Nza’s Review: Alice Cooper – Theatre of Death [2010] CD/DVD

What can I say, kiddies. You want shock rock, then look no further to the originator. Alice Cooper is 62 years old and still rocks hard. I say that he might even rock harder now than ever. Theatre of Death is the thing for you for two simple reasons. You get to see one hell of a rock show for openers, and you get to see a helluva theatric performance with it.

Shot on Dec. 6, 2009 at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo in the United Kingdom, Alice and Co. shred through all the classicks. From the opening bells of “Schools Out,” I was 100% focused in on the mayhem. Straight jacket and all, Alice performs the classick “The Ballad of Dwight Fry”; both chilling and amazing, it leaves you thirsting for more. Betrayed by a woman, beheaded by ghouls, and injected with deadly serum, Alice keeps on getting killed and comes back for more.

His backing band consisting of big boom drumming of Jimmy DeGrasso, solid bass pounding of Chuck Garric, and the shredding dual guitars of Damon Johnson and Keri Kelli are just plain perfect. I’d love to say that they are the best band Alice was ever backed, by but my heart goes with Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, Michael Bruce, and Glen Buxton. These guys did it with the bare essentials and made great music together. The nu-generation band has the technology now to make it sound better. Its your choice which you prefer. Ill take the 8-track, chicken wire and tomato cans anyday over the new sound.

My personal favorite “Be Me Lover” is a standout track. New songs including “Wicked Young Man” and “Vengenace is Mine” fit nicely with the great retrospect of a career of deadly tunes. Closing out the show with “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Under My Wheels,” Alice makes you want to start it up from the beginning all over again.

I’ve been a fan of Alice for a long, long time and I am pleased to say that he is one of the candidates for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Let’s hope he gets inducted this year. If this concert DVD doesn’t give any indication why Alice Cooper is not deserving, then I don’t know Rock and Roll -Nza