Gigography
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.
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 Combo Contest, ChrisTown Mall, Phoenix, Arizona The band finished in 1st place.
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 1965 - 1967
At this point the band still consisted of Vincent Furnier, Dennis Dunaway, John Speer, John Tatum, Glen Buxton. 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 original pressings are very sought after. Both singles have been re-released on vinyl
In 2024 OKtay Records released "Don't Blow Your Mind: The Mascot Sessions", an LP comprising of Spiders recordings sessions from the mastertapes of Mascot Records.
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
- 11: USA - KFIF Bosstravaganza, Thrift City, Tucson, Arizona with The Animals, The Young Rascals, and The Five Of Us
- 21: USA - Thrift City, Tucson, Arizona
1966 September
- 04: USA - VIP club, Jaycees, Phoenix with The 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
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.
1967 August
- 22: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster | Poster - 23: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster - 24: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster - 25: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster - 26: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster - 27: USA - Cheetah Club, Venice, California
with The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster
1967 September
- 01: USA - Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, California
with Buffalo Springfield, The Watts, 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Poster - 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
with Clear Light
Advert - 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 January
- 06: USA - The Mad Hatter, Scotsdale, Arizona with Twentieth Century Zoo, The Fold
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
Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, CA - August 22, 1967
(Poster)
Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, CA - August 22, 1967
(Poster)
Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, CA - September 1-2, 1967
(Poster)
Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, CA - October 27-29, 1967
(Poster)
Cheetah Club, Los Angeles, CA - Nov 17, 1967
(Advert)
Encanto Park, Phoenix, AZ - 1968
(Poster)
Performing As Alice Cooper 1968
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.
1968 March
- 16: USA - Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, California
with Blue Cheer, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
First gig as ALICE COOPER
Ticket - 27: USA - Thee Experience, Los Angeles, California with Slim Harpo, Rockin' Foo - date could be wrong
1968 April
- 03: USA - Cheetah, Los Angeles, California
with The Spirit, Alexander's Timeless Blooze Band, and Glass Family.
The Alice Cooper band appeared in an advertisement still listed as The Nazz. This concert was part of a serious of events for The Resistance movement, a movement that advocated for non-compliance to the draft. - 05: USA - Alice Cooper Club, Phoenix, Arizona Club with the Alice Cooper namesake decorated in the band's favorite color - Pink! Located at 5555 E. Van Buren.
- 06: USA - Alice Cooper Club, Phoenix, Arizona 2nd night on E. Van Buren with Thirst and Art Willy
- ??: 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
Earl Warren Fairgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA - March 16, 1968
(Ticket)