It’s Me

The song "It's Me" from Alice Cooper's 1994 album The Last Temptation is a standout track, blending heartfelt emotion with the album’s dark, theatrical narrative. In a 1994 Metal Edge interview, Cooper described the song as a "killer ballad" and the album’s first official single, emphasizing its role in the concept album’s storyline about a boy named Steven facing temptation from a mysterious showman. The track was co-written with Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw, known for their work with Damn Yankees, bringing a melodic yet gritty edge. Cooper noted in the interview that the lyrics reflect the story’s theme of resisting temptation, with lines like “You took my heart, I’m taking it back” capturing Steven’s struggle for autonomy. The song’s music video, available for download from Sony/BMG, features pages from the accompanying Marvel Comics series written by Neil Gaiman, showing Steven reading the comic, which adds a meta-layer to the storytelling.

Another layer of trivia comes from the album’s production, detailed on Alice Cooper eChive. Unlike Cooper’s previous albums Trash and Hey Stoopid, which featured numerous guest musicians, "It's Me" was performed by his core touring band, including Stef Burns on guitar and Derek Sherinian on keyboards, giving it a raw, cohesive sound. The song was part of Cooper’s live setlist during his 1995 Monsters of Rock performances, though it was dropped after only four shows, as noted on Wikipedia. Fans on the Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group often cite "It's Me" as a hidden gem, praising its emotional depth compared to the album’s heavier tracks like "Lost in America." A 2019 post by Cooper on X celebrated the album’s 25th anniversary, highlighting its enduring fanbase and the song’s role in the narrative.

Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, began his music career in Phoenix, Arizona, in the mid-1960s. Originally fronting a band called The Spiders, Furnier and his high school friends—guitarists Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith—formed the group that would become Alice Cooper in 1964. They relocated to Los Angeles, where their provocative live shows, blending garage rock with horror theatrics, caught the attention of Frank Zappa. Zappa signed them to his Straight Records label, leading to their debut album, Pretties for You, in 1969. The band’s breakthrough came with 1971’s Love It to Death, featuring the hit "I’m Eighteen," which showcased Cooper’s raspy voice and penchant for shock rock. By 1975, after the band’s breakup, Furnier legally adopted the name Alice Cooper and launched a solo career with Welcome to My Nightmare, cementing his status as the "Godfather of Shock Rock."

Cooper’s official website, alicecooper.com, offers tour dates, music, and news, while his social media presence keeps fans engaged. On Facebook, he shares tour updates and nostalgic posts, and his Instagram features behind-the-scenes photos and performance clips. His X account is active with posts about his radio show, Alice’s Attic, and music anniversaries, like the 2024 post marking The Last Temptation’s 30th anniversary. Fan communities thrive online, with SickthingsUK providing detailed discographies and gigographies, and the Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group fostering discussions about albums like The Last Temptation. Another fan site, Alice Cooper eChive, archives magazine clippings and rare memorabilia, reflecting the dedication of Cooper’s "Zoo Freaks"-style fanbase.