Alice Cooper, Tower of Power to play the Palace Theater

‘Shock rocker’ set for Oct. 5, soul group TOP Oct. 11 in Waterbury

WATERBURY — The Palace Theater announces tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. for two just-announced fall shows: Alice Cooper on Oct. 5 and Tower of Power’s 50th Anniversary Tour on Oct. 11.

Both shows are sponsored by Ion Bank. Tickets can be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St.

The godfather of “shock rock” will perform “A Paranormal Evening with Alice Cooper,” featuring music from his 27th album, Paranormal, which was released last July, as well as mega hits such as “School’s Out”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Welcome to My Nightmare.”

Cooper is fresh off his critically acclaimed performance as King Herod in NBC’s April 1 live television production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The special aired on Easter Sunday on NBC and was a ratings bonanza.

Paranormal features special guests, such as U2’s Larry Mullen, Jr., who plays on nine of the 12 new songs; Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top; and Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, as well as a highly anticipated minireunion of the original Alice Cooper band members.

For five decades, Tower of Power has delivered the best in rhythm and blues music. Their first record, East Bay Grease, helped to define the East Bay sound, and did well enough to warrant a recording contract with Warner Bros. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the chart’s R&B Albums chart, and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down To The Nightclub.”

The decade of the 1970s was a boom period for the group, who hit with radio classics like “So Very Hard To Go” and “What Is Hip?” The band has continued to tour and record over the years with their latest project Hipper Than Hip being a live flashback to their 1974 tour.

Group co-founder Emilio Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968. “I still love it as much as ever. Again, it never gets old. You get to an age where we’re at and things can start to run down but it seems like for us that things are really kicking into high gear.”

Tower of Power’s October appearance will be part of the soul band’s 50th anniversary tour.

Contributed photo The Palace Theater in Waterbury will host two shows in October: One with Alice Cooper and the other Tower of Power, above, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Alice Cooper, the godfather of “shock rock,” will perform “A Paranormal Evening with Alice Cooper” Oct. 5 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.