Even the infamous "haunted house" in Disneyland seems like a harmless kindergarten event compared to Alice Cooper's new live show. At his concerts before Christmas, Alice, a notorious horror specialist since the early 1970s, unleashed pure psychological terror. From the very first moment, when he emerged from his "trash" bin like the devil out of a box. Die-hard heavy fans got weak knees just by looking at Alice's Dracula face made up to look like a mummy. The shock rocker completed the starter "Prince of Darkness" armed with a whip, which he first hit the microphone stand, then through the air and finally, like a medieval penitent, onto his own back. The guys from Alice's band were able to keep a safe distance. But their emaciated 58 kg boss had no pity for himself. Alice really gives it her all at every concert. He claims: "I lose control of myself as soon as I step on stage. I really turn into the monster Alice for an hour and a half." The whip is one of the harmless ones among Cooper's show props. During "Billion Dollar Babies" he waves around a razor-sharp sword, which he uses to cut 100 dollar bills in the air with whizzing blows. Next, Alice works on the stage boards with a billiard cue and sometimes swings the club threateningly towards the fans. The madness on stage increases from song to song. Alice begins to let out predatory screams and pounce on band members. He pushes them, chokes them from behind and pulls their hair. Backstage, the tough guys in white coats get ready. A wild, laughing and roaring ghost voice from the loudspeaker towers then apparently costs Alice the rest of his mind. He makes horrible faces and whirls his spider arms around him. The mental health officers move in and have to give him several heavy kicks in the stomach. but finally manage to drag Alice backstage. What happens there is shown to the fans on a huge video screen. The reluctant Alice is only able to be knocked down and calmed down by a nurse armed with chloroform. But only temporarily. Back on the ramp, the madman is able to free himself from the straitjacket and only needs a few seconds to strangle the nurse. All in all, despite the toning down for Europe, the Cooper show is not only tasteless, but somehow sick. Heavy fans, who were freed from studded belts, spiked bracelets, chains and switchblades by a disarmament squad at the entrance to the hall, went wild with enthusiasm. But the more sensitive souls were sometimes made to feel sick by the cutting of throats, realistic beheadings using the guillotine trick and other implied scenes of violence. Alice has super songs that work even without bloody slapstick. After turning back into a human after the show, Alice (41) is a nice, friendly and sensitive person.
The master of ceremonies of the horror show
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