Even Frank's memory is wrong here. They did not set up in the basement, but set up in the car port just outside the back door. I would not have let them come in while Frank was asleep. And it was not 9 o'clock, but 7 o'clock. All documented in my diary and now in Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa, although it covers the log cabin period 1968.
This was awesome. A deep insight into the genius that was Frank Zappa, and a cue to further investigate Alice Cooper's older music. Thank you for sharing this.
Mike Douglas always knocked me over with guests he had on his show. He was the most straightlaced man on television but he would manage to get these wild and crazy dudes on his program.
One of the last of the Gentleman Hosts. Just straight, respectful discussion regardless of who the guests were. Long detailed back & forth banter and a quiet, engaged studio audience, unlike the neurotic, amped-up hyena-yelping the corporations want you to hear on all today's "late-nite" shows.
@@aoxomoxoanyc I think the key to Mike Douglas and the same with Dick Cavett, is that they could get the people they interviewed to relax. They were interested in the interviewees as people. Plugging an upcoming movie or TV show was not as important. Today's talk show hosts really are not good at interview. It is all about high jinx and jokes. Dick Cavett would an actor what it was like to work with Brando or Olivier and get an intelligent response. Today's celebrities are more guarded and will not tell you what it is like to work with Daniel Day Lewis or Meryl Streep because they are afraid to offend.
Very down to earth people. I had the privilage (purely by accident) to have breakfast with Zappa and Mothers twice in my lifetime. Richmond, VA Nov 1974 after concert, in walks Zappa and entire band at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in a tour bus with a Greyhound painted on side and "Phydeaux Bus Lines " printed under drawing. One year later, Nov 1, 1975 after William and Mary Concert in Williamsburg, Va again in walks Zappa and band to Howard Johnsons. I immediatly said WOW we had breakfast with you last year. He was kind enough to say "Oh yeah, I remember" knowing he could never remember our little 21 year olds group. Invited them and band sat down with us both times. Zappa sat in his own booth but just the experience was worth a lifetime of concert attendance.
One of the best theatrical performances I have ever seen was Alive Cooper but Zappa was a musical genius. There are a lot of people out there that don't realize what a musical perfectionist he was and an outstanding guitar player.
I saw Alice at the Spectrum in Philly. The opening was a huge movie screen covering the entire stage. The band was playing behind the screen. Alice was out running around in a field, wearing a white jump suit with a red stripe. Suddenly he stops, snaps his head to the right and stairs straight into the camera. Then he starts running toward the camera at a sprint from a hundred yards away at least. At just the right time when he is life sized on the screen he comes jumping out of the screen wearing the same outfit, lands on the stage and goes straight into "Under My Wheels". Fantastic show in the late 70's. Lots of stage theatrics. Few rival it as best concert ever. Saw Frank at a college. He played for three hours non-stop!
@@brianlane9534 I saw him on the Operation Rock n Roll tour as the opening act with Judas Priest, Motorhead, Metal Church, and Dangerous Toys. He had a giant movie screen behind him and the band. He had a female on stage that helped him build a monster during Feed my Frankenstein if I remember that correctly. The monster came to life and grabbed the girl and ran towards the screen. The monster and the girl seamlessly went from the stage to appearing on the screen. The girl was screaming for help and Alice was running around on stage before he ran towards the screen and once again transitioned from the stage to the screen. He fought with the monster, rescued the girl, and jumped from the screen right back onto the stage. It was an incredible show. He of course cut his own head off and brought his snake out. The stage show was a bonus to go along with an incredible set. Black Widow, Welcome to my Nightmare, Cold Ethyl, Under my Wheels, and so on. Judas Priest and Motorhead were the icing on the cake.
I saw him with Cooper at Cal State Fullerton and we were so bored with his stupid skits and such we couldn't wait for him to get off the stage. Remember, no one knew who Alice was. I also saw Frank at the Shrine auditorium, and every freak in LA was there. What a night.
@@kennethclever236 ; My wife saw Zappa open for the Jerry Garcia Band in '84. I wonder what it was like backstage. A very anti drug Zappa talking to "Captain Trips" !
@@billbeliakoff5589 It was said that early on and before FREAK OUT, some of the guys in the band wanted him gone because he didn't do, well, anything that altered his state of mind. Mmmmmm, I wonder if he ever spun around till he was dizzy like most kids do? Asking for the THC oil.
