School’s Out

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as we spin School’s Out by Alice Cooper from the iconic 1972 album of the same name! This fist-pumping anthem captures the raw joy of the last day of school, and it’s packed with stories that make it a timeless rebel yell. Alice Cooper once shared in a 2008 Esquire interview that he wrote the song inspired by the question, “What’s the greatest three minutes of your life?” He pointed to the final moments before summer break, when “it’s like a slow fuse burning,” likening it to the anticipation of Christmas morning. That universal feeling of freedom exploded into a track that hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to No. 1 in the UK, cementing its status as Cooper’s signature song.

The song’s rebellious spirit stirred up some serious controversy. Some radio stations banned it, fearing it promoted defiance against education, with teachers and parents clutching their pearls over lyrics like “School’s been blown to pieces.” In the UK, Christian morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse got the BBC to ban the song’s video, but Cooper cheekily sent her flowers, thanking her for the publicity boost that helped it top the charts! The track also weaves in a childhood rhyme—“No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks”—sung by a children’s chorus, a touch producer Bob Ezrin loved so much he later used a similar choir in Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall (Part II). Cooper’s added a playful twist in live shows, swapping “innocence” for “intelligence” or “etiquette” in the line “we got no innocence,” keeping the vibe fresh and cheeky.

Did you know the song’s iconic guitar riff came from guitarist Glen Buxton? Cooper’s also nodded to a Bowery Boys film, Angels in Disguise (1949), for lyrical inspiration, specifically a line about “wise up” that sparked the song’s attitude. The album’s original vinyl was a wild experience too—packaged in a school desk sleeve designed by Craig Braun, it opened to reveal the record wrapped in paper panties, a gimmick discontinued when the panties were deemed flammable! That desk cover is now on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. In a 2022 oral history with AZ Central, drummer Neal Smith recalled how the band, living in a Connecticut mansion, crafted the album around the school theme, with songs like “Alma Mater” name-dropping their Phoenix high schools, Cortez and Camelback.

Now, let’s rewind to how Alice Cooper—born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit—kicked off his legendary career. Growing up, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he formed a band with high school track teammates Dennis Dunaway, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, and Neal Smith. They started as the Earwigs, performing Beatles parodies for a school talent show at Cortez High School. By 1964, they’d evolved into the Spiders, then the Nazz, before settling on the name Alice Cooper in 1968—a name Furnier later legally adopted. The band’s early days in Phoenix saw them honing a raw, theatrical sound, blending garage rock with horror and vaudeville influences.

After moving to California, they caught the eye of Frank Zappa, who signed them to his Straight Records label. Their first two albums, Pretties for You (1969) and Easy Action (1970), flopped commercially but showcased their wild stage antics. It was their move to Detroit and collaboration with producer Bob Ezrin that sparked a breakthrough. Their third album, Love It to Death (1971), with the hit “I’m Eighteen,” cracked the Billboard charts, and Killer (1971) followed suit. By the time School’s Out dropped in 1972, Alice Cooper was a shock rock pioneer, blending macabre theatrics with catchy hooks. The band split in 1975, but Furnier continued as a solo artist, releasing classics like Welcome to My Nightmare and selling over 50 million records worldwide.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with the Godfather of Shock Rock at his official website, where you’ll find tour dates and merch. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates, like his 2024 post unveiling the original School’s Out promo film. Fans should check out SickthingsUK, a killer fan site with news and archives, and join the Alice Cooper Fans Facebook group to connect with fellow devotees. Keep rocking, Zoo Crew!