I plan on writing about the actual party and experience here soon. In the meantime, here's the rest of the short interview I did with Dennis.
How was the
experience of writing the book? Did you keep a journal back then or
was a lot of this an excavation of your memory?
DD: Like everything
I do, I approached this book as a creative person that believes that
all art forms are related. As a kid, I learned to paint, then as a
teenager, I learned to play bass, and how to conceptualize lighting
and staging. So writing a book was just another outlet for me to be
creatively passionate about. Throughout my years with the Alice
Cooper group, I jotted things down that I thought were interesting.
At the end of each tour, I'd have piles and piles of notes in the
bottom of my suitcase. When you write things down, you tend to
remember them, even though every few years I'd flip through them and
see things I'd forgotten. And my wife Cindy kept diaries.
From what I’ve
read over the years it seems that you and Cindy had a lot of
influence on the look and thematic elements of the Alice Cooper
Group. It was a mix of the shiny glitter and glam with darker imagery
coming through in the lyrics and stage show. I would like to hear
your comments on these elements.
DD: Cindy grew up
loving glitter and sequins, and always liked the shimmering
razzle-dazzle of Hollywood films like Busby Berkley. I had a
different take on it. I loved the shock value of guys dressing in a
way that shook up society. And I loved the concept of spotlights
reflecting off a stage so brightly that it would be difficult for the
audience to see everything that was going on. But perfect sequin
outfits wouldn't do. That was too happy. Ours had to be ripped and
stained and threatening.
So I know you’ve
been working with Blue Coupe for the last few years, and I know that
you and the rest of the original band briefly carried on as Billion
Dollar Babies... what other projects have you been involved with over
the years?
DD: Neal Smith and I
had a band called the Flying Tigers. The great Jerry Wexler took us
in the studio for a 4 song demo. Then personal issues side tracked
us. Later on, as Bouchard, Dunaway and Smith, we did a couple of CD's
with Joe Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult fame. Then I had a band called
Dennis Dunaway Project that released Bones From The Yard. Ian Hunter
was involved with that. Blue Coupe is a trio with Joe Bouchard and
his brother Albert. The Bouchard brothers wrote a lot of the BÖC
classics. We've been friends since they toured with the Alice Cooper
group in '72. So we have tons of songs in our respective catalogs.
We're all songwriters, and we love playing live. We released a couple
of CD's of new songs. Tornado on the Tracks and Million Miles More.
Our backup singers are Tish and Snooky of Manic Panic, the famous
hair dye company.
At the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame induction performance you looked like you were having
the time of your life. If you can pick one, which of your
contributions to Rock are you most proud of?
DD: I really was
having the absolute time of my life. After years of feeling like I
had been erased from my own history, that night validated my
contribution. And more importantly, I was on stage with my favorite
musicians, who happen to be my lifelong friends. I'm infinitely proud
of our lasting music, and our pioneering achievements in bringing the
feeling of danger and spectacle to rock shows.
How did Dereck talk
you into coming to Pittsburgh and playing this event?
DD: After years of
looking for the right publishing deal, Dereck showed up and, with his
girlfriend's expert help, everything fell into place. Dereck had told
me about his amazing concert parties. Then when he heard that the
R&RHoF would be hosting my book signing event for Snakes!
Guillotines! Electric Chairs: My Adventures in The Alice Cooper
Group, he mentioned having Blue Coupe swing by his place. I hope he
was serious because I took him up on it! And now he's gone hog-wild
on making it into a blow-out extravaganza. As the Alice Cooper group
would say, he's setting his chickens free!