@@kennethclever236 if you have the chance now: Cooper has it down! Surely tighter than it was early on. He almost outperformed Motley GD Crue as their opener on their "final tour." Also, 200 Motels challenges one's patience too! :)
@@marcscrivo812 He was at his best when he had Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter playing for him. Hell, they, along with bassist Prakash John, even made Lou Reed at least look better, though making him actually look good would've been a real stretch even for them.
I luckily had the chance to see Frank Zappa perform in Danvers, Massachusetts many years ago. I have seen many Alice Cooper shows and still follow him today.
Their memories deceive them. Here is the correct version as recorded in my diary, July 12, 1968. At 7am, Alice Cooper and Christine Frka woke me to ask if they could wake Frank. I told them no as he had not gone to bed until 5 am. They would have to wait. While they waited, they set up their equipment in the carport outside (not outside Frank's bedroom where there was no room, just a small landing, nor in the basement which was only accessible through the living room of the house). When Frank got up at around noon, he told them he meant 7pm, for their audition, not 7am, but since they were all ready, he would audition them right then. He was not impressed but he did say he would record them, right then, mostly because Frank had a soft spot for Christine and she was Alice's 'girlfriend' of a sort. She designed many of his early outfits. Frank's story that he went to Alice's concert is added for 'a good story' but he'd already said he would record them.
He did it in a friendly manner. He was an artist as well. That had something to do with it. Mike had a lot of big music guest on his show over the years.
True about Douglas....and, without ignoring what you're saying at the moment, in which time, trying to think up the next funny line to interrupt you with (looking at you, Leno)! Amazing, too, how relatively "square" Douglas appeared to be, but still, "radical" artists knew he was genuine, and wouldn't pander to them, or pretend to be hip. Perfect example is this Zappa piece! But, keep in mind, Douglas was an artist in his own right, have been a nightclub and big band singer, so he knew whereof he spoke! But, still a generation removed from the Zappas of that day, he could've come off as hopelessly un-hip, but guests felt his sincerity.
My friend and I, 15 in 1969, shoplifted twenty albums then divided them up. Neither of us wanted the Alice Cooper album. The next day, we had listened to it and both wanted it.
Alice Cooper clearing the room reminds me of Neil Young's liner notes in Decade in which he mentions that Heart of Gold put him in the middle of road. Travelling there became a bore so he headed straight for the ditch. A rougher ride but much more interesting people there.
I saw one of those shows where Alice opened for Frank! It was 1969 and I was in high school. People did get pissed 📴 I was at first but I got into watching the show they were putting on! At school on Monday people talked about how much they hated Coop. I was one of the few that liked him. I didn't see him again until 1979, Mad House Rock. Spectacular show 😍
This was fantastic. I found a mint condition of Love It To Death in a record store several years ago and the label was Straight Records, which was one of Frank Zappa's independent labels.
TV talk show host Joe Pyne in the 1960's asked Frank Zappa "I suppose since you have long hair you're a woman" Frank answered "I suppose since you have a wooden leg you're a table"? Pyne did have a wooden leg.
Hey, Hello. I'm Aaron! Great to see ya! So lately it appears this video has blown up and I have no idea why. Nor did I have any intention of this ever being any sort of "viral." This was more or less a thing I threw together in a weekend for my own amusement... I found a bunch of clips and thought I'd edit them together in a little narrative. This was never intended to be "a pro-edit." I made it in windows movie maker, for gods sake. Now here's the thing to note: I made this thing 7 years ago. I've moved on. I keep getting advice on audio-levelling for "next time." Again, This was mocked together for in a couple of hours... SEVEN YEARS AGO... I wouldn't have even remembered this video exists if it wasn't for the comment notifications! My channel is not monetized, I make no money out of this, what-so-ever. (Nor should I, it's not my content to begin with). So if the noise levelling is such a deal breaker: do what I did 7 years ago... and move on.
You did just fine. Out of curiosity, I must ask if any of the glass-eared critics gifted you a cleaner copy, after having given a go at the fixing? I suspect the greater herd of homo sapiens sapiens is being sorted by audio preferences, mainly a separation by natural music vs synthetic sound. A few months ago, I watched a video of a man hand crafting hard wood tongue boxes(like an informal xylophone type instrument) in his workshop, where he crafts and sells them. He explained how he cuts and tunes the tongues, ending with a demonstration for his patrons. He played several different boxes, named how he paired different types of wood, using one for the box itself and a second for the playing surface. I was delighted by the sound of various trees when their wood was made to sing, and it moved me to tears. This was an unusual response from me, but it happened again a month or so later when I watched a video of Billy Strings playing his banjo with his dad. I realized, through the two experiences, that I had been affected by the natural sound of real human beings playing instruments made of natural materials. It helped me recognize how absolutely soulless the artificial music is when machines are used to mimic the living. Just food for thought...cheers!
