Alice Cooper fanatics take note-Dale Sherman's The Illustrated Collector's Guide to Alice Cooper is THE book for you. Originally released back in 1999 and now given the 10th Anniversary treatment, Sherman gives the Cooper collector all the information you would ever need on Alice Cooper the band, and Alice Cooper the artist. Not only do you get biographical information on both the band and Vincent Furnier, the man who eventually took the band's name to be his own, but complete facts on every aspect of the Alice Cooper legend. The author takes the reader through the early stages of the Alice Cooper band, to getting a record contract, releasing classic albums like Billion Dollar Babies, School's Out, , and Killer, the many tours, venues played, bands played with, line-up changes, Cooper's alcohol problems, the down time in the early 80's, his renaissance in the late 80's, and his soldiering on throughout the 90's and up to today. For the casual fan, this book might be a little bit of overkill, as Sherman takes an in-depth look at Cooper's recorded output and many albums, including the official releases, compilations, singles, not only here in the US but in all major international markets. In addition, lots of time is given to the tours, with plenty of archival info on each tour in the history of the band & his solo career. Much of this borders on overload, but if you need to know every little detail about the career of Alice Cooper, even his non-musical forays, it's here. Some additional commentary from the author regarding the individual songs from the albums would have been nice, but had he gone that route this book would have taken on mammoth proportions. Plenty of photos throughout the book, though mostly of the many albums, singles, and compilations, giving this a real 'handbook' type of feel.
As in-depth as any Alice Cooper guide could possibly ever be, Dale Sherman has put together an updated edition to what was already an impossibly complete book a decade ago. If you read it back then, you'll need to get this for the new material, and if you are new to the career of the shock rocker Alice Cooper or looking to investigate it further, this is a great place to start.
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
