The week in music history brought to you by MusicGoldmine.com.
Just a couple of highlights from this week in music history!
FEB 4: Happy birthday to Alice Cooper! The rock singer, songwriter, and showman is best known for pioneering theatrical shock rock. Born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he formed his first band while in high school. The group adopted the name Alice Cooper and gained attention in the late 1960s for blending hard rock with provocative stage theatrics that challenged social norms.
Cooper rose to fame in the early 1970s with a string of influential albums, including Love It to Death (1971), Killer (1971), School’s Out (1972), and Billion Dollar Babies (1973). Songs like “I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” became rock anthems, capturing teenage rebellion with dark humor and catchy hooks. His concerts featured guillotines, fake blood, snakes, and elaborate horror imagery, earning him the title “The Godfather of Shock Rock.”
In 1975, Furnier legally adopted the name Alice Cooper and launched a successful solo career. While his popularity dipped in the late 1970s due to personal struggles, he staged a major comeback in the late 1980s with hits like “Poison” and the album Trash (1989). Beyond music, Cooper has acted in films, hosted radio shows, and become an avid golfer. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, cementing his legacy as one of rock’s most original and enduring figures.
FEB 7: Sadly, it was reported today that Brad Arnold passed away at age 47. The lead vocalist and a founding member of the American rock band 3 Doors Down was best known for his powerful, gritty voice and emotionally direct songwriting. Born on September 27, 1978, in Escatawpa, Mississippi, Arnold grew up immersed in Southern rock and classic radio staples, influences that would later shape the band’s mainstream-friendly sound. He formed 3 Doors Down in 1996 with guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell while still in his teens.
Arnold originally played drums for the band but stepped into the role of lead singer after writing “Kryptonite,” the song that would change everything. Released in 2000, “Kryptonite” became a massive hit, topping rock charts and propelling the band’s debut album The Better Life to multi-platinum success. Arnold’s raspy yet melodic delivery became a defining feature of the group’s identity, helping songs like “Loser,” “Duck and Run,” and later “Here Without You” connect with a wide audience.
Beyond commercial success, Arnold had been open about personal struggles, including battles with alcoholism and health challenges, which he had discussed candidly in interviews. His faith and recovery journey strongly influenced his later songwriting and public outlook. In 2022, Arnold revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer, earning widespread support from fans and fellow musicians.
Brad Arnold will remain a resilient presence in modern rock, respected for his honesty, perseverance, and role in shaping early-2000s post-grunge radio.
Photo: Justin Allen Hundsnurscher [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en]
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