'Shock-Rock' Singer, Songwriter and Actor Alice Cooper Comes to the Civic Center in October

DES MOINES, IA — Des Moines Performing Arts is pleased to present singer, songwriter, and actor, ALICE COOPER, to the Des Moines Civic Center stage on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. ALICE COOPER, whose career spans over fifty years, is considered the architect of “shock-rock.” Tickets to A PARANORMAL EVENING WITH ALICE COOPER will be available starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 13 at DMPA.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.

With a schedule that includes six months each year on the road, Alice Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper (in both the original Alice Cooper band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where CNN can present real life shocking images.

Cooper was born in Detroit Michigan, and moved to Phoenix with his family. The Alice Cooper band formed while they were all in high school in Phoenix, and was discovered in 1969 by Frank Zappa in Los Angeles, where he signed them to his record label. Their collaboration with young record producer Bob Ezrin led to the break-through third album “Love It to Death” which hit the charts in 1971, followed by “Killer,” “School’s Out,” ”Billion Dollar Babies,” and “Muscle of Love.”

Each new album release was accompanied by a bigger and more elaborate touring stage show. 1974 saw the release of a “Greatest Hits” album, and then Cooper, in 1975, released his first solo album, “Welcome to My Nightmare” in 1975, accompanied by the legendary groundbreaking theatrical Welcome to My Nightmare concert tour.

Cooper’s solo career skyrocketed in the late 1970's, with a succession of hit singles, including "You & Me," and classic albums, including "Lace And Whiskey" and "From The Inside," and bigger and even more elaborate concert tours. In the ‘80’s Cooper explored different sounds, highlighted by the new wavish album “Flush The Fashion,” the heavy metal “Constrictor” and "Raise Your Fist And Yell," and then 1989’s melodic hard rock album “Trash,” which featured the massive hit single “Poison” and became his biggest selling album and single worldwide. During this period Alice also appeared in the horror films Monster Dog and John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness, and recorded songs for the soundtracks to Roadie, Class of 1984, Friday the 13 Part VI: Jason Lives and Wes Craven's Shocker.

Cooper’s most memorable movie appearance was as himself in Wayne’s World in 1991. He also played (fittingly) Freddy Krueger’s wicked step- father in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, and appeared on Gene Wilder’s TV series Something Wilder as well as on That ‘70’s Show. The 90’s also saw the release of the albums “Hey Stoopid,” “The Last Temptation,” and “Fistful of Alice,” a live album.

In the new millennium, Cooper has been very productive and busy, writing, recording and releasing the albums “Brutal Planet,” “Dragon Town,” “The Eyes of Alice Cooper,” “Dirty Diamonds," “Along Came a Spider,” and 2011's "Welcome 2 My Nightmare," plus "Old School 1964-1974," a box set celebrating the original band.

Cooper’s 2011 album "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" featured a return to his partnership with longtime collaborator, producer Bob Ezrin, as well as contributions from former original Alice Cooper bandmates Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Brucem and a return to the themes of the iconic 1975 "Welcome To My Nightmare" album. Alice, Dennis, Neal, Michael, and the late Glen Buxton (posthumously) were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in March, 2011.

As he heads back out on the concert trail each year, Cooper insists he's still motivated to continue touring and recording albums, as well as making time for such side projects as Cooper'stown (his Phoenix-based restaurant/sports bar) and his "Nights With Alice Cooper" nightly radio show, syndicated domestically and worldwide on over 100 stations.

Cooper recently performed the memorable role of King Herod on NBC’s live, televised adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar featuring John Legend.

For additional information about ALICE COOPER, please visit DMPA.org.

About NiteLite Promotions

Established in 1990, NiteLite Promotions is dedicated to promoting to all aspects of live entertainment events. We produce, market, and promote individual concerts in facilities ranging from small intimate theatres to major venues seating tens of thousands of people as well as at festivals and private events.

About Des Moines Performing Arts

Des Moines Performing Arts is a private not-for-profit organization celebrating 39 years of presenting the performing arts to Iowa and the surrounding states on four stages in Des Moines – the Civic Center, the Stoner Theater, the Temple Theater and the newly renovated outdoor space, Cowles Commons. Des Moines Performing Arts is a presenter of major Broadway and educational touring companies, performers and groups, and is home to many local and regional groups, including the Des Moines Symphony. All performances of the Broadway Series are supported by Willis Auto Campus. All performances at the Temple Theater are supported by Prairie Meadows. All performances of the Family Series are supported by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. For more information, visit DMPA.org.