Bob Ezrin

Alice Cooper co-founder and Hall Of Fame inductee Dennis Dunaway answers your questions!

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ElectedPlus
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Bob Ezrin

Post by ElectedPlus » Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:09 pm

I wonder, what's it been like working with Bob Ezrin recently vs. back in the days of the original band.
How has it changed over the years / what has remained the same?

Thank you for taking the time answering these questions!

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Dreary
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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:50 pm

Working with Bob hasn't changed. He's still enthusiastic, smiles a lot, and is ready to make quick decisions that keep things moving at a fast pace. Some of those quick decisions can be frustrating when you disagree with them, but that's always outshined by Bob's brilliance.
The dynamics have changed a bit in that Neal, Michael, and I are guests on Alice's recordings so our input doesn't carry quite as much weight as it did on our albums. We do have a say though.
The main difference is the advance of technology that now allows for editing mistakes, or even re-arranging a song later, where in the analog days, we would often have had to re-record those things on the spot.
Tighter budgets, due to less people actually paying for their music, forces songs to be hammered out in a couple of afternoons, rather than a few weeks.
Most satisfyingly, we still have lots of fun and wind up with quality results.

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by pitkin88 » Sun Mar 07, 2021 11:29 pm

Who has the final say in the studio Bob or Alice?

Also where there any songs brought to the studio that were rejected and if so what were they and why?

How come you didn't play on Drunk and in Love which you co wrote?

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:58 pm

Depending on the issue, and who's more convincing at that moment, it could be Bob or Alice. And less often, the rest of us have some sway.
Michael brought in a couple of potentially cool songs but they weren't quite ready for prime time. Neal, Michael, and I only had a couple of afternoons to prepare all of our possible songs.
I also had a song that came close to making the album. Bob came up with a chorus for it but Alice and I thought it sounded like something else so we bailed on it. We should have let Bob continue.
As for "Drunk and in Love," I didn't know that those lyrics were in the stack that I had handed to Alice. They made them into a song and Boy, was I surprised.

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by pitkin88 » Wed Mar 17, 2021 5:51 pm

Happy St Paddys Day!

Are there any pics of you Neal and Mike at the Detroit Stories sessions? I don't think I have seen any. Also what did you think of Steven Crayns solo on Social Debris?

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:47 pm

pitkin88 wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 5:51 pm
Happy St Paddys Day!

Are there any pics of you Neal and Mike at the Detroit Stories sessions? I don't think I have seen any. Also what did you think of Steven Crayns solo on Social Debris?
I have some photos but I would have to find them. One is posted on my blog on my website at this link -
https://www.dennisdunaway.com/news/2020 ... dding-show

Steven did a good job with the solo. I also liked the one that Nick Didkovsky did on Neal's demo of that song.

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by pitkin88 » Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:22 pm

Is that demo available for access anywhere Dennis or is it under lock and key?

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Fri Mar 19, 2021 12:57 am

pitkin88 wrote:
Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:22 pm
Is that demo available for access anywhere Dennis or is it under lock and key?
It's under lock and key for now.

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by steven_crayn » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:04 am

Dreary wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:47 pm
pitkin88 wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 5:51 pm
Also what did you think of Steven Crayns solo on Social Debris?
Steven did a good job with the solo. I also liked the one that Nick Didkovsky did on Neal's demo of that song.
Thanks for the inspiration Dennis.
As soon as i heard the backing track i knew it was you on bass with that Elected bass riff.
This video shows what popped into my head when i heard the chord progression
https://youtu.be/WC2dS2FU-uk
Lead guitar on Social Debris. Album on iTunes, Amazon & Spotify, title track featured on TV

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by steven_crayn » Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:44 am

This was my Under My Wheels inspired solo ending, that Bob Ezrin almost chose, instead of my other one that went on the record.
https://youtu.be/w42uW-nhHx8
Lead guitar on Social Debris. Album on iTunes, Amazon & Spotify, title track featured on TV

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:36 pm

steven_crayn wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:44 am
This was my Under My Wheels inspired solo ending, that Bob Ezrin almost chose, instead of my other one that went on the record.
https://youtu.be/w42uW-nhHx8
I like it!

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:49 pm

Dreary wrote:
Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:36 pm
steven_crayn wrote:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:44 am
This was my Under My Wheels inspired solo ending, that Bob Ezrin almost chose, instead of my other one that went on the record.
https://youtu.be/w42uW-nhHx8
I like it!
I had an unusual tricky bass riff for that exact same spot. It was difficult to play and I was proud of it. I wanted to have the lead guitar double it. But since we didn't yet know what the lead vocals might do there, Bob had me play it straight. And every time I hear the song, I wish it was in there. So you see, Steven, you and I have something in common to cry in our beer about.

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by steven_crayn » Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:28 pm

Loving what you and the guys did on the track Dennis, and a total honour for me.
Lead guitar on Social Debris. Album on iTunes, Amazon & Spotify, title track featured on TV

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Daggers & Contracts » Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:39 pm

I wonder if there's a way to fit that "Tricky Bass Riff" to a doubled Lead guitar now...?🤔
Yet, not step on any copywrite issues also. Enjoy your Beer guys. :drink:
I've Got The Answers To All Of Your Questions...

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Re: Bob Ezrin

Post by Dreary » Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:42 pm

Daggers & Contracts wrote:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:39 pm
I wonder if there's a way to fit that "Tricky Bass Riff" to a doubled Lead guitar now...?🤔
Yet, not step on any copywrite issues also. Enjoy your Beer guys. :drink:
I recorded my bass part, with that riff, on Neal's demo. Perhaps he will release it some day.

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