Alice Cooper tickets go on sale Thursday

LYNN – Tickets go on sale Thursday for what has become one of the most buzzed about shows to hit Veterans Memorial Auditorium since it reopened: Alice Cooper.”We were happy to book him but the reaction we got when word got out to fans that he was coming was unexpected and better than some of the headliners we’ve had in the past,” said Community Development Director James Marsh, who manages the auditorium.He said people were excited when ZZ Top tickets went on sale and when they performed, but the level of enthusiasm he is seeing on Facebook and in emails surpasses even ZZ Top, Marsh said.Alice Cooper is a rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans nearly four decades and whose shows have included flying feathers, a guillotine, electric chairs, fake blood and baby dolls. He is probably best well known for the songs “School’s Out,” “Welcome to My Nightmare” and “No More Mister Nice Guy.”One quick glance at the auditorium’s website shows the broad spectrum of talent booked into the venue. Ivete Sangalo performs in August followed by Midtown Men in September, The Amazing Kreskin in October, Celtic Women in December and Get the Led Out, a Led Zeppelin show, in January.The auditorium has found a niche with classic rock and Latino acts but Marsh said they like to explore new genres to see what works.”This is our real first (jump) into the heavy metal genre,” he said. “Alice Cooper is classic rock but with a harder edge and it’s theatrical. It’s a show within a show within a show.”Marsh said he also believes the show will bring a new crowd to the auditorium. He said they already get a lot of rock fans but hard rock fans will be something different.”We’ve done (Peter) Frampton, (Pat) Benetar, Ian Anderson, even Kenny Rogers, but this is a totally new venue,” he added.Cooper takes the stage Oct. 17 and tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. To order tickets go to www.lynnauditorium.com or order by phone at 1-800- 745-3000 or call the box office at 781-581-2971.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].