Interviews

Versierschijf Volume 1 12" Vinyl

1974, Scandecor

Versierschijf is an intriguing unofficial Dutch 12" vinyl release featuring a biography on Side A and a post Alice Cooper Group break-up interview with Alice only on Side B.

 

What makes this release special is the exquisite artwork, comprising an image of Alice's face alongside a snake and bunny rabbit(!) on both the front of the sleeve and the oversize vinyl labels. In fact, such is the beauty of this package, it was seen by the manufacturer as a piece of art as much as a meaningful audio release (after all, Versierschijf means 'decoration disc' in English). This is evidenced by the fact that copies also came provided with a large fold-out poster containing the same artwork and also because some copies came with a prefabricated hole punched into the top of the disc (see image below), enabling it to be attached to your ceiling like a hanging mobile. My copy sadly does not still have the poster and also does not feature the hole in the disc.

 

Because the disc features such large labels the audio content is much shorter than you might expect, with both Sides A and B coming in at less than 5 minutes each. The biography on Side A is also entirely in Dutch, so there is little value in the material unless you are fluent in that language (it appears to cover the history of the Alice Cooper Group up to and including Billion Dollar Babies though). The interview on Side B obviously has Alice talking in English and hears him speaking about the purpose of Alice Cooper and his approach to writing lyrics.

 

On the back of the sleeve is promotional material for Alice Cooper Group albums and what appears to be more biographical information in Dutch.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Snakes And Dead Babies CD

1991, Baktabak, CBAK 4037

This unofficial European CD comes in a jewel case and features an excellent, if slightly rough sounding, 32 minute interview. No details (e.g. location, date or interviewer) are provided, however, it was clearly recorded in England during the Constrictor era. Furthermore, Alice reveals his age as 38 so it must have been recorded in 1986 or early 1987. There is no booklet included with this CD, just a single-sided paper inlay.

 

The interviewer is suitably creepy sounding and asks some very pertinent questions, which Alice seems really engaged with.

 

The subjects discussed include:

 

> The reasons why Alice took a break prior to the Constrictor comeback;

> His thoughts on playing Alice after his comeback;

> The transformation into Alice before a show (including pre-show rituals);

> What Alice got up to during his break from music;

> The impact of alcohol on his life;

> Splatter movies;

> Attempts to censor rock and roll;

> Future career in the movies;

> Rock and roll demographics;

> Touring v recording;

> Social impact of his music;

> The Nightmare Returns Tour; and

> School's Out.

 

The interview is notable due to the rare use by Alice of a swear word. It's also interesting to hear him say that, at just 38, he has "some years left in rock and roll" (very true indeed Alice!).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Limited Edition Interview Picture Disc 12" Vinyl

1986 (Approx), Baktabak, BAK 2059

This unofficial European 12" picture vinyl features a generic card sleeve and features the same interview as the Snakes And Dead Babies CD (above).

 

On Side A is a picture of Alice with a Jason Voorhees hockey mask and on Side B is a picture of Alice, with snake around neck and full make-up, laughing. On the back of the sleeve are details of all the other interviews with other artists released in the series by Baktabak.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Press Conference 1987 CD

1987, ALICE 10 CD

This unofficial European CD (one of 1,000 produced) comes in a slimline jewel case and contains rough audio from a press conference held at the Grand Hotel, Sweden in 1987. There is about 20 minutes of footage here with Alice talking about the following:

 

> The influence (or lack of it) of the stage show on people in real life;

> Song content on The Nightmare Returns tour;

> The harder sound of classic Alice Cooper songs played on the tour;

> The influence of splatter movies on his work;

> His recently overcome addiction to alcohol;

> Disco music in the charts;

> His physical condition;

> The upcoming final show (in Reading) of The Nightmare Returns show;

> The weighting towards music (75%) over theatrics (25%);

> Alice as an alternate personality;

> Attempts to censor rock and roll; and

> Leaving Alice on stage after a show.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Press Conference 1987 10" Vinyl

