Some info on Alice Cooper?!
Question: Here are a few questions I've always had about Alice Cooper:
1. Does Alice play any instruments? From what I understand he plays harmonica. Is that Alice playing harmonica on songs like Generation Landslide?
2. Alice co-writes most of his songs with others. What is the typical arrangement? Does Alice write the lyrics and the co-writer write the music? Or is it more a Jim Morrison arrangement, where Alice perhaps writes the lyrics and also comes up with the melody, and the co-writer figures out the chords?
3. How has Alice's voice stood up over all these years? Does he still have the vocal chops in his more recent concert appearances?
4. How does one explain the incredibly szchizophrenic nature of Alice's songs, bouncing between really hardrock to lovely ballads? There does not seem to be much middle ground. There is an almost Vegas or "showbiz" feel to some of his songs.
Answers: Here are a few questions I've always had about Alice Cooper:
1. Does Alice play any instruments? From what I understand he plays harmonica. Is that Alice playing harmonica on songs like Generation Landslide?
2. Alice co-writes most of his songs with others. What is the typical arrangement? Does Alice write the lyrics and the co-writer write the music? Or is it more a Jim Morrison arrangement, where Alice perhaps writes the lyrics and also comes up with the melody, and the co-writer figures out the chords?
3. How has Alice's voice stood up over all these years? Does he still have the vocal chops in his more recent concert appearances?
4. How does one explain the incredibly szchizophrenic nature of Alice's songs, bouncing between really hardrock to lovely ballads? There does not seem to be much middle ground. There is an almost Vegas or "showbiz" feel to some of his songs.
Unfortunately I can't answer all the questions you have, but I am a huge fan of Alice Cooper's music and can tell you that his voice has most definitely stood the test of time. I seen Cooper 2 times over the course of the last 2 years (the last time being this past summer) and I have to tell you, he really gave an incredible show; by far one of the best live acts I've ever seen. The first time I saw him I really didn't hold too high of an expectation for the fact of him just getting old, but I was completely wrong. If you ever get an opportunity of catching Alice Cooper I would strongly urge you in doing so, you won't be disappointed.
EDIT: to quickly touch base on your last question. Alice's songs are set up in the form of a play. Alot of his songs fit together like a puzzle in the sequence of a live performance. He wrote "Welcome to my nightmare" as a way of kicking his shows off. Some of his songs you listen to on record and say to yourself, "this doesn't make any sense". They are meant to go along with his on stage act. It is much like listening to the audio verson of a play without the visual.
Wikipedia is your friend.
He's the spawn of Satan.
To underscore Tesla's last point. Listen to Devil's Food and Balck Widow back to back, also Years Ago, Steven , and The Awakening. ( All off Welcome To My Nightmare) These songs are meant to go together. They are simply amazing.