Gary James' Interview With Alice Cooper's Tour Manager
David Davidian
Q - Alice Cooper just completed a European tour. (Fall, 2019) How were the audiences in Europe different than in the United States?
A - Honestly, the reaction is quite similar. He comes with a very loyal fan base that's relatively, within small percentages, similar pretty much worldwide as far as its size goes. I've never seen a non-receptive audience for him, honestly, anywhere.
Q - I would guess that Alice is showcasing new material as well as his classic songs, correct?
A - Yeah. The set list is definitely mixed with old and new. No doubt about it.
Q - What were you doing before you got this job as Alice's tour manager?
A - I was Rush's video director.
Q - What did that entail?
A - I did all the live shows. All the video you saw during the course of a live concert, that was me.
Q - Did Rush ever release a DVD of their concerts where we can see what you do?
A - They've got a DVD of every tour. My work is on the screen behind them, mostly what you can see. You don't see the side screen work, Well, you can see some of it.
Q - Were you an Alice Cooper fan before this job?
A - I would say so. A respectful fan. No doubt about it. I actually went and saw the Killer tour in 1972 as a fan at the Boston Music Hall. Then I worked for a friend of mine who was Alice's LD (Lighting Designer) in 1981. I was out on the show for about a month and a half or so, just filling in, helping a buddy out.
Q - How did this offer to become Alice's tour manager come your way?
A - Through Shep Gordon.
Q - And where did you meet him?
A - I had met him once a long time ago when I was with Van Halen and we opened the Cabo West Cantina. I was there to meet with Sam (Sammy Hagar) and talk tequila, and got introduced to him there. I was introduced to Shep through Michael Strickland, who runs Bandit Lighting.
Q - As tour manager, your responsibilities include what?
A - Well, logistics, travel, settling the shows, the book keeping, all the day-to-day operation of let's say the logistical side of things, politics, therapist, all those kinds of things. All the hotel stuff.
Q - Are you like an Advance Man? Are you always a day ahead of when the tour arrives in a city?
A - No. I'm with him (Alice), but I certainly advance all the shows and hotels weeks in advance.
Q - How many people do you have under you? How many people answer to you?
A - Alright. Well, first of all I'm a co-worker. I'm not anybody's boss. I don't really believe in the whole concept of people being under me or above me or anything like that. I always like to think of us as all having equally important spokes in the wheel. So, I'm a co-worker. When push comes to shove and some hard decisions have to be made, yes, there is some form of hierarchy that has to be respected or adhered to, but I really, myself personally, don't like to think of the above-me, below-me kind of terminology. To me, we're all equal and co-workers, if you will. I don't know, what do we have, four buses, about twenty-six to thirty people.
Q - Since becoming Alice's tour manager, what's been the biggest compliment you've received?
A - The biggest compliment I've received is that everyone is really happy with my work. There's a sense of calm and stability and welcomeness and openness and all that on the show that everybody finds it good. Happy to be around the environment I've helped create, a very open and friendly environment. Everybody's needs and desires are both being cared about and looked after the best as humanly possible. Everybody feels they are equally important to the show. It isn't like bosses and underlings. Everybody's place in the show is important and valued.
Official Website: AliceCooper.com
© Gary James. All rights reserved.
