Alice Cooper: 'Young Rock Bands Should Be More Like Lady Gaga'

Given his penchant for over-the-top theatrics, it should come as little surprise that Alice Cooper has a low boredom threshold. As ContactMusic notes the "Poison" singer is getting frustrated with modern bands, and feels that they should be more like his friend Lady Gaga:

"The girls seem to be the only ones doing theatrics, the guys have taken a back seat when it comes to that, Lady Gaga and the others just seem to be more creative when it comes to the stage shows. The guys have become boring, really. It just seems like young rock bands are afraid to be young rock bands. There's a lot of thrust missing from rock 'n' roll. I don't know why, everyone's trying to be very sensitive. In the 70s the last thing on our minds was sensitive."

The Coop has also got beef with the lumberjack look that has been popularized by bands such as Kings of Leon in recent years, and stated that bands should be singing less about politics, and more about girls:

"90 per cent of rock bands wear corduroy on stage, with little beards and they look like they're lumberjacks. And they sing about how much they hate oil. That's not rock 'n' roll, they should be singing about boys and girls - that's always what it's been about. Or if they are singing about girls it's always, 'I'm so sorry I was bad.' Quit being sorry!"

In other Alice Cooper news, it has been announced today that the singer will once again be joined on stage by actor Johnny Depp. Depp will play guitar for Alice at the annual Christmas Pudding show at Comercia Theatre, AZ, on December 8th. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star last played with Cooper back in 2011 at the 100 Club in London.

Comments

[webber243]

Ummm..... no Alice

[Sheep Shagger]

He's talking about how young rock bands aren't doing anything interesting with their stage theatrics compared to Gaga. He's not saying they should write music like hers...

[liam_gal]

well, i think pop star put antics over the music

[TOOLeffingTOOL]

Alice Cooper made his fame out of half-assed music and over the top antics. I agree that bands today can be too sensitive to popular opinion, but there is no need to go on stage and dress up like you're a child.

[iommi600]

Four words for you, sir: Love it to Death.

[swave75]

An absolute classic!!!

[JelloCrust]

Lady Gaga actually does write her own music and is a competent pianist. While her stuff under the character that she has developed is a little shallow, she still is good and fun to watch.

[BjarnedeGraaf]

And I think he has a valid point.
The thing is, it's going to be hard finding enough people who share the same "style" as gaga

[Drm316]

I don't think "style" is the right word. I think "drive" or "passion" would be a better fit.

[CoolPotato]

rammstein?

[Metalxorxdie]

haha my thoughts exactly!

[RitchieRamone]

Well. I agree with the Webber guy. IMO there's no need for a big shows with lasers and shit. I think that if a band really gives all it has, it's enough. (Big Springsteen fan)

[tele-disaster]

considering muse have for years had HUGE stage sets, recently unvealing a pyramid made of plasma tv screens which goes up and down with lights lasers etc. kinda missed that i think. on the other hand young rock bands dont get the exposure so much these days so cant afford huge stage sets like GAGA whose music generates enough to warrant such a production

[AdamnEve]

Agreed, what a load of shit. I get what he is trying to say - that stage presence is important, but seriously... no, Lady Gaga is shite. This article is bad UG, and you should feel bad.

[New Medicine]

Avenged Sevenfold Nightmare tour set was pretty sick in my opinion. I agree though not many bands have the money for over the top stuff. As well as not many bands seem to feel the need too. Which is sad. Alice and even Ozzy did amazing jobs and watching from videos it seemed amazing

[Drm316]

"UG users slam Alice Cooper for using Lady Gaga as an example" --- Some people just missed the point of what he's trying to say...

[wembly]

That bands should sing about boys and girls, rather than what they are interested in?

[Drm316]

TBH I think there's more depth to what he's saying. I think he's pointing out that in a sense the "rock 'n' roll" scene (if you will), seems pretty weak and it lacks the energy of youth it had "back in the day". Maybe using the "subject" of themes/lyrics was not the strongest example to use as a point. Idk. I just wouldn't be as quick to down talk what someone who in my eyes (key word being "MY" but probably to a bunch of others) has been insanely successful for his sheer ingenuity throughout the ages.

