I was at Club Nokia as well; Fantastic. Never saw original band live. Mike played all the solos! They MUST do some full shows in America please! PS the box looks awesome but still Too Expensive.
Producer Bob Ezrin talks about what went into putting the "Old School" box set together. This is an excerpt from his intro to the DVD which is included in the limited edition box set.
I was at Club Nokia as well; Fantastic. Never saw original band live. Mike played all the solos! They MUST do some full shows in America please! PS the box looks awesome but still Too Expensive.
OH, PS. Give me a call Alice. This will change your, and so many childrens lives...
Thomas J Walsh Jr.
603 315 5573
I have created a new serries for kids. It's like the teen-age-mutant-turtles of the body. It teaches everything from what happens when you get a sliver, to nutrition, the immunilogical benefits of exercise, nutrition, etc. I know, despite your outward expression, you'd love to be a part of this, especially the annimation! Imagine! Battling deamons and devils from without, with the awesome powers we have within! I'm going to a meeting with a bunch of illistrators May 17th. Who knows, this has been a long road. Like my 34 or so other inventions... Not to mention the over 400 sets of lyrics/poems... God it's a friggn curse!
got to see alice and the original band last wednesday(may 20)at club nokia,they played a four song set,but what a set,tooked me right back to my high school days in 1972,you can"t go home again but its sure nice to visit ,school out forever,long live alice
Hello Bob,
Ed Sprigg here just to say hello & thank you for everythng you taught me as an engineer & producer. Working with you, Shelly, Roy & the whole Record Plant family was an invaluable experiance I'll never forget.Thank you for the hours we spent in the studio "honing the craft". It has made me a better engineer,producer. Please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Ed Sprigg
207 George St. Apt. 125
Middletown, Ct.06457
860-343-7813
EVERYBODY CAN REMEMBER THE EXACT MOMENT WHEN THEIR ADOLESCENCE WAS INVADED AND FOREVER CONTAMINATED BY ROCK AND ROLL.
IN THE FIFTIES IT WAS ELVIS , IN THE SIXTIES, THE BEATLES. AND IN THE SEVENTIES (WHERE MY INNOCENCE FELL) IT WAS THE ALICE COOPER GROUP. I HAD FIRST HEARD OF ALICE COOPER A FEW YEARS EARLIER WHEN STRAINS OF “KILLER” WOULD SEEP OUT OF MY BROTHERS BEDROOM AND WOULD START ITS INEVITABLE TAKEOVER OF MY MIND , BODY AND SOUL.
I MEAN ITS HARD TO GO FROM “SWEET CAROLINE” BY NEIL DIAMOND TO “DEAD BABIES” AND NOT HAVE IT HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ONES PSYCHY.
WHEN “ SCHOOLS OUT “ OVERTOOK THE AIRWAVES A YEAR LATER I WAS OFFICIALLY A FAN AND READY FOR THE ULTIMATE BAPTISM THAT WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF “BILLION DOLLAR BABIES”.
THE BILLION DOLLAR BABIES CONCERT TOUR WAS THE LARGEST GROSSING TOUR (TO DATE) IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC. COVERING AN EXHAUSTING 56 CITIES IN 62 DAYS, AN OVERWHELMING SCHEDULE THAT WOULD PUT ALICE COOPER ON THE MAP TO STAY.
THIS RECORD WAS TRULY ONE OF ROCKS MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL RELEASES AS IT “SET THE STAGE” SO TO SPEAK FOR WHAT WAS TO FOLLOW. ARTISTS SUCH AS DAVID BOWIE, KISS, MARILYN MANSON AND EVEN PINK FLOYD HAVE CREDITED THE ALICE COOPER GROUP AS INSPIRATION FOR THEIR THEATRICS. BUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT AND CAN NOT BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE VISUALS IS THE MUSIC.
“HELLO HOORAY”, RAISED THE BAR FOR SHOW OPENERS, “ELECTED”, “BILLION DOLLAR BABIES” AND “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY” WERE HUGE HITS THEN AND ARE STILL IN CONSTANT ROTATION ON THE RADIO SOME 27 YEARS LATER. “RAPED AND FREEZIN”, “UNFINISHED SWEET”AND THE UNDERATED “GENERATION LANDSLIDE” ARE A POWERHOUSE TRIO OF SONGS THAT HELPED PROPEL THE LIVE SHOW FORWARD UNTIL REVISITING THE EARLIER HITS LIKE,” UNDER MY WHEELS”, “I’M EIGHTEEN” AND THE CLASSIC, “SCHOOLS OUT”.
“SICK THINGS “ AND “I LOVE THE DEAD” SERVED AS THE SOUNDTRACK TO ONE OF ROCKS MOST SINISTER STAGE MOMENTS. AFTER BEING HUNG AND ELECTROCUTED IN PREVIOUS SHOWS, THE FORBIDDING GUILLOTINE WAS BY FAR HIS FINAST HOUR.
ALL OF THESE SONGS WERE PART OF A CALCULATED EFFORT BY THE ALICE COOPER GROUP AND THEIR “BRIAN EPSTEIN” BOB EZRIN. STARTING WITH “LOVE IT TO DEATH” MORPHING THROUGH ”KILLER” AND “SCHOOL’S OUT” AND CULMINATING WITH “BILLION DOLLAR BABIES”. “BILLION DOLLAR BABIES” ENCOMPASSES ALL THAT WAS GREAT ABOUT THE’70’S YOUTH.
GREED, LUST, SEX, DRUGS AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ROCK AND ROLL...
Without Bob Ezrin the Alice Cooper Group would have been a vastly different band and influence. Thank you sir...
Ezrin is a genius! Its so good to have him back in the Cooper camp...Bob, I hope to meet you one day just to shake your hand and tell you what an amazing producer you are :)