Alice Cooper (June 30 1973) Hype Hype Hooray – Feature

Publication: New Musical Express Date: June 30 1973

Country: United Kingdom Section / Page: Page 5 Format: Feature Article / Concert Review /  Illustrated Column

Overview

A satirical and sharply written New Musical Express feature by Charles Shaar Murray, titled “Hype Hype Hooray.”   The article examines Alice Cooper’s Madison Square Garden performance, blending concert reportage with cultural commentary on fame, spectacle, and the blurred line between rock and theatre.

Alice Cooper – “Hype Hype Hooray” feature by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, June 30 1973. Illustration from The Benyon Gallery No. 2 accompanying a review of Cooper’s Madison Square Garden performance

“Charles Shaar Murray searches for snakes in the grass at New York’s Madison Square Garden.”

What the Clipping Shows

• Headline: “Hype Hype Hooray” in bold serif type, spanning the page width. • Sub‑headline:

 “Charles Shaar Murray searches for snakes in the grass at New York’s Madison Square  Garden.”  

• Large central illustration depicting Alice Cooper in top hat and stage attire, towering over a crowd with outstretched hands.

• Text columns flanking the image, written in Murray’s trademark sardonic tone. • Layout typical of NME’s early‑’70s design — monochrome print, minimal graphics, and emphasis on literary style.

The Story Behind It

By mid‑1973, Alice Cooper had become a global phenomenon — a master of shock rock whose stagecraft rivalled Broadway in scale. This NME feature captures the British press’s fascination with his American success, using wit and irony to dissect the spectacle. Murray’s prose oscillates between admiration and critique, describing Cooper as both showman and businessman, a performer who “owns up to hype” while manipulating it to perfection.

The piece contextualises Cooper’s act within the broader rock landscape, contrasting his theatrical excess with the authenticity debates of the era. It also reflects NME’s evolving editorial voice — irreverent, literate, and unafraid to challenge the mythology surrounding major stars. The accompanying illustration from The Benyon Gallery No. 2 visualises Cooper as a cartoonish ringmaster feeding serpents to an adoring crowd, reinforcing the article’s theme of spectacle and satire.

Related Material

Alice Cooper (May 1973) Alice Tours With Monster Tooth – Feature

Alice Cooper (May 24 1973) Alice’s New Horror Show – Feature

Alice Cooper (May 10 1973) Inside Alice 

Additional entries listed in the scrapbook  tag index

Source Details

Publication: New Musical Express Date: June 30 1973 Format: Feature Article / Concert Review Provenance Notes: Original British press coverage of Alice Cooper’s Madison Square Garden concert, written by Charles Shaar Murray and  illustrated by The Benyon Gallery.

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© Copyright Notice — Alice Cooper (New Musical Express, June 30 1973)

All original magazine artwork, photographs, and text remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This scrapbook entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

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