After a handful of festival appearances, Alice Cooper (the first headline act the Editor in Chief of this publication ever saw live) returns to the UK for a run of headline dates in late 2017. Tickets on sale from tomorrow (fan club), and mere mortals can get their bloodied mitts on them from Friday. AEG Live are offering pre-show packages as well.
Alice Cooper’s first headline UK tour in 5 years comes with the anticipation of a big 2017 for Coop. The seeds have been sown this year, with Alice having just ended his more than 90 show 2016 tour with a final night at the legendary Pantages Theatre in Hollywood – joined for a celebratory “School’s Out” by rocker Butch Walker and fellow Hollywood Vampire Johnny Depp.
America’s Black Friday Record Store Day saw the instant sellout of a limited edition vinyl 45 of “I’m Eighteen/Is It My Body” recorded live in Dallas in 2015 by Alice with fellow original Alice Cooper members Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce. The old high school and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame friends had reunited for a surprise performance at local store Good Records.
Alice has also talked about his former fellow band members writing songs together for a new Alice Cooper album, being recorded with longtime producer Bob Ezrin this winter, due for 2017 release. For the UK tour, Alice is bringing two bands with him to reflect two of his best sides – outrageous theatrical controversy and the darker, gothic rock that Alice influenced.
The Mission were formed by two members of Sisters Of Mercy in 1986, Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams. Songs like “Wasteland”, “Tower Of Strength” and “Deliverance” became classics of the 1980’s goth rock scene and beyond. The band were heroes of alt rock, headlining Reading Festival twice and, on one tour, selling out 7 consecutive nights at London’s legendary Astoria Theatre. Wayne Hussey describes the band’s excitement about touring with Alice:
I remember during the summer of 1972 being on scout camp and hearing this new song on the radio that absolutely mesmerised me. School’s Out by Alice Cooper. Loved it, still do. Fast forward to 1987 and our first headline spot on the Friday night at Reading Festival. Headlining the Sunday was Alice Cooper. And now we’ve been invited by Alice to join him on his UK tour next November.
The Tubes come from the same art school, shock rock background as Alice Cooper and, originally, the same city (and actually the same schools) – being formed by Phoenix, Arizona natives and appalling some of the same UK cities in the 1970s.
They made their name in psychedelic San Francisco however, honing their satirical act, concept albums and ambitious stage shows that showed an Alice-level preference for self made props and costumes. Frontman Fee Waybill’s characters – like addled British glam rocker Quay Lewd – caused outrage in the UK, as did their bondage gear. 1977 saw their show banned in many British cities but the music cut through with the seminal White Punks On Dope defining their sound and they are still going strong with latest album Mondo Pulp.
November 2017:
- 11th – Leeds – First Direct Arena
- 12th – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro
- 14th – Birmingham – Barclaycard Arena
- 15th – Manchester – Manchester Arena
- 16th – London – The SSE Arena, Wembley
Header image by Katie Frost Photography