1987, ALICE 10

This unofficial European 10" vinyl version of the Press Conference 1987 is again limited to 1,000 copies and features an opaque red disc. The material provided is exactly the same as the CD version (above).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Press Conference 1987 12" Vinyl

1987, Alice 12

This unofficial European 12" vinyl version of the Press Conference 1987 is limited to 500 copies, features a translucent red disc and single-sided 'Alice Cooper' card cover. The material provided is the same as the above versions.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Press Conference 1987 12" Vinyl

1987, Alice 12

This further unofficial European 12" vinyl version of the Press Conference 1987 is understood to be limited to 100 copies, features a very cool translucent green snakeskin disc and single-sided 'Alice Cooper' card cover. The material provided is the same as the above versions.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Press Conference 1987 10" Vinyl

1987

This unofficial European 10" picture vinyl is from the same 1987 Press Conference from Sweden as the above releases. This version, however, features about 10 minutes more audio of Alice talking about the following:

 

> His relationship with Frank Zappa;

> Screamin Jay Hawkins and Arthur Brown;

> What he would be doing if he wasn't a rock star;

> The potential continued existence of Alice over many generations;

> The rumour that his birthday was on Christmas Day 1943 or 1945;

> If he'll still be performing in 15 years' time;

> His belief that his current band can run rings around the original band; and

> Prince Of Darkness and the single release of Freedom.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Conversation Disc Series CD

1987, ABCD, ABCD 025

This unofficial European CD (one of 2,500 produced) comes in a jewel case and contains a series of rough audio extracts from around the same time as the above interview CD / LP (e.g. just before the Reading Festival). There is about 40 minutes of footage with Alice talking about the following:

 

> Influences on the songs Gail and Roses On White Lace;

> The heavier sound of Raise Your Fist And Yell compared to Constrictor;

> The song Prince Of Darkness and his / Kane Roberts' roles in the film of the same name;

> The end of the The Nightmare Returns tour and beginning of The Raise Your Fist And Yell tour;

> Attempts to censor the shows;

> The snake walking map of Ottawa;

> Influences on the song Freedom;

> Madonna;

> Dealing with addictions;

> His love of hot-rod cars;

> Playing Alice after alcohol:

> Transforming into Alice;

> People's perceptions of Alice;

> Captain Hook, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers;

> Special effects and stage props on The Nightmare Returns tour; and

> Skydiving and fairground rides.

 

A very simple paper inlay is provided, inside this features the cover photo in black and white plus some information on how to look after your CD!

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

The Chris Tetley Interviews, Alice Cooper Vinyl

1988, Fotodisc, CT 1015

This unofficial European 12" picture vinyl includes 30 minutes of extracts from interviews held between Chris Tetley and Alice in the 1980's. Chris Tetley was best known as a DJ on the infamous Radio Caroline, he also worked for many years on local radio and died in 2005, aged 62.

 

Although the images on both sides of the vinyl are from The Nightmare Returns tour, the interviews included took place in Manchester in 1982 and 1986. It therefore contains some rare topics of conversation, rather than some of the more generic items that we've heard over the years. 

 

Another notable (and not very good) aspect of this release is that the conversations appear to have been artificially sped-up. This is presumably so they could fit all the material onto the disc but results in them both sounding rather like chipmunks. I have to admit though, that I initially thought it was just how Alice sounded during his, ahem, experimental period in the early 80's.  

 

The disc contains the following:

 

> Very brief biography of Alice Cooper;

 

1982 Interview

 

> Alice's continued relationship with kids;

> Similarities between Manchester and Detroit;

> Angel the snake;

> Alice the stage persona and Alice the off-stage persona;

> How rock fails to look good on TV; and

> The song Dead Babies.

