The Metal Files

On Meeting Alice Cooper, Dallas, TX, May 17, 2014

Unbelievable. I got to meet Alice Cooper today in Dallas at the ComicCon. Completely surreal.

About a week or so ago, Jason K. hits me up about going to Dallas with him to meet Alice Cooper and of course I accepted. What a wonderful signature to get in The Book! We made the 3 hour trek to Dallas around noon, got parked, got our tix and made our way through the convention center. There were thousands of people in lines to see the casts of The Walking Dead and Firefly. Insane! We get to Cooper’s booth and there was virtually no one in line. Lines for movie and TV personalities were long, but not many there for Alice. That proved beneficial for Jason and me.

I paid my fee to get 2 items signed and walk right up to the table where Alice is sitting. I open the book and put the CD cover for From the Inside in front of him and he signs them both. He didn’t sign on his photo unfortunately, but no biggie.

Backstory…a guy I work with found Cooper’s golf club ID on a course in Florida in the late 80s and turned it in to the club. I asked Alice if he remembered any of that and he said, “I vaguely remember that ID thing and definitely remember that club. Thank your friend for being a good citizen.” We both laughed.

No one was behind me in line so I stayed there and talked to him for a few minutes. He wasn’t trying to move me along at all. I tell him about the death of my brother 2 years ago and how much he loved Alice and got me into him at an early age, and especially our love for From the Inside. The conversation got personal and in depth in discussing my brother and Alice says, “Sounds like you had an awesome older brother who influenced who you are.” Alice got it. He’s been there. It was a personal moment and one that I’ll never forget. I shook his hand and thanked him for talking and for his musical influence on me. He’s got such an infectious smile, still very childlike. It was a pleasure and totally worth the trip.

Alice!

The hands of Alice Cooper signing my book and CD cover

Deep discussions.

My favorite album by Alice

Written by The Metal Files

May 17, 2014 at 9:12 pm

Posted in 2014, alice cooper, headbangers, the metal files

Tagged with 2014, alice cooper, autographs, headbangers book

On meeting Cheap Trick (Concert Review), May 16, 2014, Austin, TX

with 5 comments

Tonight was the 4th time I’ve seen Cheap Trick in the last 2 years and the 5th time overall. As always they put on an energetic show and it was a ton of fun.

Earlier this week I took the decision to buy the VIP/meet and greet pass to hopefully get The Book signed. Immediately after paying for it, I received an automated email stating the details and rules of the meet and greet. In bold letters, “NO AUTOGRAPHS” was written halfway down. Wait…what? It was the WHOLE reason I paid for this. I honestly didn’t give a rat’s ass about a photo op. You also get a shirt, VIP laminate, poster and a “special tour gift”, all of which will be mailed. Upon receiving the email, I fired an email back asking for a refund and got denied. I please my case one more time and the rep from the company who puts on the meet and greet said, “just bring the book and see what happens.”

Show day arrives and I get to the venue at the stated time and get in the line with the others. Several folks said, “no autographs, you know” after seeing my bag with the book strapped over my shoulder. “I’ll take my chances.” We’re let inside and reform a line by the backstage door and they let us in 5 at a time. One person at a a time was then let in to stand in front of the band and get a picture taken. I was the 5th in the first group, walked up to the band, pulled out the book and said, “They said no autographs but I’d forgo the photo if you’d sign this book.” Rick asks what the book is and I explain that it’s a book about metal bands but they’re listed and pictured in it as a reference. Robin just smiles and says, “Weird.” Tom says, “Hey, let’s play one of our metal songs tonight!” Rick then asks who said no autographs and I told him the rules in the email. “Well fuck them, they’re not here. Where’s your pen?” I hand him the Sharpie and he signs the Cheap Trick page and Robin and Tom sign their picture. Then Robin says, “Now let’s do this photo, man.” So we did the photo which I assume will be emailed out. It was pretty cool. Before walking away, I asked if they were going to play Southern Girls and Ricck says, “We’re not far enough south for that one.” I love that song and they’ve played it on the recent tours in just about every city but Austin for whatever reason. Rick’s son, Daxx (drums), smiled and looked at me and mouthed. “we’re playing it.” Rick and Tom each hand me a guitar pick and that was it. Out the back door. But SUCCESS! It’s a great addition.

