Alice Cooper announces tracklist and lead single for 21st solo album Detroit Stories

Alice Cooper has confirmed the title and tracklist for his 21st solo album, Detroit Stories, which will see the shock-rock legend heading back to his roots.

Cooper was born in Detroit, and says the album will explore how the city helped to popularise “angry hard rock” in North America.

It's set to feature a number of veteran musicians from the scene, including MC5’s Wayne Kramer, Detroit Wheels drummer Johnny ‘Bee’ Badanjek and bassist Paul Randolph.

"Detroit was heavy rock central then," explains Alice, "You'd play the Eastown and it would be Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, The Stooges and Tho Who, for $4! The next weekend at the Grande it was MC5, Brownsville Station and Fleetwood Mac, or Savoy Brown or the Small Faces. You couldn't be a soft-rock band or you'd get your ass kicked."

“Los Angeles had its sound with The Doors, Love and Buffalo Springfield,” adds Cooper. “San Francisco had the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. New York had The Rascals and The Velvet Underground.

“But Detroit was the epicentre for angry hard rock. After not fitting in anywhere in the US (musically or image-wise) Detroit was the only place that recognised the Alice Cooper guitar driven, hard rock sound. Detroit seemed to be a haven for the outcasts,” he added.

“When they found out I was born in East Detroit...we were home.”

In 1970, producer Bob Ezrin walked into a farmhouse on the outskirts of Detroit to work with the Alice Cooper band, drilling the outfit for 10 hours a day to define their signature sound.

The first song from the new album is a cover of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Rock and Roll’, and will arrive this Friday, November 13.

“We recorded with Wayne Kramer, Johnny ‘Bee’ Badanjek, Paul Randolph, as well as the Motor City Horns and other local musicians," says Ezrin.

“We had musical ideas and encouragement from John Varvatos, the support of the folks at Shinola, and we recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak. This was Made In Detroit for Detroit by Detroit denizens!”

The Detroit Stories DVD and Blu-ray will show the incredible live performance 'A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris' for the first time on video.

With the whole live music being shut down due to Covid-19, Cooper decided share one of his latest shows with fans.

His most recent single, 'Elected' was released back in September of this year.