In a recent chat with 96.1 KLPX radio station, Alice Cooper reflected on the evolution of shock rock and the role it plays in his performances today. He noted that the element of shocking an audience, which was prevalent in the 1970s, has become less central to modern rock shows. According to Cooper:
“It’s so funny because it used to be easy to shock an audience in the ’70s. Now nobody’s really trying, we’re not really trying to shock an audience. I don’t think anybody is ‘shock rock’ anymore, but those elements still remain in the show because they’re fun to watch.”
Cooper elaborated on how the theatrical aspects of his performances, like the guillotine, continue to captivate audiences due to the build-up and storyline surrounding them:
“It’s still fun to watch the guillotine and the fact that you really buy into it because of what happens before that. You’re really concerned about this character Alice up there, what happens. And that’s what I like about it.”
He emphasized that while the shock elements are part of the show, the focus is more on engaging the audience through the character of Alice Cooper and the songs themselves:
“I want the audience to get involved in the show. We don’t do a lot of lasers. We don’t do things like that, because I want the emphasis to be on the character Alice, what happens to him, and what he’s doing. But all that happens during all these songs that everybody knows, ‘Feed My Frankenstein’ and ‘Poison’ and ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ and, of course, ‘School’s Out’ at the end.”
Cooper’s approach shows a shift from purely shocking elements to a more immersive, character-driven performance, ensuring that the essence of Alice Cooper’s theatrical rock remains both engaging and memorable.