[Rick_Diculous]

Sorry Alice, last time rock bands cared more about image and theatrics than their music, we got stuck with hair metal. Don't let that happen again.

[dewitt]

...yet the music was still better than it is today.

[Drm316]

"lumberjack metal" - the new-age "hair metal" lol

[bazo666]

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day...

[Drm316]

I'm more of the "Rock all night and sleep all day" kind of guy. But hey I respect other people's tastes n stuff.

[bazo666]

[deadlydictator]

Everyones more focused on playing than looking cool, it isn't a ****in circus up there.

[deadlydictator]

And when you say lumberjacks, first band that comes to mind.
MASTODON

[Lightning_Ray]

ZZ Top, but I never heard any complaints...

[zalant]

I dunno. I would think that if a lumberjack had a beard that long, it'd get caught in the chainsaw. No bueno.

[notaconotaco]

I'd rather them just play good music. I don't go to concerts to watch some theatrics, I go to listen to good music.

[p_a_morgan]

Don't stand in front of the sub, in that case.

[Maestro1600]

Surely a concert with great music and great stagecraft is, by definition, better than a concert with great music but boring stagecraft?

[PuckMugger]

I don't care what point Alice Cooper (whom I've long admired), if it's about Lady Gaga, I'm not interested. I'll take seeing a band like The Sword for $25 with 12 colored lights on a tiny stage at a bar before any theatrical BS.

[azisnomarsa]

The sword? Honestly, I saw them about 5 years ago, and it was a total snooze fest, luckily they were followed by Down, which was just bloody brilliant.
As for the topic - Yes, there should be a show, there should be a balls to the wall insanse singer. Rocking guitarists, tall lean bassist, and a drummer who looks like he is a on a cocktail of coke, meth and rocket fuel

[Drm316]

But it's not... about Lady Gaga...

[Dr. Knox666]

Sure it's cool to watch a huge stageshow and stuff but if you're able to write good songs and play them well live you don't necessarily need to act like a clown to capture an audience.

[Rdeyahlxp]

I think he has a point, there should be more bombastical young rock bands. I think that's missing in today's industry. It's boring to me. The image of the band can add to the overall experience. Look at Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Slayer, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss etc. Those acts wouldn't be quite as big if they didn't convey their image into their music. That's what makes them stand out from the rest.

[metallica_102]

Stage theatrics really don't do much for me. One of my favorite live performances was seeing Opeth who came out smiling and waving to the audience and then just started playing.

[Peterbaey]

I know their not that young, but Rammstein put on the most over the top shows probably ever seen in music.

[cbabb7]

Id say Iron Maiden is where its at then it comes to "theatrics".

[Drm316]

Kicking the dude dressed as Eddie around n s#!t lol

[DaveOfTheDead13]

And it helps that The Coop toured with them!

[pantallica87]

Slipknot puts on a pretty crazy theatrical show. I think Alice just wants to bang Gaga...

[BigMikeBDD]

If he's in to tranny's I suppose.

[Drm316]

He IS into gruesome S#!t like that lol.

[Camron62\m/]

he probably already has, this article's just covering it or something xP

[Drm316]

lol some paparazzi probably caught em walking out of a hotel room and then they went like "OH HEYY UHH I WAS JUST TELLING HER HOW BANDS NOWADAYS ARE BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH" lolll

[DexterF]

And there's my favorite rock star saying stupid things in public.

[Mass_debator]

Said every Dave Mustaine fan ever.

[sn00ze]

And here's a typical user who completely missed his point.

[triviumfan2080]

Everything in modern music concerts are theatrics...because there no music

[link no1]

What the hell are you talking about?

[stonedhippos]

What the hell are you talking about?

[triviumfan2080]

Everything in modern music concerts are theatrics...because there is no music

[Thrill-house]

"The Coop"? Never heard that one before.

