa constrictor. Since the beginning, the Alice Cooper Group had a snake, it wouldn't be normal otherwise!

Young and old alike to this day flood venues wherever Alice Cooper performs. I truly hope a reunion with the original band is in the makings for the near future. Alice Cooper will always be a rock legend from the early days to the present. Rest in peace Glen Buxton.

To see more photos of the original band and other clippings, please visit www.michaelbruce.com

I hope you have enjoyed reading my personal favorite all time best visual rock performers.

M.Soozan