The tour dates are as follows:
October 25 - City Hall - Sheffield, UK
October 26 - Colston Hall - Bristol, UK
October 27 - NIA - Birmingham, UK
October 29 - Alexandra Palace - London, UK
October 30 - O2 Apollo - Manchester, UK
October 31 - Clyde Auditorium - Glasgow, UK
“I’m so tired of bands that are wimpy – bands that are afraid to be rock bands. You see a pop band today, wearing GAP-shirts, going ‘Uuh, I don’t want to offend anybody.’ That’s not rock ’n roll – why are they even in a band?”
The Kerrang! Awards was however a light in the dark (or a darkness in the light) for the Kerrang! Icon: “Judging from what else is going on out there calling itself rock, what was going on in that room tonight was maybe the only really live rock going on. So that was a good room tonight.”
Alice Cooper’s clear favorite were the winners of Best International Newcomer Black Veil Brides: “I love The Brides. More attitude and look like that is good, and if they can back it up with a great album that’s the way to go.”
The Californian rockers have obviously been influenced by rockers such as Kiss and Cooper himself, with their garish make-up and leather fetish. Alice Cooper can see himself in the new band: “I know that I have affected a lot of people around here. I saw The Brides and they got by alright, you can see some influence there.”
A few weeks ago the rock star born Vincent Furnier had to do something he had not done in 30 years – he cancelled a show due to illness. He had food poisoning while in Santiago, Chile, but just a few days before a Download headlining slot he is feeling good: “I was better the next day. I got a really good case of food poisoning the night before and I could not get out of bed. I hadn’t missed a show in 30 years but this was impossible. I took a really high dose of antibiotics and I was up the next day.”
Cooper will come to Download with the best band he has ever put together, and he is expecting something special from the set: “When you get that many people and Alice Cooper together you know there is going to be some surprises.
“We have got three guitars instead of two and a drummer that is a monster. We designed this band for playing outdoor festivals, so it’s got to be something.”
After Download, another hundred cities all over the world are getting ready for the charismatic 63-year-old and his new mates.