[Voodoochile711]

theatrics are important to a degree, cuz no one wants to sit there and watch you stand still and play for a couple hours, no matter how good you are. But I definitely wouldn't use Gaga as my role model for "interesting".

[g.k]

Well he's got his hand around her throat and he looks like he's gonna kill her...Now I know what he meant!! Young rock bands should be like Lady Gagaead!!

[Lord_Doku]

He's absolutely right, but he shouldn't forget to mention that all the guys in bands are like that right now because our modern day chicks appreciate that more than they do the Rock & Roll lifestyle.

It's just to get laid more often.

[p_a_morgan]

Not sure why Alice Cooper is continuously praising Gaga...Oh, wait...Because she is the next him.

[iommi600]

I could not care less about the theater that some bands make live... I'm there for the music.

[hellfireshell]

You got my vote ...and 'Sheep shagger', that's a theatrical user id! (unless you're really into it..)

[Callum feeble]

Bands should make music about what ever is important to them, if they dont give shit about making music about girls then they shouldnt, rock isnt defind by the subject matter of the song. if their passionate about a subject then itll refelct in the music. RATM for example

[jameshudson92]

Feels like i've read this before

[miregal]

Wow does this just prove that the industry is a scam. As if thats a good thing to "be like Lady Gaga" now that Cooper has said that I wonder how much they paid him.

[Enix165]

A-freakin'-men!

[Firebreather01]

Poison singer?

Oh wait...

[GeoffreySmis]

Awww lol i think Mr. Cooper has a crush. Im serious, every now and then theirs something on here about him praising her in some way or another.

[purplexing]

I completely agree with him. Rock music has descended into a pit of dullness.

[Firebreather01]

Might I suggest Fair to Midland? They shall change your mind on the state of rock music.

[Mkorn]

maybe young bands just don't have enough money to put on a big show. btw trying to looking like a tranny /w backup dancers doesn't count as showmanship

[Drm316]

Isn't that what marilyn manson does?

[Drm316]

and lady gaga as well

[crystalmonday80]

I think the most recent band I can recall that has a lot of theatrics in their live shows is My Chemical Romance. It was insanity watching them tour as "The Black Parade". Other than that, bands nowadays are meh.

[PuddleJumper11]

I see what you did there, UG. Trying to lure us in with that title. Also, agreeing with Mkorn. Finances are always an issue.

[kratos379]

"And they sing about how much they hate oil. That's not rock 'n' roll, they should be singing about boys and girls - that's always what it's been about."

Yeah, let's have more pointless music with meaningless lyrics. Important topics have absolutely no place in music. Just ask RATM and any punk band in existence.

[Second Rate]

RATM's lyrics were never exactly the words of sages. Endless choruses of "**** you i won't do what you tell me" don't exactly constitute intelligent word craft. And punk rock... there are lots of non political punk songs. Punk is just a reactionary genre, it was developed as a backlash against the musical excesses of progressive rock. Basically, Punk bands are contrarians.. whatever the rest of the music world is doing, they have to do the opposite.

[Smokinjoerules1]

It isn't the 70s anymore Cooper...
Rock will never be at a high again. Too many people like mainstream dance and RnB, and since all the kids are being brought up listening to it, it won't be dying out anytime soon.

[BwareDWare94]

I don't think he's necessarily referring to actual theatrics ala Muse, but what ever happened to running and jumping all over the stage and acting like goons while you play? So many modern rock bands just ****ing stand there the entire time. The last great rock show I saw was RED in their earlier days, when they still flew all over the stage and ended up injuring one another sometimes. Then again, their early music was so passionate that it would be hard not to act like that on stage.

Poison the Well still do these things. Why can't other artists?

I don't feel the pain that most modern rock bands try to portray with their music. Only Hurt seems capable of making me feel what they sing. RED used to, but they've gone too mainstream.

