Film

AWARD-WINNING ALICE COOPER DOCUMENTARY TO MAKE UK PREMIERE AT CASTLE CINEMA, HACKNEY

• 25th Sep 2019

‘Live from the Astroturf, Alice Cooper’ is part concert film, part documentary short highlighting the near incredulous story of how Alice Cooper super-fan Chris Penn, who runs a record store in Dallas, Texas, was able to coax the original lineup into reuniting at his store 41 years after they had disbanded.

Alice Cooper, the singer, went on as a solo artist in 1974, continuing to use the same name.  This reunion marked the longest set the original members had played since that time, and their first appearance together since being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

Live from the Astroturf, Alice Cooper features a soundtrack mixed by Justin Cortelyou and the legendary Bob Ezrin, who is responsible for producing most of Alice Cooper’s output, including a string of eternal rock hits.  The performance was released on 7” and 12” coloured vinyl as Record Store Day official releases. The 7”, which features the songs “I’m Eighteen” and “Is It My Body?” was reported to have been the fastest-selling Record Store Day release of all time.

Alice Cooper rose to fame with original band members Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith in 1971 when their song “I’m Eighteen” ushered in an era of anthemic, rebellious rock music. The band became known as well for their stage theatrics, which included mock executions by hanging or beheading, signature makeup, and snakes. After Alice Cooper went solo, taking the name with him in 1974, the remaining band members continued making music. However, Cooper’s trajectory continued to outshine his former bandmates for decades.

The UK premiere will take place at the iconic and intimate Castle Cinema in Hackney, London, on Wednesday 09^th October between 21:00 and 22:30. This date has been specially selected as it coincides with Alice Cooper being in the capital (he performs at the O2 Arena, Greenwich, the following night).  The event will be attended by super-fans, film crew and both past and present members of the Alice Cooper family. This will include Dennis Dunaway, former Alice Cooper bass player, who will also premiere his Rock Cinema Short, Cold, Cold Coffin. Cindy Smith Dunaway who created the band’s early glam look will also be in attendance. Ryan Roxie current lead guitarist for Alice Cooper who sat in for the late Glen Buxton at the event in 2015 as well as Chris Penn the man responsible for the reunion will be on hand to answer questions too.  Brian Cichocki director of Cold Cold Coffin will be making the trek to London also.

The Los Angeles premiere will occur October 14, 2019 8pm at the W Hotel Hollywood. There will be a Q+A with Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Cindy Dunaway, and Chris Penn moderated by Howie Pyro (Intoxica Radio/Danzig/D Generation) & Keith Morris (Author & Singer of OFF!/FLAG/Circle Jerks/Black Flag) post-screening as well as an afterparty at The Viper Room where Michael and Dennis will sit in with the house band that evening. 

The next day Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper the album is up for best Record Store Day packaging as a part of the Making Vinyl Hollywood Packaging Awards on October 15, 2019.  The album is also up for Grammy consideration voting from 9/25/19 until 10/10/19.

The film has won the Phoenix Film Festival Best Short Documentary, Dallas International Film Festival Audience Award Best Documentary, REMI Worldfest Houston International Film Festival Editing Award, REMI Worldfest Houston International Film Festival Short Documentary award, and the Northeast Mountain Film Festival Best Film of 2019.  The film will continue on its film festival tour until April 2020.  Below are the upcoming dates:

Albuquerque Film + Music Experience
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 8pm
KiMo Theatre 423 Central Avenue, NW Albuquerque, NM 87102

North Texas Film Festival
Saturday, September 28, 2019 7pm
Cinemark West Plano 3800 Dallas Parkway Plano, TX 75093

Cacophny! Presents
Saturday, October 5, 2019 7pm
The Queen Theatre 110 S Main St, Bryan, TX 77803

Cacophony! Presents
Wednesday, 9 October 2019 21:15 & 22:45
The Castle Cinema First Floor, 64 – 66 Brooksby’s Walk, Lower Clapton, London E9 6DA, UK

Louisville’s International Festival of Film
Friday, October 11, 2019 2pm
Muhammad Ali Center Auditorium 144 N. Sixth Street Louisville, KY 40202

Buffalo International Film Festival
Friday, October 11, 2019 9:45pm
North Park Theatre 1428 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216

Tulsa American Film Festival
Sunday, October 13, 2019 2pm (part of TAFF Music Short Films)
Woody Guthrie Center 102 East Mathew Brady Street Tulsa, OK, 74103

Making Vinyl
Monday, October 14, 2019 8pm
W Hotel 6250 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Cacophony! Cinematic Aural Revue Film Festival
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars 1005 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75215

Cacophny! Presents Glen Buxton Birthday Screening
Sunday, November 10, 2019 11:30am
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Sound Unseen Flim/Music/Art Festival
November 13-17, 2019