This tour was coined the Theatre of Death tour. What was unique about this show was that the Coop was killed not once, not twice, but three times during the concert: once by hanging, once by electric chair, and once with the classic guillotine.
I went with my friend and bandmate, Bill. We made the long drive from Asheville to Durham, but got there in plenty of time to grab some dinner before the show. Some great Cuban food in Durham!
We got in to the Performing Arts Center, which is a beautiful venue. Our seats were a little to the right, but pretty close. Anyway, the buzz was going around the place that a band called 5th Avenue Vampires was opening, and the band included Dennis Dunaway, Alice’s original bass player. I got pretty psyched after hearing this.
The 5th Avenue Vampires were very cool, and Dunaway did a nice bass solo which included classic snippets from vintage Cooper songs, like the intros to “Dead Babies” and “Gutter Cats.” Definitely got the crowd riled!
After the intermission, Alice took the stage, opening with “School’s Out,” and just ripping through one of the most incredibly choreographed performances ever, with an onslaught of one kick-ass song after another. It was all Killer, and no filler.
Then came the encore, which featured Dennis joining Alice on stage to play an extended reprise of “School’s Out.” For an old Cooper fan, I was in my glory seeing those two together slinking around the stage. One of those rock and roll moments that will remain with me forever.
After the show, we drove to my brother’s house and crashed there, since he lived fairly close to Durham.
Anyway, here’s the setlist. Rock on, my droogs.
Setlist:
- School’s Out
- Department of Youth
- I’m Eighteen
- Wicked Young Man
- Ballad of Dwight Fry
- Go to Hell
- Guilty
- Welcome to My Nightmare
- Cold Ethyl
- Poison
- The Awakening
- From the Inside
- Nurse Rozetta
- Is It My Body
- Be My Lover
- Only Women Bleed
- I Never Cry
- Black Widow Jam (with Drum Solo)
- Vengeance Is Mine
- Devil’s Food
- Dirty Diamonds
- Billion Dollar Babies
- Killer
- I Love the Dead
- No More Mr. Nice Guy
- Under My Wheels
Encore:
- School’s Out (with Dennis Dunaway)
The Stub Collection 