Quick Answer
Yes, Alice Cooper is currently touring with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on their massive 2023 stadium tour across North America. The tour kicked off in August 2022 and will run through September 2023, hitting major stadiums and arenas across the United States and Canada.
Alice Cooper Joining Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard Tour
In December 2021, it was announced that shock rock icon Alice Cooper would be joining Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on their highly anticipated 2023 tour. The tour, titled “The World Tour” will be Mötley Crüe’s first tour since 2015 and Def Leppard’s first since 2019.
After releasing a new album in 2021, Alice Cooper expressed interest in hitting the road again with a major tour. Joining forces with two other legendary rock bands, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard, allows Cooper to reach huge audiences in massive venues.
The founder of shock rock joining glam metal legends Mötley Crüe and British rock icons Def Leppard makes for an epic triple bill that is sure to draw big crowds. All three acts rose to fame in the ’70s and ’80s and have maintained popularity over the decades.
Tour Dates and Locations
The tour kicked off on August 5, 2022 in Atlanta, GA and will crisscross North America through September 2023. Some of the major tour stops include:
| August 5, 2022 | Atlanta, GA |
| August 9, 2022 | Miami, FL |
| August 12, 2022 | Queens, NY |
| August 15, 2022 | Boston, MA |
| August 19, 2022 | Detroit, MI |
| August 22, 2022 | Washington, DC |
| August 26, 2022 | Nashville, TN |
| August 29, 2022 | Dallas, TX |
| September 1, 2022 | Houston, TX |
| September 5, 2022 | San Antonio, TX |
The tour will visit all major cities in the U.S. including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco and more. International dates are expected to be announced as well.
Alice Cooper’s History of Touring
Alice Cooper has been touring the world consistently since the Alice Cooper band formed in the late 1960s. Regarded as “The Godfather of Shock Rock”, Cooper has cultivated a legendary live show featuring wild theatrics, gory props, pyrotechnics and boa constrictors.
Some notable Alice Cooper tours over the decades include:
- School’s Out for Summer ’72 Tour
- Billion Dollar Babies Tour ’73-’74
- Madhouse Rocks Tour ’87-’88
- Hey Stoopid Tour ’91
- Theatre of Death Tour ’09-’10
- Raise the Dead Tour ’18-’19
Cooper has also co-headlined tours with bands like Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and others. At 74 years old, he maintains an intense touring schedule, delivering high-energy shows packed with some of his biggest hits like “School’s Out”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, and “Poison”.
Setlist Expectations
Alice Cooper fans attending the shows with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard can expect to hear Cooper’s stage standards like:
- “School’s Out”
- “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
- “Poison”
- “Feed My Frankenstein”
- “Welcome to My Nightmare”
He will likely sprinkle in some deeper cuts from his vast catalog as well as new material from his latest album Detroit Stories which came out in 2021.
Given the co-headlining setup with two other acts, Cooper may perform a slightly shorter set compared to his own headlining shows. But you can count on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to deliver a flamboyant, hard-rocking performance even in a limited time slot.
Audiences will surely be wowed with an electric stage production incorporating theatrical elements like fake blood, pyrotechnics, gloomy lighting, and the energetic 72-year old bounding around in smeared makeup and outfits like a leopard-print suit jacket.
How Long Alice Cooper Has Been Touring With Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard
The North American tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard began on August 5, 2022, so Alice Cooper has been touring with them for just over 5 months now. The tour is scheduled to continue through September 2023, so Cooper will potentially be joining them on the road for well over a year.
This is the first time Alice Cooper has toured with Def Leppard. However, he has previously toured with Mötley Crüe several times over the decades:
- Welcome to My Nightmare Tour ’75-’77 (some supporting dates)
- Theatre of Pain Tour ’85-’86
- Girls, Girls, Girls Tour ’87
- Hey Stoopid Tour ’91 (some supporting dates)
So while Cooper and Mötley Crüe have shared the stage before, this marks the first time all three rock icons have joined forces for an extended multi-leg tour. It’s a heavy metal music lover’s dream combo!
How Alice Cooper’s Current Tour Compares to Past Tours
Compared to some of Alice Cooper’s past headlining tours, the current tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard will likely have a slightly shortened Cooper setlist since he is co-headlining. However, he will still be able to deliver his exhilarating stage show.
The production value for the tour should be massive since it brings together three legends with decades of touring experience. Setlists will span the hits and fan favorites from each band, offering audiences a chance to sing along to classics all night.
While Alice Cooper won’t get to play for as long as a solo headlining set, ticket prices are lower compared to his own tours since there are three huge acts on the bill. The combo means fans get more bang for their buck.
Set and costume changes will happen quickly given the tight co-headlining time constraints. However, Cooper’s entertaining theatrics and rock-star charisma will still shine through for an arena-sized crowd each night.
This tour allows Cooper to share his talents with younger generations of fans who may be coming specifically to see Def Leppard or Mötley Crüe. It keeps the legend relevant by introducing his music to stadium crowds he may not play solo.
How the Tour Has Been Received So Far
Reviews of the tour so far have been glowing, with critics raving about the dynamic triple bill of classic rock icons. Fans have expressed excitement online about seeing three of their favorite acts on one epic bill.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reviewed opening night, stating Cooper “remains a captivating showman” and highlighting his hit “School’s Out” as a crowd-pleaser. Billboard described the show as “three hours of hits, chemistry and camaraderie.”
Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx tweeted after the first show: “Last night was the first date on The Stadium Tour with @DefLeppard and @alicecooper. We’re just getting started and it feels so good.”
On Instagram, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen posted: “1st show with @motleycrue and @alicecooper was epic! Best production I’ve ever seen!”
Fans on social media have been posting photos and videos from the shows, praising the amazing stage production, solid performances, and party atmosphere.
The early reviews indicate that putting these three veteran rock acts together for a stadium tour turned out to be a phenomenal idea. The shows have been running smoothly so far, with Cooper’s antics adding a dose of theatrics to the hard-rocking concerts.
Why Alice Cooper Fits the Tour Package
There are several reasons why shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper meshes well on a co-headlining tour with glam metal stalwarts Mötley Crüe and British rock icons Def Leppard:
- All 3 acts rose to fame in the 70s/80s – The bands share common history, having made their major breakthroughs during the same era.
- They represent different rock genres – Cooper brings shock rock, Mötley Crüe glam/heavy metal, and Def Leppard pop-infused hard rock. This adds diversity to the bill.
- His showmanship is legendary – Cooper’s on-stage theatrics help make the shows even more spectacle-filled and exciting.
- He has co-headlined with them before – Past experience touring together means they know Cooper is a reliable co-headliner who can command big crowds.
- All 3 acts appeal to broad demographics – Each band has multi-generational appeal, exposing Cooper to younger fans.
With their similar histories yet contrasting styles, plus Cooper’s engaging live act, the combination of these three rock powerhouses makes for an intriguing, complementary lineup. The diversity helps attract fans across the spectrum to fill stadiums everywhere they perform.
Setlist Highlights Alice Cooper Could Perform
As a legendary shock rock performer with 26 studio albums, Alice Cooper has an extensive catalog to choose from when crafting his setlist. Here are some of the highlights fans might expect to hear on the tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard:
- “School’s Out”
- “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
- “Poison”
- “Billion Dollar Babies”
- “Welcome to My Nightmare”
- “Feed My Frankenstein”
- “Lost in America”
- “Under My Wheels”
- “I’m Eighteen”
- “Go to Hell”
He mixes up the setlist as the tour goes on, pulling out surprise deeper cuts for longtime fans while keeping iconic radio staples like “School’s Out” in heavy rotation. Each show features different props and skits as well to keep things fresh.
Even with a co-headlining shorter set, Alice Cooper packs each performance with enthusiasm, humor, heavy hits, metal riffs, costumes, and choreography. His energy rivals bands half his age, delighting crowds every night.
How Alice Cooper Stands Out Performing Alongside Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard
While Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard all rose to fame in the 70s/80s hard rock scene, each act offers something unique in a live setting. Some ways Cooper stands out when performing alongside the other two bands include:
- Over-the-top theatrics – Cooper delivers more elaborate props, costumes, skits, and special effects compared to the other two bands.
- Shock rock pioneer – He pioneered the shock rock genre starting in the 60s, incorporating horror and vaudeville style theatrics.
- Darker image and lyrics – Cooper’s music explores darker themes like mental illness, nightmares, and death compared to the more sex-fueled Motley Crue and upbeat Def Leppard.
- Glam makeup and outfits – Cooper wears smeared black eye makeup, tattered clothes, blood, and bags under his eyes whereas Motley Crue and Def Leppard feature more conventional 80s glam wardrobes.
- Snakes and pyrotechnics – He uses snakes like constrictors in his act along with abundant pyrotechnics and explosions.
The twist Cooper adds is his scary, punk-inspired take on glam metal compared to the more conventional stylings of the other two bands. Fans get three very distinct shows packed into one incredible night of rock music.
How Long Alice Cooper Has Been Performing
The legendary Alice Cooper has been rocking stages with his shocking theatrical shows for well over five decades now. He started performing in the mid 1960s, establishing his hard rock persona and growing in popularity through the 70s.
Here are some key points in Cooper’s long-spanning performance career:
- Formed the band Alice Cooper in 1964, playing frat houses and bars around Arizona.
- Emerged on LA rock scene in late 60s, landing record deal with Frank Zappa’s label.
- Released debut album Pretties for You in 1969.
- Achieved first commercial success with 1971’s Love It to Death.
- Breakthrough album School’s Out came out in 1972.
- Continued releasing hit albums and touring through the 70s.
- He began staging more elaborate live shows, incorporating horror elements.
- Embarked on worldwide tours playing major stadiums during 80s hair metal surge.
- Maintained steady recording and touring schedule from late 80s-onward.
- Still tours consistently, playing 50-100 shows per year.
Now 74 years old, Alice Cooper has been rocking crowds for over 50 years. His live show still provides the same energetic, theatrical spectacle it did in his shock rock heyday of the 1970s. 2023 marks the singer’s 56th year bringing his signature brand of hard rock theatrics to stages everywhere.
Conclusion
At 74 years old, Alice Cooper shows no signs of slowing down his legendary live act. The 2023 stadium tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard is giving him a chance to bring his shock rock productions to huge new audiences.
Early reviews have been fantastic, with Cooper impressing fans alongside the two other veteran acts. His inclusion adds diversity to the lineup, bridging the gap between glam metal and theatrical hard rock. Cooper’s contribution helps make the overall tour package stronger.
After over 50 years on stages worldwide, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer still manages to stand out. His signature gory theatrics, sharp musicianship and rock star charisma shine through on this triple bill dream tour. Alice Cooper remains a captivating live performer whose shows are not to be missed.
