Early Days On The Road (1964 - 1968)
Performing As The Earwigs 1964 - 1965
The Earwigs formed in the early to middle part of 1964 to play a Letterman Talent Show at Cortex High School in Phoenix, Arizona. The band simply mimed to a Beatles tape. The band are most commonly known to have consisted of Vincent Furnier, Dennis Dunaway, John Speer, John Tatum, Glen Buxton.
SickThingsUK has discovered that there were actually two Letterman performances. The first, where they mimed to the Beatles tape, was a disaster and they came in last. Peter Williams played drums on this occasion and left the band after this appearance, to be replaced by John Tatum. Only Glen and John Tantum could play at this point, the rest of the band still had to learn. In a Cortez High School newspaper report dated 16th October 1964 the rest of band had only just recently learn to play their instruments. The band performed in bright yellow jackets with black turtle neck sweaters.
Songs Performed
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Unknown; but it can be assumed it was British Invasion bands that were of interest to the band at this point. |
1964 Unknown
??: USA - Letterman Talent Show, Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona
??: USA - Letterman Talent Show, Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona
1964 October
??: USA - Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona
A series of Lunch Time performances by the band for fellow students
23: USA - Pit and the Pendulum, Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona
A dance sponsored by Cortez High School Journalism Club
1965
??: USA - Lisa Hawks, Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party, Phoenix, Arizona
1965 February
09: USA - Washington Grad School Talent Show
1965 April
30: USA - Sears Dance Talent Competition, Phoenix, Arizona
1965 May
07: USA - Talent Show, Arizona
1965 June
01: USA - Pizza Pub, Phoenix, Arizona
1965 September
??: USA - VIP Lounge, Phoenix, Arizona
1965 November
??: USA - Phoenix Star Club, Phoenix, Arizona
Performing As The Spiders 1966 - 1967
At this point the band still consisted of Vincent Furnier, Dennis Dunaway, John Speer, John Tatum, Glen Buxton. Although John Tatum left in the Summer of '66 and was replaced by Michael Bruce.
The band recorded two single in the year that they were known as The Spiders. Why Don't You Love Me / Hitch Hike featuring the first line-up, and Don't Blow Your Mind / No Price Tag which was recorded with the second line-up; both singles are needless to say, very sought after. Of interest to those with shallow pockets, the Don't Blow Your Mind single was recently re-released by the Garage Greats, and Why Don't You Love Me was released as a 4-track single in 1998 by Sundazed. The band would perform with a big spider web as their backdrop.
Songs Performed
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The band are still playing cover songs, but are starting to write their own material as well. SickthingsUK states that the following songs were being played by the band at this point: Lil' Red Rooster, Love that Dirty Water, Hey Mona!, Midnight Hour, Louie Louie, Route 66, Stormy Monday, 19th Nervous Breakdown, I'm a Man and Love Potion Number 9. There are also bootleg recordings in circulation, either as demos or live, which include the following songs: Dear Dad (originally by Chuck Berry), I'm Cryin' (originally by The Animals), Surprise Suprise (originally by The Rolling Stones), Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going) (originally by The Rolling Stones), As Tears Go By (originally by The Rolling Stones), Baby Lets Wait (orginally by The Rascals), Talk Talk, Cheatin', I'm A Man, Smokestack Lightning, I Need You, Down The Road A Piece (originally by The Rolling Stones), Where You From (an original number, later to be known as Below Your Means), and Stop, Look and Listen (an original number). |
1966 August
21: USA - Thrift City, Tucson, Arizona
1966 September
04: USA - VIP club, Jaycees, Phoenix (support Yardbirds)
1967 March
16: USA - VIP Club, Tucson, Arizona
26: USA - Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California
28: USA - Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, California
1967 Unknown
??: USA - Hullabaloo Club, Los Angeles, California, USA
1967 May
??: USA - Gallup, New Mexico
??: USA - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Performing As The Nazz 1967 - 1968
At this point the band still consisted of Vincent Furnier, Dennis Dunaway, John Speer, Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton. Although John Speer was to leave in late '67 to be replaced by Neal Smith. This line-up would remain until 1974, although additonal musicians were brought in to help out when Glen was experiencing problems. The name The Nazz was taken from the Yardbirds song called "The Nazz Are Blue". The name was changed in early 1968 when Todd Rundgeon's band of the same name started to gain some attention. The band recorded one single as The Nazz, Wonder Who's Loving Her Now / Lay Down And Die Goodbye which was released in 1967; another much sought after single.
Songs Performed:
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More original material flowing in to the sets... a lot of material that would eventually show up on Pretties For You and Easy Action. |
1967 August
22: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster 1 |
Poster 2]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
23: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
24: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
25: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
26: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
27: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
[Poster]
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
1967 September
01: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
[Poster]
with Buffalo Springfield, The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
02: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
with Buffalo Springfield, The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
1967 October
27: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
[Poster]
28: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
29: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
31: USA - Los Angeles, California
1967 November
17: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
[Advert]
with Clear Light
18: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
with Clear Light
19: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
with Clear Light
1967 December
20: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
21: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
22: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
23: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
24: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
1968 Unknown (Early '68)
??: USA - Snoopy's, Phoenix, Arizona
??: USA - Philippo's Oddessey, Phoenix, Arizona
??: USA - The Fifth Estate, Phoenix, Arizona
??: USA - The Beau Brummel's Club, Phoenix, Arizona
??: USA - Encanto Park, Phoenix, Arizona
[Poster]
??: USA - J.D's Riverbottom, Scottsdale, Arizona
??: USA - Bortz Brothers Studios, Tempe, Arizona
1968 March
??: USA - Cheetah, Los Angeles, California
Date could possibly be 6th, 13th, 20th, or the 27th
Tour Materials
Performing As Alice Cooper 1968-1974
At this point the band were now a cohesive unit, and there were no more changes to the bands official line-up. This would remain until early in 1974 when Alice Cooper the group disbanded to do their own projects and take some time off, never to return. The bands first gig as Alice Cooper was advertised as The Nazz, between the time the poster had been printed and the show was due to start, the band had changed its name. Their last gig as the Alice Cooper group was on 8th April 1974, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Songs Performed:
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Unknown for sure, but at this point it's likely to be Pretties For You set list that is being performed. |
1968 March
16: USA - Earl Warren Fairgrounds, Santa Barbara, California
[Poster]
First gig as ALICE COOPER; with Blue Cheer, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
27: USA - Three Experience, Los Angeles, California
with Slim Harpo, Rockin' Foo - date could be wrong
1968 April
??: USA - Kaleidoscope, Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, California
Date could possibly be 21st or 28th, or 5th May
1968 May
01: USA - Cheetah, Los Angeles, California
23: USA - Phoenix Memorial Hall, Phoenix, Arizona
with Iron Butterfly
24: USA - Albuquerque, New Mexico
possibly the 25th as well
Tour Materials
