In 1974 singer Vincent Damon Furnier decided to leave the "band" Alice Cooper and become the "man" Alice Cooper. After christening himself with a new alter-ego and stage persona, Furnier-as-Cooper went on to record the concept album "Welcome To My Nightmare" and tour the world with his most theatrical stage show to date. Since then, Cooper has consistently continued to record new albums (26 to be exact) and tour with his unique brand of shock rock. Jump to 2010 with the announcement that had fans curious, excited and a little skeptical… Cooper was going to record a sequel to "Welcome To My Nightmare."
In the movie business sequels to popular films come out just about as often as original films do. In the music business not so much. Off the top of my head I can only think of a few… Queensrÿche's "Operation: Mindcrime II," "Frampton Comes Alive II," & of course Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell II & III."
Now, thankfully, 36 years later we can add to that list Alice Cooper's "Welcome 2 My Nightmare."
Returning to the producer's chair for the first time since Alice's under-performing 1983 album "DaDa" is Bob Ezrin. Ezrin has worked with such artists as KISS and Pink Floyd but is best known for his work with Alice. In fact, this is his 10th time working with Cooper. The two of them have managed to capture the tone of the original "Nightmare" album while at the same time updating the sound for 2011, making "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" Alice's best CD since 2003's "The Eyes Of Alice Cooper."
"W2MN" is loaded with a who's who of guest musicians from the past and present. Artists such as Rob Zombie, Vince Gill, Kip Winger and Ke$ha plus original Alice Cooper band members Michael Bruce, Neal Smith and Dennis Dunaway help bring this sequel album to life.
Alice hasn't lost his sense of humor with song titles like "Ghouls Gone Wild" and "Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever." Cooper can still send a chill up your spine as well; the lyrics to the song "When Hell Comes Home" about an abusive husband and father are truly frightening.
If other bands could pull off what Alice Cooper has done with "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" then I look forward to Van Halen's "1985," Aerosmith's "More Toys In the Attic" and AC/DC's "Back Again In Black."
Drumroll please… 8 out of 10 drumsticks!!!
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