@@pattheplanter Didn't notice? You can hardly hear Zappa and then it cuts to Alice and it nearly blows your ear drums out. Perhaps yours are already blown? Not that it stopped me from watching, it's very interesting, and I understand it was edited together 7 years ago.
The very first album I ever bought was Alice Cooper's "Love it to Death." The group was phenomenal and I place them alongside Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, the Blue Oyster Cult, and probably a bit ahead of the Stones and most of the British "Invaders." Unfortunately the band's music took a serious turn...a turn for the worse...after their "School's Out" album. I never could get my heart wrapped around their "Welcome to my Nightmare" schtick and I literally consider them to be two different bands. It is my understanding that the impetus was by Alice himself and not so much the other band members. It was a sad period in music history. Long live the Cooper/Bruce/Buxton/Dunaway/Smith lineup and the outstanding music they produced!
Welcome to my Nightmare is one of my favourite albums ever! Brilliant songs, great theme. The key to great artists is their ability to change and try different things.
I believe Zappa, like any artist, intended to evoke an emotional response with his art. You're not supposed to get it. I think Zappa would have appreciated your comment. But he would have told you he didn't give a s***.
I saw a lot of bands back in the day and Frank Zappa & The Mothers were probably the tightest I saw, and a lot of their music is complex compared to most rock
@@RTRoberto I prefer groove over complexity . He had good drummers , which I appreciate. But I don't really look for comedy or technical virtuosity when I listen to rock or jazz. I like his instrumental music a lot though. The Black Page , Apostrophe etc.
I met Alice and the guys at Glendale Community College in 1967, having just moved there from San Diego to go to school and "get straight." I had the Mothers of Invention album "Freak Out" and gave it to Alice. We bonded over music and became good friends for a while.
@@ksullivan728 I often brought distractions with me, and also I was able to get credit for working in my field of study. I would literally get my grades from my supervisor. That was an awesome Alice story!
I was nine and in fifth grade in 1972 when I discovered Alice Cooper- I was instantly hooked. I was surprised that the early gigs were met with the room being cleared of people. I guess he should have filled the place with 9 year old's' cause we dug it.
They were supposed to come at 7.30 pm and arrived before 7.30 am. They set up in the car port and waited till Frank got up. He agreed to audition them straight away and after a couple of songs, nodded his head and said he would sign them on that day, but mostly because Frank was soft on Christine, Alice Cooper's girlfriend.
i kinda miss the old daytime talk shows, they had some substance alot of the time, mike and merv. the ones they have today are shallow self indulging drivel.
@Felix Baxter Mike was genuinely interested in the bands and giving them a national venue, and not looking to sensationalize them for ratings. I can't say the same for Snyder. He seemed to treat the Avant Garde as Circus Freaks for his amusement.
These kinds of shows and programs are so captivating. Its a pleasure to be treated, as a viewer, with respect. Jealous of those who got to experience the Mike Douglas show.. before much of tv media was totally obliterated.
The genius of Zappa is that he saw the potential of that band even though he didn't fully understand it. It took a couple years for everyone else to see it. Aside from their theatrics, the album School's Out fully demonstrates the high level of writing and musicianship that band was capable of. Is wasn't just all Vincent (Cooper), there was a lot of talent in that band.
They couldn't possibly have set up outside Frank's bedroom as there was only a tiny square at tthe top of the stairs with a door either side leading to Frank and Gail's bedroom, and Moon's bedroom. They actually set up in the car port outside the house. Extraordinary how people's memories get things wrong.
Same here, I showed up to a signing of a cartoon book he started with a 1970 magazine, he looked at me and said man you’re dating me , this is in1995. Then started to flip through it and talk to me about it while kids waited. Very nice guy.
Many years ago I was in a hotel room watching an old timey Mayberry R.F.D. with Alice Ghostly in it.. she introduced herself as "Alice Cooper" .. this was before Alice Cooper rock band existed.... I always wondered if that is how he got his name ? ? ...