 

1986 Interview

 

> Alice again compares Manchester to Detroit;

> Chris Tetley's feedback on the previous nights' concert;

> Chuck Berry;

> How Alice comes across better live than on record;

> The stage set-up of The Nightmare Returns tour (Alice's home);

> Alice's love for babies, but hatred for dolls;

> Sheryl and her replacement on-stage dancer (Sly);

> How Calico (5) and Dashiel (1-and-a-half) view their dad when he's on TV;

> The death of Angel the snake and her replacement 'Mistress';

> Alice's special permanent UK snake pass;

> Alice's relationship with Bob Ezrin;

> Michael Wagner's work on Constrictor;

> The next album;

> The Dada album (which Tetley describes as "amazing");

> Ronald Reagan and other American presidents;

> Alice's relationship with Dee Snider and Be Chrool To Your Scuel;

> The negative impact of video on rock music;

> The video Alice in Paris;

> The current touring band line-up; and

> The remaining legs of the current tour and being banned in Russia.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Alice Cooper On Compact Disc

1988, C.I.D. Productions, CID015

This rare UK interview CD is understood to be limited to 2,000 copies and includes an impressive 12" picture box that features an image of Alice from the Killer era with Kachina the snake. Also provided is a red A4 paper sheet containing a UK Alice Cooper discography up to 1987.

 

Although released in 1988, the 20-minute interview was actually recorded around the Billion Dollar Babies era (i.e. 1973) and features an un-named Dutch interviewer speaking candidly to a seemingly inebriated Alice about:

 

> Who and what is Alice Cooper?;

 

> What’s more important to Alice Cooper, the person or the Group?;

 

> There’s the show of Alice Cooper and the music of Alice Cooper, what’s the most important?;

 

> The Alice Cooper living legend award;

 

> Will you be in the music business forever while you are alive?;

 

> The Salvador Dali hologram;

 

> How much money the Alice Cooper Group made the previous year;

 

> What’s more important, money or success?;

 

> Alice’s opinion of celebrities of the time (including the Rolling Stones, Richard Nixon and David Bowie);

 

> Is there anything you do on stage that you think is in bad taste?;

 

> Have you taken a lot from English groups?;

 

> How audiences fantasize about the on-stage performances; and

 

> The mystery of death.

 

Overall, this is a niece piece and an interesting look back to the early attempts at transitioning music lovers from vinyl to compact discs.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Interview Picture Disc 12" Vinyl

1989, Tell Tales, TTS 1015

This unofficial European 12" vinyl features about 20 minutes of material from an interview between Alice and an unknown interviewer in London.

 

Three different designs of this disc were released including this bat shape one, a saw shape and standard round shape (see below). The front of the disc features a picture of 'Classic Alice' in concert (during the Raise Your Fist And Yell Tour), whereas the rear has a picture of Alice in concert from the Special Forces tour of 1981/2).

 

The disc contains the following:

 

> How Alice has nothing to do with Satan;

> Insanity in the real world;

> Horror movies;

> The public’s perception of Alice today;

> How he never thinks he will politically or spiritually impact society again;

> How interviews are like therapy sessions to him;

> The image of celebrities in the press;

> The Alice Cooper Group’s management of their own PR;

> Plans to reinvent Alice in the future; and

> Keeping in touch with old band members.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Interview Picture Disc 12" Vinyl

1989, Tell Tales, TTS 1015

This unofficial European 12" is exactly the same as the above version, except that it is cut into the shape of a saw blade.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Interview Picture Disc 12" Vinyl

1989, Tell Tales, TTS 1015

This unofficial European 12" is exactly the same as the above versions, except that it is a traditional uncut round shape.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Alice Cooper Generic Interview CD

2000, Eagle Records

This uninspiringly titled European CD features Alice providing short (generally about 60 second) answers to 14 questions, the majority of which are centred around the Brutal Planet album. The questions asked can be seen in the inlay image below. Additionally, the track Blow Me A Kiss is provided in full at the end of the CD (which is a CD-R variety).

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

Alice Cooper Dragontown Interview CD

2001, Eagle Records

This further European CD (which is a CD-R variety) again features Alice providing short (generally about 60 second) answers to 15 questions, several of which are centred around the Dragontown album. The questions asked can be seen in the image below.

 

Both the CD and sleeve state 'STRICTLY FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY NOT FOR RESALE'.

 

Discogs Link: Click Here

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