Keri Kelli Interview: Talking Alice Cooper

By: Rob Cavuoto

Keri Kelli, guitarist for Alice Cooper, took some time out to speak with Guitar International right before he hit the stage with Alice in Germany to talk about the digital release of 3 Chords and the Truth from one of his earlier bands Big Bang Babies. He also gives us a rare behind the scenes glimpse of what it’s like to play and share the stage with shock rocker, Alice Cooper.

Keri Kelli with Alice Cooper

******

Rob Cavuoto: Tell us about Big Bang Babies and the digital release of 3 Chords & The Truth?

Keri Kelli: Big Bang Babies was on old project that I did when I was a kid living in LA. We were a pretty popular band on the Hollywood strip during the early 90’s. My good friend Tom owned Perris Records and he knew I had all these songs lying around so he said let’s put out a CD which we did about 5 years ago (3 Chords and the Truth Best of CD). So we’re now getting the word out that fans can buy these songs digitally and download via from all the digital outlets like iTunes.

Rob: Can you tell us about Alice’s new CD, Welcome 2 My Nightmareand your involvement?

Keri: Right now it’s more about getting the right songs for the concept. We’re working with Bob Ezrin who’s amazing, it’s really a great reunion with him and Coop. I personally don’t know everything about it, but we’ve submitted a bunch of songs.

Right now they’re sifting through all the submitted songs to determine what fits the story that Alice and Bob are trying to tell. It’s not like trying to put together 10 great songs for a CD, more goes into it for Coop than that.

Rob: Were you an Alice Cooper fan growing up?

Keri: Absolutely. I remember in the 80’s seeing an old Alice video for “I’m Eighteen” and being completely blown away by him. At that point I started getting into him. It was the dark creepy theatrical thing that appealed to me. I can also remember going to an Alice show in 1986 with Kane Roberts on guitar at Long Beach Arena.

Rob: You and Alice have known each other for countless years, what’s the one thing you know about him that most people don’t?

Keri: That he like to eat candy all day! Maybe it’s what keeps him going all day and night, he barely gets any sleep. He golf’s in the morning, then goes shopping, then puts on a show at night.  He’s tireless.

Keri Kelli

Rob: Are there any Alice songs that you prefer playing live?

Keri: I like the earlier stuff in general. “Dead Babies” and “Halo of Flies” are my favorite songs to play live in front of all the hits.

Rob: Do the theatrics of the show ever get in way of your playing?

Keri: The theatrics are all choreographed for the most part, like when the guillotine and actors come out; we know our positions and when to move. The only thing that gets dangerous is when Alice is swinging that damn sword around during “Billion Dollar Babies”. You really need to keep an eye out for him otherwise you are going to get hit.

There was one time that the sheath didn’t come off the sword when Alice pulled it from his belt and he was swinging it around. The sheath finally did come off but it hit bassist, Chuck Garris, right in the chest at Mach 10. Coop thought the sword actually hit him. It was a pretty scary moment.

Rob: You have played with so many great artists and bands, who has been your favorite act to perform with?

Keri: Playing with Coop is really a great gig with all the theatrics, but there’s also something to be said about doing a straight forward rock show like with Vince or Slash. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be in both situations and loved everyone I have ever played with.

Rob: Who is your dream band that you would love to play with?

Keri: Wow, I have to think about that. Maybe U2 or Metallica. I love both of those bands.

Rob: What do you think of your buddy, Vince Neil doing “Skating with the Stars”?

Keri: I think it sounds dangerous! To be honest with you, Vince always does a great job when he’s under the gun and I’m sure he’ll make himself look good.

Rob: What do you like to do when you are not performing or recording?

Keri: I have a bar out in Las Vegas, Ace’s & Ale. It’s not on the strip but on the east side of Vegas and we cater to people into the American craft beer movement. We have a bunch of rare specialty craft beers, pool tables, video poker machines and a full kitchen. That takes a lot of my time, as well as doing interviews and giving guitar lessons. You always have to be shaking and moving in this day and age.

Rob: Can you share with us one of your “worst-ever” gigs?

Keri: Last year with Alice we were playing in Upstate NY on a rainy night. The ceiling above the stage in this venue was retractable and for some crazy reason they opened the roof in the middle of our set. So it started raining on us as we were playing. We didn’t know what was going on, we are all looking up thinking the ceiling was leaking and going to collapse.

So we stopped the show, which is very rare with an Alice show. We never stop no matter what, not even if a guitar isn’t working. So they had to clean the stage and wipe everything down which took about 20 minutes. That’s was a bad night.

******

Keri Kelli