Gigography

Madhouse Rock (1979)

Madhouse Rock Tour 1979

Press Release:

ONE FLEW OVER THE ROCK 'N' NEST

Alice Cooper's "Madhouse Rock" '79 Announced

Alice Cooper hits the road again with another rock'n'roll extravaganza that bankrolls in excess of $900,000 and is based on the controversial rock star's recovery a year ago from alcoholism.

Cooper's Rock Roadshow — officially titled "Madhouse Rock" — will visit on its first leg 18 U.S. cities, mainly in the Midwest, beginning Feb. 11.

Producer of Madhouse Rock, Joe Gannon, states: "This will become Cooper's most extravaganzant show yet — a highly surrealistic piece of rock theatre that emulates the fantasies and actualities of being in a mental institution."

Cooper's own recovery from alcoholism forms the loose basis of "Madhouse Rock" 1979 which in itself is a visual and audio recreation of Cooper's current hit Warner Bros. Records album "From The Inside" which he wrote with Bernie Taupin, former Elton John lyricist.

"Alice calls this his most personal album," says Gannon. "Our job is to give Alice's inner vision of his experiences an outside form."

Gannon as producer and Rob Iscove as director have made Alice's onstage Wonderland a multi media experience with much use of film, back projection stage props and special effects. Huge whiskey bottles bounce, 12 dancing dogs dance, and the only sound heard from a Rolls Royce onstage is Cooper's rock music. Confirms Gannon: "We are committed firmly to the visual approach, but without neglecting the musical side. Alice's Madhouse Rock is still very much a rock music show."

Alice Cooper's musical backup includes veterans of rock and previous Cooper tours: Fred Mandel, Whitey Glan, Prakash John, Davey Johnstone and Steve Hunter.

Alice Cooper goes out on the road with a back up road crew of 31 people including musicians and a 10 mad production crew. Executive producer of the Madhouse Rock tour is Cooper's manager Shep Gordon, producer is Joe Gannon and director is Rob Iscove. Travel is by three trucks and a four engine plane... and a lot of looking at the weather," states Gannon.

— January 17, 1979

Standard Setlist
Songs Performed

Vincent Price Introduction / From The Inside / Serious / Nurse Rozetta / The Quiet Room / I Never Cry / Welcome To My Nightmare / Billion Dollar Babies / Only Women Bleed / No More Mr Nice Guy / I'm Eighteen / The Black Widow (Instrumental) / Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills / Dead Babies / Ballad of Dwight Fry / All Strapped Up / Go To Hell / Wish You Were Here (Instrumental) / How You Gonna See Me Now / Inmates (We're All Crazy) / School's Out

Approximate set time: 80 minutes

Love It To Death (1971):
I'm Eighteen / Ballad Of Dwight Fry

Killer (1971):
Dead Babies

School's Out (1972):
School's Out

Billion Dollar Babies (1973):
Billion Dollar Babies / No More Mr Nice Guy

Welcome To My Nightmare (1975):
Welcome To My Nightmare / Only Women Bleed

Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (1976):
I Never Cry

From The Inside (1978):
From The Inside / Serious / Nurse Rozetta / Quiet Room / Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills / How You Gonna See Me Now / Inmates (We're All Crazy)

Non-Album Track(s):
All Strapped Up

1979 February

11: USA - Field House, GrandForks, North Dakota
13: USA - Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
14: USA - Dane County Arena, Madison, Wisconsin with The Babys
Ticket | Advert | Advert
16: USA - Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
17: USA - Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan Ticket | Ticket
18: USA - Roberts Municipal Auditorium, Evansville, Indiana
19: USA - Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri with The Babys
Ticket
21: USA - Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, Ohio with The Babys
Scene (Cleveland, OH) Review - February 1979
Ticket | Advert
23: USA - Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
25: USA - Unidome, Cedar Falls, Iowa Audio recording is circulating
26: USA - Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Green Bay, Wisconsin
27: USA - Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana
28: USA - Checkerdome, St. Louis, Missouri

1979 March

02: USA - Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio Ticket
03: USA - Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Advert | Ticket | Ticket
04: USA - International Amphitheater, Chicago, Illinois Rolling Stone Review - May 3, 1979
Ticket
05: USA - Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, Michigan Ticket
06: USA - Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Audio recording is circulating
29: USA - McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Ticket | Ticket
31: USA - Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California Audio recording is circulating
Ticket

1979 April

01: USA - LA Forum, Los Angeles, California Ticket
03: USA - Washington Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington Audio recording is circulating
04: Canada - Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
08: USA - The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada
09: USA - San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California Audio recording is circulating
10: USA - Tucson Community Center Arena, Tucson, Arizona Ticket
11: USA - County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas Ticket
13: USA - Tarrant Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas Audio recording is circulating
14: USA - Norman Center, Norman, Oklahoma Audio recording is circulating
Ticket
16: USA - Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas Ticket | Ticket
17: USA - Centroplex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Audio recording is circulating
18: USA - Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas Ticket | Ticket
29: USA - Civic Center, Rapid City, South Dakota

1979 May

12: USA - The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [CANCELLED] Spectrum press release from April 26th states: "The Spectrum is one of 6 sites throughout the country forced to call off the concert because of the cancellation of the Alice Cooper tour." Tickets had gone on sale April 7th.