A remarkable chapter in rock history is finally being completed. Conceived years ago by Alice Cooper and his longtime collaborator Dick Wagner, Chester Rose was envisioned as a theatrical concept album in the spirit of Welcome to My Nightmare, a dark, cinematic production intended for both album and television.
From the beginning, Cooper and Wagner imagined the project being brought to life by a younger artist with the right voice, charisma, and theatrical presence. That artist became Maryann Cotton, who was discovered by Wagner and taken under his wing before being introduced to Cooper. Cotton later relocated from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Los Angeles to work directly on the album and its evolving concept.
Written by Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner, and Maryann Cotton, Chester Rose tells the story of a rock star turned serial killer whose twisted descent into lust, romance, obsession, and murder unfolds across twelve captivating tracks. The album takes listeners on a dramatic journey, beginning with explosive hard rock energy before evolving into darker and more sophisticated storytelling reminiscent of Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, and classic Alice Cooper.
The first single, “Thief of Hearts,” is available now. ““Thief of Hearts” was one of the first songs Dick Wagner and Alice Cooper had written for the concept, and one of the very first songs Dick ever played for me.
Throughout this entire project, I’ve tried to stay respectful and true to the core of the original concept Dick created, while at the same time expanding on it and ultimately turning it into Maryann Cotton’s world. With “Thief of Hearts” in particular, I wanted to stay as true as possible to Alice’s original vocal lines and phrasing from the original version that was presented to me. It was important to me to preserve the DNA of what Dick and Alice created while still making the song my own.
I remember hearing the song for the first time and being completely blown away. As a lifelong Alice Cooper fan, it immediately took me back to somewhere between 1975 and 1977. It had that unmistakable Cooper/Wagner trademark, feel and attitude. You could hear exactly where it came from”, says Maryann Cotton.
Although extensive pre-production work was completed and multiple versions of the project were developed, the album was never fully recorded or released. Tragically, Dick Wagner passed away shortly before the project was scheduled to enter the studio.
Determined to fulfill the vision he had shared with Cooper and Wagner, Cotton revisited the project two years ago. He reopened the original Pro Tools sessions, painstakingly restoring Wagner’s guitar riffs and solos while carefully cleaning, editing, and mixing the material to preserve its original spirit. Longtime collaborator Steve Hunter became an integral part of the process, contributing throughout the completion of the album.
Adding to the project’s significance, Tommy Henriksen of Hollywood Vampires contributed both rhythm and lead guitar performances. Much of the album features the legendary guitar partnership of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, making Chester Rose the final recording in rock history to feature performances from both musicians together. The result is a powerful and timeless hard rock album that bridges generations while preserving the creative vision of two of rock’s most celebrated collaborators.
Pre-Order Chester Rose on CD, LP, and Limited Signed Bundles here.
The post ALICE COOPER & DICK WAGNER’S Long-Lost Concept Album Finally Comes To Life As “Maryann Cotton’s Chester Rose” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.