Two other erroneous origin stories are that it came from a character in the television sitcom Mayberry R.F.D. and that Alice Cooper is the name of Betty Cooper's mother in the Archie comic strips. Neither is the origin.
Why would you think people would make a mistake? If you understand Zappa's music, then you know it was his evil little orchestra responding to his direction...
Yep. Same in California. I preferred Mike's show because he had some cool guests on like John and Yoko, Sly Stone (I think both of those acts co-hosted the show for an entire week), Muhammad Ali, and many others.
I was one of those kids who had a subscription to the old Columbia Records club. I got Killer in the mail and my pops was like WTF? Played it so much it looked like mirror by the end of the summer
I saw him perform at the Hollywood Florida sportatorium fantastically freaky! I also have a photograph i shot while he was exiting! Great photo ,great man! I only wish I knew where to find him,and ask if he would please put his signature on it! I believe the year was 73- 74
yeah i was there 1981 L.A.coliseum.I think the way they we`re dressed that made them seem weird,panties,high heel shoes,female clothing,the looked gay as fuck but it didn`t bother me i thought they we`re doing a good job.I barely heard of them before that wished they would have finished there set but there was too much shit flying on stage 3 songs i think and they said fuck u.
@@richardsuarez2146 I was at this concert as well....all I remember is a mass of garbage being thrown at the stage...it was hilarious...the band members were trying to avoid all the things being thrown at them.
I have 18 alice cooper records, none of them famous. And every song is different, every album different. It's like a trip through musical theory every time. Very interesting and I can't imagine a time when people wouldn't have enjoyed it, but you see that show host. Times were different then.
I played in a band in Los Angeles for 5 years that could clear a room in five minutes. And it was NOT because of any hidden talent. that is for sure. Sammy....you out there?
"Anyone that can clear a room that fast". I have run into Alice several times and once was in line for Pizza with his wife at Costco. He is genuinely a very nice guy and will be the one to strike a conversation or wave at you. He said Costco had the best Pizza in Phoenix and I did not correct him.
@Aaron Ducker, it probably "blew up" after someone watched it and shared on their social media page. Their friends told two friends, and they told two friends, etc. I didn't know that Alice was on Frank's label. Or maybe I did but it was the '70's. Thank you for that.
Cooper was the opening (morning) act on a foggy Newport (So. Cal.) Saturday music festival in 1968 (?1969), and the sound system was horrible. When they made it big it was incredible to me that such an 'unimpressive' band got so popular. It was a bad first impression that was quickly replaced. I wonder if Alice remembers that horrible Saturday morning gig.
Frank signed & recorded some truly unique artists to his label...Alice, Captain Beefheart, Wildman Fischer lol even had Lowell George of LIttle Feat playing in the Mothers for a spell.
He was a unique talent that did his own thing. He sure made fools of Tipper Gore and the bible thumping idjits in Reagan's government that tried to censor the music industry: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hgAF8Vu8G0w.html
@@charlesharper2357 I still have my T-shirt from the Mothers of Prevention tour. The other one I got at that concert that was signed by Frank because I made him laugh when I met him leaving the venue with Ike is MIA, sadly. Years later I got to hang out with Napoleon Murphy Brock, when performing with Prohect Object. Treasured moments.
He was one of the most original people that ever lived, and in his own way may have been a musical genius. He was very perceptive, had his own opinions, and wasn't afraid to make up his own mind on any issue, regardless of popular trends. Smart? That's people like John von Neumann...
"...could not be passively consumed..." that's gotta be the key! Same applies for todays music: most of it can be consumed passively, while the more bulky and complex stuff is often greatly left aside. There's great music out there - but many over-fed, sated and "passively listening" audiences.
Funny how neither of their careers, respectively, had any singular thing to do with the other's career. It's like a crack appeared in time and this guy puts the other guy on a large map, of sorts, so it seems. Alice would have found a different way..............beliefs are here anyway. This age-old story certainly makes for excellent nostalgia, having been there for both of their excellent and diverging recording careers.
Am I the only one who's noticed there is some sort of conspiracy out there to pretend Mike Douglas and the Mike Douglas show did not exist? In it's time that show was a BIG DEAL but today(?) we seem to pretend it never happened. Why?
Because it brought people of all walks, together. We don't do that now because scumbag Commies have taken over the media as a whole and shamed anyone even attempting such a nasty thing as promoting understanding between the sexes, races, and classes. They can't have that since it works against what Communism is all about.