Then the show started. Austin’s own Ume opened and it wasn’t my thing at all. I’d seen them before a while back.

Cheap Trick comes on and just does their thing. They are a well oiled machine that has fun on stage. Their setlist is different every night and that’s great. It keeps things a little loose on tour. They played their hits mixed with other stuff for the hardcore fans as well as a new song from their upcoming album. The Flame always takes me right back to the 80s. Tonight one of the Dixie Chicks did a duet with Robin on it. They’re always a treat and I look forward to the next time I can see them!

: Success!

: Goodnight

Edit this setlist | More Cheap Trick setlists

Written by The Metal Files

May 16, 2014 at 11:56 pm

Posted in 2014, austin, cheap trick, concert review, concert reviews, concerts, emo's, emo's east, headbangers, the metal files

Tagged with 2014, austin, Cheap Trick, concert review, concert reviews, concerts, emo's east, may 16, texas

Headbangers – The Worldwide MegaBook of Heavy Metal Bands

Ghost Concert Review, Austin, TX 05/01/2014

Alice In Chains Concert Review, Austin, TX 04/28/2014

with 2 comments

In 1990 the record store I used to frequent and ultimately worked in for a while gave me an advanced copy of a cassette called Facelift by Alice In Chains. The owner said something to the effect of, “Check out this new metal band and let me know what you think.” I had never heard of them and my buddy and I got in the car and immediately popped it in on our way back home. We heard that voice and just started laughing hysterically. I think we may have gotten all the way through the album once, It was wretched. A week or so later I gave the cassette back to Dave (the owner of the store) and said, “This is awful. These guys will never amount to anything!”

DERP.

Alrighty then. I guess they did OK for themselves. A year later in 1991 I had tickets to see Van Halen on the F.U.C.K. Tour and AIC was the opener. The day of the show I went to the record store to pick up my paycheck and as I am about to leave, I see a tour bus pull up outside. It was AIC. They looked pretty rough…in that I mean like they hadn’t bathed for a while. Layne Staley was on crutches. I stopped them and asked if they were AIC and they were nice enough to speak to me for a few minutes. They asked if I was coming to the show and I said I was. “Do you have tickets already?” “Yes, but a backstage pass would be cool.” “Uh, no. Good luck with that.” Cantrell said that laughingly.

That night they came out and blew Van Halen away. Even if I wasn’t a fan of that album in the least, the band was great live. Shortly after Dirt came out, the band I was in covered Would? and I bought the cassette and enjoyed it. It’s a good album but it’s the only one of theirs that I can stomach to this day.

Flash forward 20+ years and both Layne Stayley and Mike Starr are no longer part of this world. RIP. When the listing for AIC at The Moody Theater comes out, I buy 2 general admission floor tickets more out of curiosity than anything. I almost sold my tickets a few days before the show to go see George Clinton. Glad I kept them.

Last night’s show was sold out but it didn’t feel like it. My friend and I we just off of the corner on stage right with some other friends that I ran into. AIC hits the stage with Them Bones and that new singer pretty much owned the show. He’s a likeable frontman and worked the crowd pretty good. I guess it’s easier when you have a captive audience full of fans, eh? But whatever. The guy could sing (like Layne) and had a good range. He played guitar quite a bit and even had one solo. The harmonies provided by Cantrell are still spot on. I’m sure he feels like the lucky one and/or a survivor since two of his bandmates had died of drugs.

Last night’s set was quite different than what I saw in 1991. AIC is a well-oiled machine nowadays although there was one false start on Last of My Kind. I am not sure who was at fault, the drummer or Cantrell. Seemed that one of the two was confused about which song they were supposed to play. It made for a funny moment as the band joked about it and moved on. They were tight and while I still can’t call myself a fan, I enjoyed their set for the most part. I only knew the “hits” that they played and whatever tracks were on Dirt. A lot of their stuff sounds the same to me and drones on a little too much, but that’s their sound.

I wondered how many people were there that didn’t realize that Layne Stayley was gone. I bet there was at least one! It was also a good show for people watching.