Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Alice Cooper's Theatre of Death
Last Thursday Alice Cooper revived The Theatre of Death Show at the Gibson Ampitheater as part of The Gruesome Twosome Return. Usually you want to see a band at the end of a tour when they are really tight. But right out of the gate this band is practiced and on the mark all the way. Solos were so intense it seemed like they were doing demos at NAMM. The only glitch was the one guitar player who kept bumping into the giant letter "A".
Cooper opened up with "School's Out" and kept his greatest hits coming. I admire him for stubbornly continuing to sing the sensitive guy song, "Only Women Bleed", his "Beth". Concerns that the set would be cut short were alleviated by promises Cooper would get his full 80 minutes, and he took full advantage. There was even a quickie encore of "Elected".
Nurse Rosetta was there to torment him, ninjas attacked, and he pulled out the usual stunts. The crowd strained to see how he does the guillotine trick, and held their breath as he was hanged. The hanging trick is the only one that has ever gone wrong, with nearly fatal consequences. He threw out beads, "Billion Dollar Babies" dollars and other trinkets. He no longer throws out larger party favors, like his cane, perhaps as a result of fights breaking out.
Noticeable differences in the show involved a more elaborate strangling of Nurse Rosetta, Alice's daughter costumed as a giant rat, and much to our excitement, the giant cyclops from "Welcome to my Nightmare", hyping the crowd up for the promised Welcome to my Nightmare II, to be produced by Bob Ezrin. All in all, the crowd was left sweaty and satisfied. Vincent Furnier may have found religion and BBQ, but the character of Alice Cooper remains the devious, psychotic and lascivious villain we all know and love.
Support for LAist comes from
Previously on LAist: Alice Cooper and Ace Frehley @ the Nokia, Alice Cooper is Godhead!
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
Best of LAist