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Alice Cooper

Author: Isa

The one and only Alice Cooper talks to us about his new album "Paranormal." The new release is truly an event because, although the king of "Shock Rock" has by no means disappeared from the spotlight, he hasn't released any original material under his own name for six years. This CD not only brings together a number of prestigious guests, but also members of the band's original lineup.

To start off, how does it feel to be releasing a brand new album, six years after "Welcome 2 My Nightmare"?

Actually, I've been pretty busy all this time, and I've never really been away from the stage. I formed Hollywood Vampires with Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, for example. We got together in 2015 to write the album, and then we rehearsed a lot to take it on tour. To be honest, between my last album and now, I've not really stopped touring. We've played in hundreds of cities all over the world. And at some point, I told myself it was time to take a break and write a new Alice Cooper album.

Could you tell us more about the creative process behind "Paranormal"?

Well, the main idea behind "Paranormal" was to bring together twelve to fifteen songs that would be our favorites — meaning me, my producer Bob Ezrin, and everyone in the band, all those who took part in the album. We wanted everyone to be involved and to help decide which songs were the best. For this album, we wrote more than twenty tracks and then picked our favorites. It was really fun. While we were in the studio I got the chance to work with new people. I have never worked with Larry Mullen (U2), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), or Roger Glover (Deep Purple) before. Then we also brought in three members of the original band lineup. So in the end, it was kind of an experiment — but a very positive one, and I think together we managed to create one of the best Alice Cooper albums ever.

And why didn't you decide to record the entire album with the band's original lineup?

The original lineup split up back in 1974, which is a long time (laughs)! But I have to say, we didn't part on bad terms; there were no lawsuits or anything like that. Everyone just went their own way, and we stayed friends. So when the time came, I called them up to suggest we write a few songs together and maybe play a few shows. Not a full tour — that wouldn't be possible, since they're all constantly working with other musicians; they’re really great players. Anyway, getting back together in the studio was a lot of fun, we had a great time. What came out of it turned out really good!

Could you pick one song — maybe your favorite, if you have one — and explain its meaning or the story behind it?

There's this song, "Poison." It was an international hit, a really cool, kind of a sexy song. The main idea behind it, and I think everyone has experienced this at least once, is that you choose someone even though you know they’re not right for you. I don’t know why — all the warning signs are there — but you go for it anyway, knowing it won't work, knowing that this person is toxic. That person becomes your poison, a poison that seeps into your blood and drives you crazy. I don’t understand why we do it, but we do it anyway.

And what about a song from the new album?

On the new album, I really like the song "Paranoiac Personality." It's about a guy who thinks everyone's out to get him — he's paranoid. And I actually know people like that, people who believe everyone is against them, who never take a break, who constantly think someone's conspiring against them. I just felt like writing a song about those kinds of people.

And it seems that this song is connected to the album artwork, right?

Yes, absolutely! But that artwork is also connected to me. What I mean is, the person speaking to you right now is Alice Cooper — but he's not the same Alice Cooper you see on stage. The Alice Cooper on stage is much more theatrical, kind of a villain, and he embodies that character more than he is human. And I'm both of those people — a nice guy who gets along with everyone, and then, once I'm on stage, I become his opposite. That's why there are two heads on the album cover.

When we saw the artwork at the editorial office, we thought of the two-headed character played by Sarah Paulson in the fourth season of American Horror Story, "Freak Show." Could that character have inspired you in any way?

I know that character, but I think Alice Cooper has been working with that Freak Show imagery for much longer than American Horror Story has!

Also, you'll be going on tour again soon. Are you preparing an entirely new show?

I'm on tour right now, and the show we're putting on is the best Alice Cooper show ever. I'm playing with incredible musicians — real monsters — it's the best band I've ever toured with. And every song has its own theatrical part. In fact, when you see this show, you're amazed. Every time we get a review, the comments are always positive; people think the show is incredible. I think everyone's going to love it! And of course, for those who know the classics, all the usual elements are there: the snake, the straitjacket, the guillotine, Frankenstein... it's all there!

We talked about "Paranoiac Personality," which is the first single from the album presented to the public — are you planning to shoot a video soon for another track?

Yes, but I haven't really thought about it yet. I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete. I think I'll start looking into it more seriously next week, once I'm back from Europe.

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"Paranormal"
Genre: Rock
Country: USA
Label: Ear Music
Release date: 07.28.2017
Reviewer: Isa

You feel a bit intimidated when you're asked to review the twenty-seventh album of a legend with more than forty years of career behind him. Even more so when you know that the work was produced by Bob Ezrin... Having seen, thanks to Deep Purple, how this man operates, you can imagine that nothing was left to chance. This album also features prestigious guests, including Roger Glover from Deep Purple on bass, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top on guitar, and Larry Mullen from U2 on drums. "Paranormal" is, first and foremost, a collection of ten rock tracks with catchy choruses — such as "Paranoiac Personality," the first single released to the public — and bluesy guitar solos, as in "Fallen In Love." There's also a touch of fun and a hint of country flavor on "Dynamite Road." The release also includes a second CD made up of two original tracks recorded with the original Alice Cooper band members: the darker "The Sound of A" and the more upbeat "Genuine American Girl." It also offers six additional live tracks, including "School’s Out." No surprises here — everything is extremely well produced and a real pleasure to listen to. Thank you, Sir Cooper!

(Originally published in the Belgium publication, Hellzine, August/September 2017; No. 10. Translation of the French text, November 2025)