Cooper takes us back to the dark side

When Alice Cooper topped the charts with School’s Out, no one could have guessed the song would become a grim reality nearly 50 years later.

That 1972 hit introduced UK audiences to the Detroit-born shock rocker. Alice, real name Vincent Furnier, outraged moral guardians with theatrical stage shows – all fake blood, live snakes, baby dolls and guillotines.

There was always intelligence and wit in Cooper’s mix, though. And after a grim battle with alcohol and cocaine, he moved with changing tastes, reinventing himself twice.

In the late 80s, Alice embraced big hair metal, notching up power ballad hits like Poison. In the Noughties, he went the industrial metal route.

Now, at 73, he’s gone back to his roots. Cooper’s 28th studio album is all about Detroit rock – the early Alice sound brought bang up-to-date.

Produced by Bob Ezrin, the result is a mix of hard rock, garage rock, blues and more. The 15-track beauty kicks off with Rock ‘n’ Roll, a revamped Velvet Underground song that’s harder and dirtier than rugby legend Danny Grewcock after a rain-soaked grudge match.

Guest musicians including guitarist Wayne Kramer (the MC5), drummer Johnny Badanjek (Detroit Wheels) and renowned jazz bassist Paul Randolph make one helluva heavyweight combo.

Our Love Will Change The World is Alice at his most poppy, $1000 High Heel Shoes is funkier, while the bluesy Drunk And In Love feels sleazier than a Soho back alley. The fast-paced Go Man Go with its chanted chorus and the riff-driven I Hate You are closer to punk.

Whether cantering along with Hail Mary or hitting full gallop with Shut Up And Rock, this is the sound of superb musicians having the time of their lives. Forty-nine years on, school is still out and Alice is still going strong.