Word and Live Photos: DJ
Myglobalmind and Screaming Digital Productions
May 2nd, 2025 – Huntsville, Alabama
The legendary Alice Cooper, a true rock icon, continues to impress with relentless touring and new music that attracts both longtime followers and new fans year after year. Having last performed in Huntsville in 2019, this Friday night’s performance marked the kickoff of his latest tour—an event eagerly anticipated by the Huntsville faithful.
My relationship with Cooper’s performances is marked by a serendipitous encounter outside the 2019 Huntsville venue. While navigating the complications of a missing press credential—my photographer possessed only a photo pass while my promised guest list entry had mysteriously vanished—fortune intervened in the form of a gracious matron. This benevolent concertgoer, whose son had unexpectedly declined to attend, offered me her spare ticket with such genuine warmth that our mutual admiration for Cooper’s artistic legacy naturally blossomed into animated conversation.
This year’s production featured a notable upgrade with video walls and a dedicated crew, presenting minor challenges for photographers working within the concert hall’s limited shooting areas.
The performance began dramatically as Cooper burst onto the stage with “Lock Me Up,” his iconic makeup and gothic attire immediately establishing the evening’s macabre atmosphere. Following with classics like “Welcome to the Show” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” his distinctive raspy voice commanded attention while his exceptional band provided flawless accompaniment.
Mid-show highlights included energetic renditions of “I’m Eighteen” and “Under My Wheels,” while “Snakebite” featured Cooper with a massive boa constrictor draped across his shoulders—a classic theatrical element of his performances. The theatrical components reached their zenith during “Cold Ethyl” with choreographed sequences and “Feed My Frankenstein,” complete with a prowling monster puppet. Technical virtuosity was showcased through an impressive drum solo and blistering guitar work.
The concert built to its dramatic climax with “Ballad of Dwight Fry,” featuring Cooper’s staged execution in a guillotine, before launching into the anthemic “School’s Out” amid bouncing balloons and audience participation. For the encore, Cooper returned as a horror-movie version of Uncle Sam for a final spectacle.
Alice Cooper continues to prove why he remains rock royalty after five decades in the business. The Huntsville performance delivered not merely a concert but a complete theatrical experience—a journey through Cooper’s uniquely dark and whimsical imagination. With his masterful all-star band featuring Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen, Nita Strauss, Glen Sobel and Chuck Garric, Cooper crafted an unforgettable evening that seamlessly blended horror, humor, and rock ‘n’ roll. This tour-opening show demonstrated that at 77, the Godfather of Shock Rock hasn’t lost his edge—if anything, his theatrical prowess and musical delivery have only grown more refined with age.
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