Alice Cooper returns to Cincinnati this weekend to support his new album, "Detroit Stories," the 28th record released under his name in his more than 50-year career. As an entertainer, he’s known for his high-energy, extravagant performances, which include guillotines, electric chairs, lots of fake blood and other horror-influenced props.
Coming to prominence in Detroit, Alice Cooper of the late '60s and '70s would make his way down to Cincinnati touring the basement rock clubs and festivals of the Midwest. Cooper speaks affectionately of shows at the historic Ludlow Garage, his iconic performance with Iggy Pop at the 1970 Cincinnati Pop Festival and even a mishap involving a (temporarily) vacant frat house in Clifton.
Offstage, he leads a busy, but less intense lifestyle. An avid golfer, automobile collector, actor and radio show host, Cooper even finds time between his frequent gigs to share the wisdom of his years with lowly music journalists.
Question: The last time The Enquirer had an opportunity to interview you was through Chris Varias in 2017. He focused on a story about the band living in Cincinnati for a couple months at a frat house.
Answer: That was one of the funniest things. Very rarely can you con the con man. We were so desperate to find a place to live. And, not even thinking, a guy says, "I’ve got a house I can rent you for three months." We’re going, "How perfect!" He didn’t mention it wasn’t his house. But when the frat guys came in and said, "What are you doing in our house?" we just kind of looked at each other, stunned and everybody started laughing.
Q: I’m glad they found humor in it.
A: Yeah! They helped us move out. We all thought, what a funny idea.
Q: I heard that you penned "I’m Eighteen" at the Ludlow Garage when you were in town in 1970.
A: I don’t know about that. But that very possibly could have happened. We were playing clubs all the time. And Ludlow Garage was, you know, a gig – a great rock dungeon. The funnier thing about that was … the opening act. These guys, they’ve got keyboards up there, and they’re playing the keyboards with live lobsters … And I said, "Who are these guys?" And the guy said, "I think they’re called Devo." (Mark Mothersbaugh’s management has not responded to a request for confirmation.)
Q: Congrats on the new album. I really enjoyed it. Particularly the straightforward rockers like "Go Man Go" and "I Hate You."
A: It was to cover all kinds of Detroit music … "I Hate You" was interesting because it was the original band. We didn’t break up with any bad blood, so they’ve been on the last four albums – Dennis, Neal and Mike. We decided to write a song where we’re all totally frying each other ... The thing was, our lead guitar player, Glen Buxton ... died at 49, because of smoking and drinking and everything. So, at the very end, all of us talked about him and we all said "We hate you – for leaving such a hole on the stage." That was for Glen. All of us really loved Glen, but we saw him dissolving. He went from being one of the great guitar players in rock and roll to – just, couldn’t take it anymore.
Q: I reached out to Eric Nally from locals Foxy Shazaam. They’re about to release an album ("The Heart Behead You," out Feb. 14) and headline a national tour. They’re playing the Icon center a couple weeks after you (Feb. 12). Nally asks: Do you feel like there’s a unique quality to the sound of rock from the Midwest? Like a polite danger?
A: Absolutely. You listen to a Boston record, or Journey, or REO Speedwagon, and it’s perfect, but it has no threat to it. Whereas, Iggy and the Stooges, the MC5, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Guns and Roses, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith – there’s a threat going on there. That’s hard rock. It’s weird to me when I hear somebody putting Vampire Weekend in the same category as the Who. They’re two different worlds. It’s not an insult, but, like I said, there’s no underlying outlaw to it. That’s the Midwest. The Midwest is outlaw.
If you go
What: Alice Cooper
When: 6:30 pm Friday, Jan. 28
Where: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., 513-232-5882
Tickets: $49.50-$83.50
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