Alice Cooper unleashes the guillotine – shock rock’s darkest hour begins! one-page advert in Rolling Stone, December 23, 1971. More shock-rock horrors added weekly.

December 1, 1971, show at the Academy of Music in New York City marked the world premiere of Alice Cooper's iconic mock hanging execution as the show's grand finale. This was the official kickoff of the Killer Tour (though a handful of warm-up gigs had occurred in the prior week), and it introduced the full theatrical escalation that defined the band's shock-rock legacy. Prior to this, the Love It to Death Tour (earlier in 1971) climaxed with a staged electric chair executi

Alice Cooper's Shock-Rock Breakthrough

A Killer's Road Rage Anthem Alice Cooper Group’s "Under My Wheels"  backed with "Desperado" , was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK 1971 by Warner Bros. Records (catalog number K 16135) on November 5, 1971,The release was planned to align with the group's three UK show dates, and they also performed the track on The Old Grey Whistle Test. November Dates 02: France - Espace Cardin, Paris 04: UK - Mayfair Suite (Kinetic Circus), Birmingham, England [POSTPONED] 07: UK

Alice Cooper Group’s "Under My Wheels"  backed with "Desperado" , was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the US 1971 by Warner Bros. Records (catalog number WB 7529) on September 28, 1971. USA - Warner Bros. - 1971 Taken from the Killer album, the single debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at No. 88 during the week of December 25, 1971, peaking at No. 59 on January 29, 1972, during an 8-week run. Produced by Bob Ezrin and written by Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Bob

Alice Cooper headlined a concert at The Park in North Baltimore, Ohio, on August 21, 1971 during their Love It to Death tour, a pivotal period when the band was gaining notoriety for their shock rock performances and the success of their breakthrough album. The lineup for this show included supporting acts SRC, Ormandy, Reginal True Rabbitt, and Abu-Tala. Notably, Michael Bruce, the band’s rhythm guitarist, reportedly missed this performance, though specific reasons are not d

A striking one‑page promotion for Killer and its breakout single “Be My Lover” — SUMMARY The Alice Cooper Group’s “Killer Explodes” advertisement was issued on November 9, 1971 to promote their fourth studio album, Killer. Designed as a bold, attention‑grabbing one‑page print piece, the advert highlighted the album’s explosive impact on FM radio and the growing momentum behind the band’s theatrical shock‑rock identity. A follow‑up push for the single “Be My Lover” arrived on

“Be My Lover” stepped onto the Billboard Hot 100 on March 11, 1972, marking a key moment in the Alice Cooper Group’s rise from underground shock‑rockers to mainstream contenders. With its sly humour, stripped‑back groove, and Killer‑era swagger, the single carved out a 10‑week run on the chart, peaking at No. 49 on April 22. It’s a snapshot of the band’s growing momentum as their theatrical grit began finding a home on U.S. radio.

A Detroit‑forged reinvention — the album where Alice Cooper became a menace, not a curiosity.