Review by: Elle Tourjman  –  Photographs by: Nadine Swiger

Welcome to the “Theatre Of Death Tour” and your new nightmare. Hold onto your seats and prepare to be shocked and entertained in a way that no other rock show can imitate. On second thought, don’t hold onto your seats because chances are, if you are like myself and the majority of the audience, you will be up on your feet and straining to catch a glimpse of the charismatic, thrill rocker the second the lights go down. The cheers are nearly deafening as Alice Cooper strides across the stage but soon quiet down as he begins the first song of the night, “School’s Out For Summer.” By this point everyone who knows the song is already singing along and even those who do not take a stab at it.

You cannot help but be drawn into the madness of Alice Cooper. The charisma of this masterful artist, combined with the chemistry of his accompanying musicians which include Keri Kelli, Damon Johnson and drummer Eric Singer, is nearly overwhelming. After the last strains of “School’s Out For Summer” die down, immediately Alice goes into “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, then on to “I’m Eighteen” and “Wicked Young Man”, all the while performing various antics onstage with the crew and his fellow musicians. I particularly loved Alice’s costumes which are the brilliant work of Piggy D, bassist of Rob Zombie. (He was also responsible for helping Alice with the mini movie and artwork for “Along Came A Spider”)

The entire set is one shocking performance after another. It all starts with Alice “killing” a man in a ninja mask with his sword while the audience cheers and applauds the scene enthusiastically. Next Cooper is placed in a straitjacket by more crew while a girl runs out onstage in a bloody, ragged prom or wedding dress, only to run offstage again. There are no breaks in the performance or singing, while the antics go on endlessly, which is brilliant.

During the course of the entertaining evening, Alice Cooper is beheaded, shot (with a giant needle),hung, impaled with an iron maiden and killed in other various, inventive forms, only to return again, rising like the phoenix. That is to say, rising like a black, shock rocker, wildly entertaining and brilliant phoenix! Of course, the mardi gras beads and Alice Cooper billion dollar bills he throws out to the crowd are not to be overlooked.

The final song in the set list for the night is “Under My Wheels” where a huge, evil looking, twisted and very metal staircase is wheeled out onto the stage. Alice is, naturally, perched at the top in an over-the-top black spider jacket. Yes, it’s an actual spider jacket, complete with six moveable legs which makes a total of eight legs if we include Alice Cooper’s own two arms. For the encore performance songs Alice Cooper and co. returned to the stage to sing “Elected” while Alice was decked out in the most blinging costume I have ever seen (Cher would be jealous). He had on a blinding silver top hat, pants and dress jacket to match. All very fitting for “The Wild Party” I would say. All good things must come to an end and so the show ended with a shortened version of “School’s Out for Summer”. The lights went out onstage for the last time and as everyone left the venue, the strains of “Feed My Frankenstein” with visions of giant, one-horned cycloptic monsters, American flags and one hell of a show with the master of showmanship leading the way danced through every boy and girl’s head.

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PHOTO GALLERIES:

VERONA NY :: PHOTO GALLERY :: 7/20/10
SCHENECTADY NY :: PHOTO GALLERY :: 7/25/10
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Alice Cooper Tour Dates:

7/30/10 Knebworth, England – Sonisphere Festival
8/01/10 Lokerse, Belgium – Lokerse Feesten
8/05/10 Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
8/07/10 Stockholm, Sweden – Sonisphere Festival
8/08/10 Pori, Finland – Sonisphere Festival
8/11/10 Vienna, Austria – Arena Open Air
8/12/10 Majano-Udine, Italy – Sport Area
8/14/10 Colmar, France – Foire aux Vins d’Alsace

11/04/10 Stuttgart, Germany – Porsche Arena
11/05/10 Kempten, Germany – Bigbox
11/06/10 Munich, Germany – München Zenith
11/08/10 Berlin, Germany – Max Schmeling Halle
11/09/10 Leipzig, Germany – Leipzig Arena
11/11/10 Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
11/12/10 Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhalle
11/13/10 Braunschweig, Germany – VW Halle
11/15/10 Bamberg, Germany – Jako Arena

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ALICE COOPER : www.alicecooper.com