Alice Cooper recently encouraged aspiring musicians to study The Beatles during a Q&A session at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 7. The legendary shock rocker emphasized the importance of understanding how The Beatles crafted their melodies, no matter what genre you’re writing in.
“Listen to The Beatles. I’m serious. When it comes to writing songs, pay attention to the simplicity of their music,” Cooper said. He believes that a song is more than just a riff and a drum beat. He pointed out that many bands today skip over melodic structure, bombarding listeners with aggression instead of creating real songs.
Cooper suggested that musicians take a week to dive into the music of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Four Seasons. He wants them to learn how verses, bridges, and choruses work together. “Why are those Beatles songs still on the radio? Because of the melody. We all want to hear those melodies,” he added.
Since childhood, Cooper has cited The Beatles as a major influence. In 2020, he named “Meet The Beatles!” as one of his top albums for Rolling Stone, saying it blew him away because he had never heard anything like it before. He even claimed that writing “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was tougher than creating “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Known for his theatrical hard rock style, Cooper has entertained audiences for over five decades with shocking stage shows featuring electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood, and boa constrictors. Some of his biggest hits include “School’s Out” and “Poison.”
