Alice Cooper Debuts Top of the Charts With Welcome 2 My Nightmare

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The founding father of modern horror rock music explodes onto the Billboard 200 this week landing at #22.  With a music career that started more than 42 years ago, Alice Cooper sits squarely on the charts with current artists such as Lady Gaga, Primus, Bush, and Beyonce. This amazing achievement for one of music's most influential artists proves the relevance and popularity of Alice Cooper today. This debut marks Cooper's highest charting release in over 20 years, and since the incorporation of SoundScan as a method of tracking album sales. The album also debuted on SoundScan's Hard Music Albums chart at #6 and Rock Albums chart at #11.

Released on September 13, 2011, by Universal Music Enterprises, Welcome 2 My Nightmare is the long-awaited sequel to his 1975 classic Welcome to My Nightmare. From the opener, "I Am Made Of You," through the already established live favorite and first single "I'll Bite Your Face Off"(which is currently #2 at Classic Rock Radio), to the surprising duet with Ke$ha, "What Baby Wants," this album is a testament to Cooper's ability to incorporate various musical collaborations into his own unique musical style.

Welcome 2 My Nightmare is the long-awaited sequel to his 1975 classic Welcome to My Nightmare. The original album was a landmark album for Cooper. It was his first solo release, following a historic string of anthems written and recorded by the original band between 1971 and 1974, including "School's Out," "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Elected," and "I'm Eighteen." Welcome to My Nightmare is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneered a U.S. TV special, and certified Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence continues today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theatre, television, film and much more.

Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who also produced the original multi-platinum album in 1975, Welcome 2 My Nightmare picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.

Collaborators on the new album include: the original Alice Cooper members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith reunited on 3 tracks; global pop superstar Ke$ha; and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice's current touring band and featured prominently on the first Nightmare album.

In the midst of his "No More Mr. Nice Guy" world tour, Cooper played a special club show at the Whisky a Go-Go on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, with newest member of the band, eminent guitar prodigy Orianthi. This was the first time Cooper had been back on the Sunset Strip in 40 years.  Special guests Ke$ha and Robby Krieger (the Doors) joined him on stage for a special treat for fans.

In addition to his worldwide touring schedule, Alice Cooper, who single-handedly masterminded the rock-horror genre, spins his new collection of disturbing horror imagery in "Alice Cooper:  Welcome To My Nightmare," an outrageous new "Halloween Horror Nights" maze at Universal Studios Hollywood. The event launches on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31. Inspired by Cooper's landmark concept album Welcome To My Nightmare and its sequel Welcome 2 My Nightmare, the new attraction takes guests on a terrifying trip through Alice Cooper's twisted mind, where his most famous songs, bizarre themes and demented characters collide inside a living horror movie.

Alice Cooper's Worldwide "No More Mr. Nice Guy" 2011 Tour Continues:

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises