Muscle of Love

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as The Zoo Crew spins "Muscle of Love" by Alice Cooper! This gritty track, the title song from the 1973 album, is a raw slice of rock 'n' roll that Cooper described as a ode to "sexual awakenings." In a contemporary interview with Circus magazine, he revealed it’s about "the kid who just learned how to masturbate, and what all those dirty books his father used to hide are all about." The song’s unpolished energy reflects the band’s intent to strip back the theatrical gloss of their prior albums like Billion Dollar Babies, with Cooper stating, "It’s not complicated in any sense and there’s not a lot of theatricality on it. It’s very basic rock and roll throughout." Fans on X have celebrated its 47th anniversary, with @alicecooper asking for favorite deep cuts, showing its enduring love among diehards.

Another juicy tidbit about "Muscle of Love" is its recording process, which was marked by band tensions and absences. Drummer Neal Smith and Cooper himself noted that lead guitarist Glen Buxton was barely involved due to personal struggles, with his name included in the credits mainly to maintain the band’s image. Guitarists like Dick Wagner and Mick Mashbir stepped in, adding to the album’s distinct vibe. The track also features backing vocals from heavy hitters like Liza Minnelli, who, as per SickthingsUK, arrived at the studio hunting for beer, sparking rumors of a fling with Cooper that fueled Hollywood gossip. Despite its raw charm, the song has been a rarity in live sets, performed sporadically in 1989, 1997, and since 2004, making it a special treat for fans when it does hit the stage.

Alice Cooper, born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, kicked off his musical journey in Phoenix, Arizona, after moving there as a teen. He formed a band called the Earwigs in high school, initially performing Beatles parodies for a talent show. Evolving into the Spiders, they played cover songs and gained local popularity. After graduating, they moved to Los Angeles, adopted the name Alice Cooper, and started crafting original songs with a theatrical, macabre edge. Signed by Frank Zappa’s label, their first two albums, Pretties for You (1969) and Easy Action (1970), leaned psychedelic but flopped. Relocating to Detroit, they teamed up with producer Bob Ezrin for Love It to Death (1971), which spawned the hit "I’m Eighteen" and launched them to stardom. Albums like Killer, School’s Out, and Billion Dollar Babies cemented their shock rock legacy before the band split in 1975. Cooper went solo with Welcome to My Nightmare, continuing his horror-infused rock career, selling over 50 million records. He’s also acted in films like Wayne’s World and hosts the syndicated radio show Nights with Alice Cooper.

Connect with the shock rock legend online! Check out his official website, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can dive deeper at SickthingsUK, a treasure trove of Cooper news and archives, or join the vibrant Alice Cooper Fans group on Facebook to swap stories and celebrate the godfather of shock rock.