Blog Post : Earthquake, broken rib don't faze Alice Cooper

While filming a promotional film on July 29 for his new Along Came A Spider (SPV) album at Linda Vista Hospital, an abandoned facility in East L.A., a 5.4 earthquake shook Los Angeles to its very core. He happened to be choking a nurse at the time. The 5.4 quake was the strongest since the devastating 1994 Northridge quake, shaking Alice, the band, and everyone on the set (including director Piggy D) into a stunned silence. The epicenter was in nearby Chino Hills.

“The floor started moving. Whoa, this is more powerful than I thought! I hope they keep it! You can’t get special effects like that,” enthused Cooper, who had just wrapped production on the film that features lengthy portions—up to two minutes each—of “Vengeance Is Mine,” (In Touch With) Your Feminine Side” and “Killed By Love,” all from the new album.

The current "Psycho-Drama" tour—approximately 100 shows from July 5 to December 4—is still as physical as ever. In Redmond, Oregon last week, fans watched fascinated as Alice took a violent fall. Few noticed just how crushing the thud was. Most figured it was part of the show. Alice, hurting, continued with the performance and with a few performances after that, negating any suggestions to get himself checked out. Finally, giving in to those whose job it is to keep him healthy, he learned he had broken a rib and suffered ligament damage. Doctors advised him it would take three weeks of inactivity and rest to fully recover.

Fat chance. Cooper continues on tour, unrestrained.

So, not an earthquake, not a cracked rib, not ligament damage, can stop Alice from entertaining his loyal fans.

The show must go on indeed.