Lullaby

Zoo Freaks, your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the haunting track "Lullaby" from Alice Cooper's 1994 album The Last Temptation, and we've got some wild trivia to share! This song, a dark and theatrical piece, was co-written by Alice Cooper and Jim Vallance, capturing a tense moment in the album's concept where the protagonist Steven confronts the sinister Showman. In a 1994 Metal Edge interview, Cooper described "Lullaby" as having a unique vocal approach, distinct from other tracks, where he used a snarling delivery in the chorus to emphasize Steven's defiance, with lines like "I smell your sulphurous smell." The song's structure, with its eerie verses and heavy chorus, draws a subtle nod to The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," as noted by Armchair Maestro, blending a deceptive calm with intense emotion. Cooper recorded this track in Phoenix, and its production by Duane Baron and John Purdell gave it a polished yet menacing vibe, perfect for the album's morality play narrative.

Another cool tidbit comes from the album's collaboration with comic writer Neil Gaiman, who helped craft the storyline for The Last Temptation. In the accompanying Marvel comic, "Lullaby" represents a dream sequence where Steven battles the Showman's influence, a theme Gaiman and Cooper fleshed out during long walks in Phoenix, as Cooper shared in a 2019 Ultimate Classic Rock interview. Fans on Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group often rave about the song's creepy atmosphere, with some calling it a hidden gem that deserves more live performances. Though Cooper hasn't played "Lullaby" live since the 1990s, its intense lyrics and dramatic shifts make it a standout for those diving into the album's story, as highlighted in posts on Alice Cooper's X account celebrating the album's anniversaries.

Now, let's rewind to how Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier, kicked off his legendary career. Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, after moving from Detroit, Furnier formed a band at 17 called The Earwigs with high school pals Dennis Dunaway, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, and Neal Smith. As detailed on Britannica, they cycled through names like The Spiders and The Nazz before settling on Alice Cooper in 1968, a name inspired by a Ouija board session and a nod to a supposed 17th-century witch. The band’s early gigs in Phoenix and Los Angeles leaned into theatrical shock rock, blending horror-inspired props with raw garage rock, earning them a cult following. Their 1969 debut album Pretties for You, produced by Frank Zappa, didn’t chart but caught attention for its bizarre energy, as noted on The Famous People.

By 1971, the band hit big with "I’m Eighteen" from Love It to Death, and their over-the-top live shows—featuring guillotines, snakes, and fake blood—cemented Cooper as the "Godfather of Shock Rock." After the original band broke up in 1975, Furnier legally became Alice Cooper and launched a solo career with the iconic Welcome to My Nightmare, a concept album that introduced Steven, the character central to The Last Temptation. His ability to merge horror, vaudeville, and heavy metal, as praised by fans on SickthingsUK, kept him relevant across decades, with over 50 million records sold. Cooper’s influence even reached artists like Rob Zombie and John Lydon, who called Killer the greatest rock album ever, per Wikipedia.

Stay connected with Alice Cooper through his official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares tour updates, throwback posts, and fan interactions. For deeper dives, check out fan hubs like SickthingsUK and WelcomeToMyNightmare.co.uk, which offer detailed discographies and gig histories. The Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group is a lively spot for Zoo Freaks to swap stories, rare photos, and love for tracks like "Lullaby." Keep rocking with THE ZOO, and let Cooper’s nightmare fuel your freaky vibes!