Alice Cooper (September 29, 1971) – “Rock Stars Are World's Wildest Swingers” Feature - Philadelphia Daily News
This feature examines the extravagant image and behaviour associated with rock stars, but gives particular attention to Alice Cooper and his band. The article explores the group's shock-rock presentation, audience reactions and growing popularity, presenting Alice Cooper as one of the most controversial acts in contemporary rock music.
Publication: Philadelphia Daily News
Date: September 29, 1971
Country: United States
Written by Fred Sparks, the article looks at the increasingly theatrical nature of rock music and argues that few groups embodied the trend more completely than Alice Cooper. The feature describes the band as coming to the stage dressed in eye make-up, soft clothes, silk and velvet, creating a visual spectacle intended to provoke and surprise audiences.
Alice Cooper explains that the group deliberately embraces an appearance that might seem strange or even repulsive to some people.
The article notes that the band emerged from the Los Angeles nightclub scene and regularly challenged audience expectations with shocking stage actions and unusual performance ideas.
One example recalled in the feature involves the group's stage act drawing strong audience reactions when objects were thrown into the crowd. The article highlights the way spectators moved from disbelief to enthusiastic participation, illustrating the growing fascination surrounding Alice Cooper performances.
The piece also discusses the commercial success the band was beginning to achieve. Following the release of their hit record "I'm Eighteen" and the album Love It To Death, Alice Cooper is presented as a group on the rise, with the writer suggesting they represented a uniquely American response to changing trends in rock music. During a backstage interview, the article also captures Cooper's commitment to image, noting a humorous exchange about maintaining his stage appearance before returning to the spotlight.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published during the breakthrough year for Alice Cooper, the article captures the group before they achieved their greatest commercial success. At the time, the combination of theatrical presentation, provocative imagery and hard rock music was still unusual enough to attract both criticism and fascination.
Rather than dismissing the act, the feature treats Alice Cooper as part of a broader shift in popular entertainment. References to theatre, spectacle and audience participation suggest that the band's performances were helping redefine expectations of what a rock concert could be.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Feature examining the shock-rock image and stage presentation of Alice Cooper
Era: 1971 Love It To Death era
Tone: Observational and provocative
Photography: Portrait photograph of Alice Cooper alongside a live performance image
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Discussion of Alice Cooper's theatrical image and stage presentation
• References to the success of "I'm Eighteen" and Love It To Death
• Photographs of Alice Cooper both on stage and in portrait form
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