Released: April 29, 1977

Songwriter: Dick Wagner Bob Ezrin Alice Cooper

Producer: Bob Ezrin

We work this band 'cause they make it rock
But we're the guys that make it roll
We move the drums and amps and junk
Road rats: we're a pack
And the road's our home

On the road half my young man's life
I spend a lot of time;
Ain't got no bread to show for it

Road rats:
All the cash spent on whites and wine

We're the men behind the man
We're the backbone muscle clan
We do a thousand one night stands
If the stars can make it
If the band can shake it
Well, if those guys can take it
We can
Yeah

We work this band 'cause they make it rock
But we're the guys that make it roll
We move the drums and amps and junk
Road rats: we're a pack
And the road's our home

Road rats:
We're a pack
And the road's our home

Road rats:
We're a pack
And the road's our home

We're the men behind the man
We're the backbone muscle clan
We do a thousand one night stands
If the stars can make it
If the band can shake it
Well, if those guys can take it
We can
Yeah

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is the stage name and ‘fun villain’ character of Vincent Furnier. Cooper became the target of parents and ministers for his dark lyrics and gory theatrical performances that earned him the title Godfather of Shock Rock. Despite once claiming the name was conjured from a ouija board that told him he’s the reincarnation of a 17th century witch, Cooper laughs the topic off with flippant answers like “It was either a Scrabble board or a bowl of alphabet soup” and “I didn’t want a name like Iron Butterfly or Black Sabbath. I wanted it to be something your aunt might be called.”

The band Alice Cooper was originally signed by Frank Zappa to his own record label. Their first notoriety came when Cooper tossed a wayward chicken (possibly arranged by long-time manager Shep Gordon) into the crowd, who then tore it apart at the 1969 Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Festival. Newspapers claimed he’d bit the bird’s head off and drank its blood. Zappa advised them to not deny the story and Cooper used it as inspiration to make his character darker.

The band’s teaming with producer Bob Ezrin for their third album Love It To Death led to their US breakthrough with a top 30 hit “I’m Eighteen” in early 1971. By then, the band was already infamous for their stage show, which had escalated into simulated torture and executions. That same year, Killer was released with its two singles “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover” finding moderate US success, and both albums being certified gold the following year.