[Dude475]

NO alice cooper, they shouldn't

[Spyke00]

These days its all about who's the most technical, self indulgent and pretentious band with the most "obscure" genre, that view in turn is at war with the other side of the coin, the image bands or as metalheads call them "posers" because you know, if a band likes to dress up they're not trve or kvlt.

One view cannot fathom to take example from the other!

[mckenna64]

The problem with trying to match Gaga in stage production and theatrics, is that you will have to be making millions to be able to do it, you will also need to be booked at a stadium/arena big enough to house such a show, which makes a pretty small list for the amount of rock bands with such an opportunity.

Those bands that are big enough to do something big sometimes do, such as U2, Radiohead, Metallica, Tool, Muse etc. It would be nice if some bands tried a bit harder than stand stationary and never interact with the crowd though.

[whywefight]

Let's all recognize the fine yet very much present line between gimmicks and great stage shows.

Alice Cooper is on the wrong side.

[NightProwlerr]

"90 per cent of rock bands wear corduroy on stage, with little beards and they look like they're lumberjacks. And they sing about how much they hate oil. That's not rock 'n' roll, they should be singing about boys and girls - that's always what it's been about. Or if they are singing about girls it's always, 'I'm so sorry I was bad.' Quit being sorry!"

[NightProwlerr]

YES! THE COOPER HAS SPOKEN!!

[wedy1414]

Why is everyone defending this guy? He wants bands to be more about pleasing the masses instead of satisfying their own artistic vision.

[Drm316]

Ok. If I'm not mistaken, he's actually trying to say the exact opposite. "I hate oil" is what "pleases the masses" in today's era and so is the "lumberjack" look...

[PuckMugger]

I've been going to Iron Maiden concerts since 1982 and they as theatrical as any band, but if they played in a small theater with the house lights on, I'd dig it just as much. Sometimes the massive stage show and everything else going on in a big production takes away from the musical performance.

[TheSerb]

So...what he's saying is basically 'it ain't good if it ain't got gimmicks' ?

What I miss in today's music is power. Nothing else.
And a bunch of costumes, snakes, babes or fireworks can't make up for that.
Sorry Alice.

[circus musician]

Seems to me that Lady Gaga's all about image. I'd rather listen to artists whose music is more important than the image.

[Blew1]

Although I have respect for Alice (which you pretty much have to) I totally disagree with his views here.

Yes rock 'n' roll should be exciting, but does anyone really give a shit about what they were or their image? I would rather have a band wearing suits playing great music than a bunch of drag queen Motley Crue wannabes playing dull, done before, whiny crap, not naming names cough-Black Veil Brides-cough!

I mean, isn't this the exact type of bullshit bands like the Big 4, and grunge bands a la Nirvana fought so hard to usurp and make rock and metal credible? Sorry but shut up Alice, you're talking nonsense.

I would rather go see Clutch play a fantastic set in lumberjack shirts than Lady Gaga ovulating rubber balloons from her vagina and insulting my ear drums with her music.

Rant over, queue trolling...

[cambo187]

I can't agree with what he is saying at all. He's pushing for more "cock rock" bands like Buckcherry, Nickelback, etc. That's the last thing we need. While we do need more bands with balls, they don't have to be singing about banging chicks like every Motley Crue. Check out the grunge era for instance. Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam....they didn't have lyrics like that and they rocked hard. They also all looked like a bunch of lumberjacks in flanel and jeans (minus the beards) and all made pretty damn good careers out of rock. The songwriting quality of most new rock bands on radio have gone down the toilet. It's all gimmicky and for instant gratification. It's a shame you have to really dig for good rock music when it used to be so readily available on radio and MTV.

[Wisthler]

First I was like "wtf" but by reading the first lines of the interview its clear what he means.

Well its his style, not every band does that, altough some bands like megadeth are adding more stuff to their stage performances.
Like the large screens, the multiple TV's or the Vic Rattlehead walking arround the stage.... its something XD

[JPD026]

annnnd suddely i hate alice cooper

[TheNumber6]

im sure he is very upset with your decision

[joelisonfire]

Shut up Alice cooper!

