The original Alice Cooper group has officially reunited after more than five decades, announcing the upcoming release of a brand-new studio album titled The Revenge of Alice Cooper, set to drop on July 25 via earMUSIC.
The legendary lineup — featuring Alice Cooper, guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith — returns with their first full album together since 1973’s Muscle of Love. This long-awaited project also sees the group collaborating once again with their renowned producer Bob Ezrin, whom Cooper has likened to “our George Martin.”
Described as “a high-voltage journey into vintage horror and classic ’70s shock rock,” the album aims to recapture the raw energy and theatrical flair that made the band pioneers of their genre.
One of the album’s most emotional moments comes in the form of What Happened to You, a previously unreleased track that includes a posthumous appearance by original lead guitarist Glen Buxton, who passed away in 1997. Buxton’s distinctive style is honored with his original guitar part preserved in the recording.
“Glen Buxton was so unique,” Cooper said in a 2018 Guitar World interview. “He wasn’t the kind of player that could play a traditional 12-bar blues, but he could jam with someone like Pink Floyd’s original guitarist, Syd Barrett. Glen was very futuristic, and when he was on, he was as good as anybody. Michael Bruce, on the other hand, was a great rhythm and riff player. He laid the foundation, while Glen went into outer space.”
Another special addition to the album is a bonus track — an alternate take of Return of the Spiders from 1970’s Easy Action. This raw version, missing for 50 years, was discovered among the original multi-tracks and has been newly mixed by Ezrin.
The album’s first single, Black Mamba, which features Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, has already made waves. Cooper told Billboard that the track is “definitely an Alice Cooper, from-the-ground-up song.”
Ezrin echoed the sentiment, stating: “When we started to play that, it’s when I knew the spirit of the Alice Cooper group was back and that what we were making was very much an album that could’ve been in the ’70s when we were last together.”
“It had the psychedelia, it had the artful drumming and bass playing, the great atmospheric guitars. It has Alice telling a really fabulous story, in character,” Ezrin added. Not only did he produce the album, but he also co-wrote songs, contributed keyboards and percussion, and added backing vocals.
Cooper reflected on the creative process: “We didn’t know where it was gonna go. At the end, we looked at each other and went, ‘Oh, that’s pretty good!’”
Meanwhile, in other Alice Cooper-related news, guitarist Nita Strauss has rejoined Cooper’s current touring band. This comes after former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke had temporarily stepped in for Orianthi, who was sidelined due to an injury.
With this unexpected and electrifying reunion, the original Alice Cooper band is poised to bring their signature sound back into the spotlight — thrilling both longtime fans and a new generation of rock lovers.
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