(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Editor, RiffRelevant.com)
Alice Cooper is preparing to unleash the “Welcome To My Nightmare Special Edition” DVD, it will be released on September 8th via Eagle Rock Entertainment.
The DVD features the 1975 TV special Alice Cooper: The Nightmare, now available on DVD for the first time, along with the 1976 Welcome To My Nightmare concert film. Originally aired on ABC in the U.S., Alice Cooper: The Nightmare showcases every song from the legendary Welcome To My Nightmare album, which had just been released at the time.
With Cooper taking on the role of ‘Steven’, and Vincent Price serving as ‘The Spirit Of The Nightmare’, this special was a unique introduction to his new album, drawing fans ever further and deeper into the dark fantasy of the landmark conceptual release. Melding elements of horror, theater, and rock music, Alice Cooper’s Welcome To My Nightmare was a stage show the likes of which was never seen before.
Hits and classics songs like “School’s Out”, “Only Women Bleed”, “Billion Dollar Babies”, “Welcome To My Nightmare”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “I’m Eighteen”, and “Department Of Youth” were back-dropped with giant spiders, skeletons, a cyclops, and the voice of all that is horror, Vincent Price.
This groundbreaking theatrical presentation intrigued, horrified, and thrilled audiences, delivering them an experience unlike any concerts at that time. He truly brought spectators into a living (or unliving) nightmare, and they loved every minute of it.
The combination of the Welcome To My Nightmare concert film and Alice Cooper: The Nightmare TV special demonstrates the true, incomparable genius of Alice Cooper. He is beyond music, and beyond horror – Alice Cooper is a magnificent experience, one who continues to frighten and thrill audiences to this very day.
Tracklisting
Welcome To My Nightmare:
“The Awakening”
“Welcome To My Nightmare”
“Years Ago”
“No More Mr. Nice Guy”
“I’m Eighteen”
“Some Folks”
“Cold Ethyl”
“Only Women Bleed”
“Billion Dollar Babies”
“Devil’s Food”
“The Black Widow”
“Steven”
“Escape”
“School’s Out”
“Department Of Youth”
The Nightmare:
“Welcome To My Nightmare”
“Devil’s Food”
“Some Folks”
“Only Women Bleed”
“Cold Ethyl”
“The Black Widow”
“Years Ago”
“Department Of Youth”
“Years Ago” (Reprise)
“Steven”
“The Awakening”
“Ballad Of Dwight Fry”
“Escape”
“The Awakening” (Reprise)
Also in Alice Cooper related news, he will release his new studio album, “Paranormal“, on July 28th via earMUSIC. Paranormal was produced by long-time collaborator Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Deep Purple).
In addition to the new studio album and the two new recordings from the original Alice Cooper band (bassist Dennis Dunaway, guitarist Michael Bruce and drummer Neal Smith), fans will receive a bonus of six live tracks recorded at one of Cooper’s 2016 shows in Columbus, OH.
Speaking of Alice Cooper live, this August he and his band will embark on one of the best summer tour packages to hit the US this year. The trek will see Alice Cooper join the legendary Deep Purple and Edgar Winter for an extensive live run. The dates are listed below.
Deep Purple / Alice Cooper / Edgar Winter US Tour 2017:
August (with Deep Purple, Edgar Winter)
12 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
15 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
16 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
18 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
19 – Dallas, TX – Starplex Pavilion
21 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park Amphitheatre
23 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
24 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
26 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
27 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
30 – Indianapolis, IN – Klipsch Amphitheater
September (with Deep Purple, Edgar Winter)
1 – Pittsburgh, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
2 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
3 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
6 – Chicago, IL – Tinley Park
8 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
10 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
