Feature Photo: Alice Cooper Paul Mann-Shutterstock.com
After more than half a century, Alice Cooper has reunited in the studio with the core lineup of his original band for the first time since 1973. Their long-awaited collaboration has resulted in The Revenge of Alice Cooper, scheduled for release on July 25 via earMUSIC. According to Cooper, the process of making the record felt surprisingly natural—like picking up right where they left off after Muscle of Love. “It was like this was the next album we were meant to make. It just clicked,” Cooper said from his home in Phoenix.
Producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with Cooper since the early days, noted how familiar the dynamic remained among the band members. He remarked that despite aging and maturing, the group’s chemistry hadn’t changed. “When they’re together, it’s as if time rewinds. The way they talk, joke, and play music—it’s all still there,” Ezrin explained.
The 14-track project features guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith, with the late Glen Buxton honored through two songs. One track, “What Happened to You,” grew out of a riff preserved on a tape Buxton and Dunaway recorded years ago. Another, “Return of the Spiders 2025,” is a reworked version of a song from Easy Action, originally released in 1970. The album also includes a remix of “Titanic Overunderture” from the band’s 1969 debut Pretties For You, and a fresh take on the Yardbirds’ “I Ain’t Done Wrong,” a staple from their earliest days as the Spiders in Phoenix.
The first single, “Black Mamba,” will debut April 22 on Cooper’s syndicated radio show Alice’s Attic. Featuring a guest appearance by Robby Krieger of The Doors—who has known Cooper since the late ’60s—the track came together organically during a jam session. Dunaway recalled that the song started spontaneously as they warmed up in the studio. “It took shape quickly—before we knew it, we had something slithery and dangerous, like the snake it’s named after,” he said.
Ezrin described “Black Mamba” as the turning point in the album’s development. “That was when it hit me—we’re really doing this. It had that strange, theatrical energy we had back in the ’70s. Alice was fully in character. The music had bite and grit. It sounded like us again,” he said. Cooper added that the song’s unexpected direction made them all laugh—and then keep going. “This wasn’t my solo album,” he emphasized. “We all had a voice. That’s what made it special.”
Work on the album had been simmering for years. Since the group’s 1974 breakup, they had gradually reconnected through a series of events and projects. Their split wasn’t fueled by hostility, Cooper explained—it was more of a natural drift than a dramatic falling out. “We were apart, but we never completely cut ties,” he said. Dunaway added that the unity they once had has long outlasted any disagreements.
The reunion had been building for more than a decade. Bruce and Smith took the stage in 1988 at the launch of Cooper’s restaurant in Phoenix. All surviving members performed together during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2011. That rekindled connection led to songwriting contributions on three of Cooper’s solo albums: Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011), Paranormal (2017), and Detroit Stories (2021). The group even played a surprise set in 2015 at a Dallas record store to celebrate Dunaway’s memoir—an event later released as Live from the Astroturf.
In 2017, Bruce, Dunaway, and Smith joined Cooper on select UK tour dates. Dunaway described the experience as a family reunion more than a professional gathering. “We didn’t need to reintroduce ourselves. It just felt like home,” he said. When Cooper and Ezrin later proposed doing a full album, the original group jumped in. “We’ve had songs floating around for years,” Dunaway said. “It just felt like the right time to bring them to life.”
The songwriting process was collaborative from the start. Bruce, Dunaway, and Smith each came in with dozens of compositions. Bruce was impressed by how much his bandmates had grown as writers. “This isn’t the same old dynamic. Everyone’s bringing strong material now. It’s a battle of the songwriters—in a good way,” he said. Cooper agreed, noting that the darker tone and heavier sound of the original lineup brought out a different voice in him. “I sing differently with them. It’s not a solo act—it’s a true band again.”
The group made a conscious choice not to over-edit themselves. While Cooper and Ezrin normally make precise decisions in the studio, they let the songs evolve naturally with the band. “About 70 percent of a song would go where we expected,” Cooper said, “but the other 30 percent—those weird, wild turns—were what made it feel alive.” That spirit of spontaneity defines the entire album.
To fill the void left by Glen Buxton, the band brought in Nashville-based guitarist Gyasi Hues, who was suggested by music store owner Mike Grimes. Though initially unsure about finding someone to step into Buxton’s role, Dunaway and Smith were won over by Hues’ performance. Ezrin said the new addition didn’t try to replace Buxton but instead honored his legacy with skill and reverence. Additional contributions came from Rick Tedesco and others, adding layers to the sound without compromising its essence.
Recording sessions for The Revenge of Alice Cooper took place over several years in multiple cities, including Nashville, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Glendale, and Toronto, where Cooper recorded his vocals. The effort reflects both the logistical complexity and the collaborative energy that drove the project from start to finish.
While nothing has been confirmed about a full tour to promote the album, Cooper hinted at the possibility of special appearances in select cities. “We might hit a few key places and do club sets,” he said. “Nothing too heavy. But we never say never.” Bruce and Dunaway expressed readiness if the call comes. “Alice says the word, and I’m there,” Bruce said. “We’re always up for it.”
Though framed as a reunion, no one is calling this the end. Cooper himself said he doesn’t view the album as a one-time event. “I’ve got so many projects—solo stuff, Hollywood Vampires, charity bands—but this band? I’ll always make time for this band.”
The Revenge of Alice Cooper is available now for pre-order. Here is the complete track listing:
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“Black Mamba”
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“Wild Ones”
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“Up All Night”
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“Kill The Flies”
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“One Night Stand”
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“Blood On The Sun”
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“Crap That Gets In The Way Of Your Dreams”
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“Famous Face”
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“Money Screams”
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“What A Syd”
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“Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues”
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“What Happened To You”
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“I Ain’t Done Wrong”
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“See You On The Other Side”
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“Return of the Spiders 2025” (bonus track)
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“Titanic Overunderture” (bonus track)
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Alice Cooper Original Band Reunites For First Album in 51 Years article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2025
