Tag Archives: alice cooper band

Happy Birthday, Neal Smith!

Neal Mirrored Kit
Neal’s Billion Dollar Babies-era Mirrored Kit  

Neal Smith, drummer for the band Alice Cooper celebrates his Birthday today, having been born on September 23rd in 1947. Happy Birthday Neal, I love you to death!

Remembering The Greatness of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix
Comin ‘ta Gitcha!

On This Date in 1970: Jimi Hendrix died in his girlfriend’s apartment in London. After taking nine sleeping pills (prescribed to his girlfriend) that he washed down with red wine, Hendrix suffocated in his sleep when he choked on his own vomit. He was 27 years old. Twenty-seven years old! Jimi Hendrix’s death is one of the biggest tragedies in rock music history, especially because it was so completely avoidable. I mean, forget about the idiocy of chasing downers with wine – who the hell takes NINE sleeping pills unless he wants to commit suicide? WTF? I don’t get it. What a fucking waste. My friend Neal, who used to play drums in the band Alice Cooper, saw The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform many times back in the sixties – once in a bowling alley (not kidding). Neal and other guys in Alice Cooper also hung out and partied with Jimi, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell in an Arizona hotel room. If you want to read those stories, you can buy our book when it is eventually published and becomes a massive best-seller. Rest in Peace, Jimi!

Happy Valloween, or My Heart’s a Muscle of Love!

Alice Cooper Band Circa 1974

I remember hearing Alice Cooper (the band)’s “Muscle of Love” back in the day and just grooving on it’s crazy riffs, being completely sexually naive and honestly not thinking much about what the hell Alice was singing about. The hilarious thing is that these days I’m extremely close friends with the Alice Cooper band’s drummer, Neal Smith, and he has assured me that when Alice sings “Holy Muscle of Love/Must be a gift from above,” he’s definitely singing about having a boner. Weee!!!  Neal has given me a lot of juicy inside dope on the band, but you will have to wait for our book to salivate over it. Happy Valloween everyone. Play safe and don’t forget to protect your heart!!!

Bob Gruen Brings Rockers Photographic Exhibit to NYC!

Rockers!
Rockers Exhibit Flier from Sao Paolo Brazil

For winter weather-imposed shut-ins like me, who practically haven’t left the house in six months, last night provided a fantastic entrée into spring, when legendary Rock Photographer Bob Gruen brought his Rockers exhibit to the Morrison Hotel Gallery(formerly CBGB’s Gallery). Let me tell you, it was quite the scene-making opportunity I’ve been craving.

Post Continues After the Jump!

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Alice Cooper’s Top Hat Sells on eBay for Over $1700

Alice Cooper Was a Band

Those of you who have a lot of stuff and junk gathering dust in your closets, garages, basements and attics might want to do a little house cleaning and see if your unwanted memorabilia could bring you a few bucks. This vintage, silk top hat orignally owned by Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith and formerly worn by both Alice and Neal on the band’s School’s Out tour in 1972 just sold on eBay for over $1700!

The Hat