Review: Alice Cooper, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

Nov 12 2007 by Simon Rushworth, The Journal

AS if to prove there is still a small part of the fabled 1960s rock rebel still battling for recognition, Alice Cooper played for at least three minutes after the 11pm curfew imposed on his latest Newcastle show. Talk about living on the edge.

But there was no after-show knees-up, no long night clubbing and definitely not a drop of alcohol in sight. Knocking on 60, the best thing Alice can do is hit the sack and find himself a nice golf course in the morning.

Yet for 90 minutes every night Alice Cooper delivers a performace so rich in theatre and bursting with enthusiasm that almost everyone present willingly buys into an old bloke wearing leather pants and make-up.

For Newcastle the pantomime season came early with the visit of 2007’s Psycho-Drama tour and the villain of the piece was at his vibrant best. Mixing the old with the new ,there is never a dull moment watching Alice. 2005’s Woman of Mass Distraction sits comfortably alongside the classics Eighteen, Only Women Bleed and Poison and a couple of well rehearsed medleys ensure all the hits get a key chord or two. Alice is alive and well – and he can still break a curfew.

Back to the studio and for fans of fret-fuelled melodic rock there is no better label now than the fantastic Frontiers Records.

Responsible for some of this year’s most anthemic releases, the Italian company is at the forefront of the soft metal revival and their current roster is a cracker.

Those of us pining for a new Def Leppard record have been offered a lifeline by Danger Danger frontman Ted Poley and his fabulous Smile album. Frontiers also hit the mark with Richie Kotzen’s Return Of The Mother Head’s Family Reunion.

Today sees the hotly anticipated CD and DVD release of Winger Live. Bass legend Kip Winger and guitarist Reb Beach join forces to belt out some of the best music to come out of America in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Finally, Rock Solid’s record of the week is the remixed and revamped edition of Jimi Hendrix’s Live At Monterey (Universal). The sadly missed guitar hero was one of a kind and this incredible show brings the best of his talents to the fore.