Man with the Golden Gun

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about "Man with the Golden Gun" from Alice Cooper's 1973 album Muscle of Love, now spinning on THE ZOO! This track was crafted as a potential theme for the 1974 James Bond film of the same name, with Cooper and his band diving deep into John Barry’s iconic Bond soundtracks to nail the vibe. Packed with helicopters, machine guns, and background vocals from the Pointer Sisters, Ronnie Spector, and Liza Minnelli, it was a bold, brassy contender. But, as Cooper shared in a 2011 A.V. Club interview, the song arrived a day late, and producers had already locked in Lulu’s version. Cooper was stunned, saying, “You’re gonna take Lulu over this?” Even Christopher Lee, who played the villain Scaramanga, later praised Cooper’s track as the better fit. Undeterred, Cooper included it on Muscle of Love, defiantly declaring, “I don’t care, I’m doing a James Bond track no matter what.”

Here’s another juicy tidbit for you Zoo Crew listeners: the song’s recording marked a turbulent time for the original Alice Cooper band. Muscle of Love was their final studio album together, and lead guitarist Glen Buxton was notably absent, replaced by session pro Dick Wagner. Drummer Neal Smith and others later noted Buxton’s absence left a void, with Dennis Dunaway lamenting in 2015 on SickthingsUK that the album missed Buxton’s fiery cohesion. Despite this, the track’s gritty guitar riffs and Cooper’s raw vocals capture a Bond-esque intrigue, blending the band’s hard rock edge with cinematic flair. Fans on Reddit’s JamesBond subreddit have debated its merits, with some arguing it outshines Lulu’s “carnival-like” theme, while others feel it doesn’t quite match the film’s mood.

Now, let’s rewind to how Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier, kicked off his legendary career. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Furnier was the son of a minister. As a teen, he rallied his high school track teammates to form a band called the Earwigs for a talent show, parodying Beatles songs. They evolved into the Spiders, playing local gigs with covers of rock hits, and later became the Nazz before settling on the name Alice Cooper. The moniker, chosen for its twisted innocence, complemented their bizarre stage antics, as Furnier explained in a IMDb biography. Their big break came in 1969 when Frank Zappa discovered them at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, signing them to his label. After two albums and a move to Detroit, they teamed with producer Bob Ezrin for their 1971 breakthrough, Love It to Death, launching hits like “I’m Eighteen” and cementing Cooper as the godfather of shock rock.

Cooper’s theatrical blend of horror, vaudeville, and garage rock exploded with albums like School’s Out and Billion Dollar Babies, featuring guillotines, fake blood, and snakes on stage. A notorious moment came in the 1970s when a fan tossed a live chicken onstage; Cooper, assuming it could fly, threw it back, only for the crowd to tear it apart, sparking infamous headlines. Frank Zappa advised him to lean into the myth, as noted on FamousFix. Despite his shock rock persona, Cooper’s a devout Christian, running the Solid Rock Foundation to support troubled teens, and has been sober since 1983. His career spans over five decades, with recent works like 2025’s The Revenge of Alice Cooper reuniting the original band.

Stay connected with Alice Cooper’s world, Zoo Freaks! Check out his official site at alicecooper.com for tour dates and merch. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates, like his 2020 post celebrating Muscle of Love’s 47th anniversary, asking fans for their favorite deep cuts. Dive into fan communities at SickthingsUK, a treasure trove of Cooper lore, or join the Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group to swap stories with fellow freaks. Keep rocking with THE ZOO, and let’s keep the Cooper spirit alive!