[pcb1992the2nd]

Questionable genders?

["Tele" Steve]

Lady Gaga does theatrics because if she didn't nobody would care about her music because it's pretty generic pop.

[LazyHardRocker]

erm... love this guy's music (not Gaga's though), but wtf has he been smoking?

[rgt42dx]

This made me lose respect for Alice, not the part about theatrics which I agree is an essential part of a great live show although to each his own really it's all about the music in the end. But then he said that about rock and roll that all of it is supposed to be about boys and girls...? How shallow is Alice Cooper to say shit like that? Yeah, that's where the music originally came from, but it doesn't and shouldn't mean it can't go anywhere else. If your not careful with lyrics about romance, you can lose a lot of depth and weight with what you're saying with the songs.

[mayslash]

Another reason to add why I hate Alice.


Heres a tip alice....bands care more about their (GASP!) music and just rocking out, rather than focusing on doing pointless "theatrics". We dont need bands to turn into KISS and LAdy GAGA stage acts


MUSIC is the on;y damn thing i care about

[Mightylittle]

She's just doing what Bjork was doing in the 90's

[arabmetallion]

theatrics are cool but it's a secondary thing, watching a band that plays good music always comes first otherwise id'e just go to the circus.

[themuddman]

I think that adding a bit of crazyness to an act is not a bad thing, but when u get to the point like gaga, where her crazyness is done for fame, then your doing it wrong. If u want to entertain,do it, but don't make it the sole reason people go to see you, thats what your music is for.

[farmosh203]

[youtube]KsMKOx6fumc[/youtube]

Like this?

[RGallagherFan]

1. Bands can't afford to have theatrics. Even light shows are expensive and take a long time to set up.

2. Some bands have a message, and whether it be protesting oil or making a song about their own experiences/opinions, doesn't matter. It's their art. It's like the bashing Warhol got for being too simplistic. It's subjective.

3.

Rock musicians just need to step it up a little.

[scguitarking927]

I think the point is, even though there are some stage a light shows. Rock music, has reverted back to the "stool stages" if you will. Bands in the 50s and 60s figured it out pretty quickly, stage antics along with a good show and music will put you over the top. The Rolling Stones are a prime example of a band that went from acting like the beatle's styled pop rock to a more raw energetic show.

You can see in old live videos of how shows progressed, and I definitely think everything has regressed.

[minieme007]

Alice has obviously never seen Rammstein

[BigHeadClan]

Saw them live this year in Edmonton, go go penis Cannon

[skuzmyster]

Stop Dinging about politics? What about Billion Dollar Babies Alice? Elected? pretty much all of Dragontown.... He always sings about politics.

[91RG350]

I think he's right

[sn00ze]

I'm amazed how many people completely missed his point... now imagine these people vote

[Beedy10]

Try telling that to Muse.

[aaronjchurch]

the last thing on his mind in the 70's was being sensitive? Then where the hell did "Only Women Bleed" come from?

[Engel22]

In terms of theatrics, yes, musically, don't copy Gaga. There aren't enough bands trying to be creative with their stage shows. There's a good handful of big names, Alice Cooper (of course), Rammstein, KISS (Mostly pyro), and even Muse, but there should be more encouragement to dare to be different onstage.

[Rocker3438]

Love ya, Alice and ya have a point about the theatrics.... But telling bands to be like a media ***** isn't gonna help anything. How long can you sing about girls? There's more important things going on. So what if someone actually has something to say?

[Favitalegur]

Going to a concert to see a theatrical performance is like going to play to hear awesome music.

[scawti]

I agree with Alice. Bands with members well into their 50's perform with more energy and showmanship than majority of the new bands more concerned with sounding just like their protooled mp3's. AC/DC, Rush, Iron Maiden to name a few

[Chipier12]

Hmmm... I think I get what his point is, but tragically his wording got in the way. Keep on keeping on Cooper