Poison

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as we spin "Poison" by Alice Cooper from his 1989 album Trash! This track is a glam metal masterpiece that skyrocketed to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in the UK, marking Cooper’s biggest hit since “School’s Out.” Co-written with hitmaker Desmond Child and guitarist John McCurry, the song’s iconic riff was actually recycled from McCurry’s earlier work on John Waite’s “Encircled.” Child, who’s penned smashes like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer,” called working with Cooper on this track one of the most thrilling experiences of his career, blending Cooper’s dark, theatrical edge with pop-metal polish. The music video stirred some controversy, featuring model Rana Kennedy in a barely-there outfit, forcing a censored version where she donned a corset. Fun fact: the song’s massive chorus, layered with soaring harmonies and synths, was designed to hook the MTV generation, and it worked—landing Cooper his first significant MTV spins.

Another juicy tidbit comes from the recording sessions, where Cooper brought in rock royalty. Jon Bon Jovi laid down harmony vocals on the album’s title track, while Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler duetted with Cooper on “Hell Is Living Without You,” a power ballad that pushed Cooper’s vocal range to its limits. Cooper later shared in a Circus interview that he wanted Bon Jovi to sing something “nasty” that wouldn’t fit on a Bon Jovi record, and Tyler’s session was a blast, with the two trading high notes for hours. Fans on Reddit’s Alice Cooper community often rave about how “Poison” introduced them to Cooper’s legacy, with some calling the live versions from the Trashes the World tour even punchier than the studio cut. The song’s themes, which Cooper hinted in interviews might reflect addiction or toxic love, resonate with listeners, making it a staple in his setlists to this day.

Now, let’s rewind to how Alice Cooper, born Vincent Furnier, kicked off his wild ride in rock. Growing up in Detroit and later Phoenix, Furnier was a high school track star with a knack for music. In the mid-’60s, he and his buddies formed a band called The Spiders, playing covers before evolving into The Nazz and then adopting the name Alice Cooper in 1968, inspired by a Ouija board session and a nod to a witchy vibe. Their early gigs were chaotic, blending garage rock with theatrical antics, like throwing chickens into the audience—an infamous incident at a 1969 Toronto festival that sparked myths of Cooper biting their heads off. Signed by Frank Zappa’s label after a deliberately disastrous audition, the Alice Cooper band broke through with 1971’s “I’m Eighteen” and 1972’s “School’s Out,” cementing their shock-rock legacy. Furnier legally became Alice Cooper in the mid-’70s, launching a solo career with Welcome to My Nightmare, a theatrical triumph that defined his guillotine-wielding, snake-charming persona.

Cooper’s journey wasn’t all glitter and gore. He battled alcoholism and cocaine addiction, hitting rock bottom in the early ’80s before getting sober in 1983. His comeback with Trash and “Poison” introduced him to a new generation, proving his staying power. You can keep up with the shock-rock godfather on his official website, where he shares tour dates and merch, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for behind-the-scenes glimpses and throwback posts, like his 2024 nod to Trash’s 35th anniversary. Fans flock to SickthingsUK, an unofficial site packed with news and gig archives, and Alice Cooper eChive, a treasure trove of magazine clippings and discographies. Join the Zoo Freaks vibe and dive into the madness of Alice Cooper!