Alice Cooper encourages music fans to support younger bands amid COVID-19

Last week, Alice Cooper was forced to cancel a headlining tour with Cheap Trick as a result of COVID-19. The Godfather of Shock Rock was making his way across Germany when the country announced a prohibition on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Cooper has revealed that he will be taking the tour cancellation in his stride and using his downtime to “finish work on my next album, which is nearly done.” He has also stressed the importance of supporting smaller, less established bands during this time of total uncertainty that has swept the music industry.

“My band has been around a long time and are lucky enough to have the resources to survive through this,” Cooper shares, “but maybe fans should buy some merch or music from younger newer bands that can’t tour right now and don’t have the reserves that we have.”

Cooper revealed that it is hope that is keeping him going through this anxious time. Cooper expressed that because this experience is so universal, we’re all going to come out stronger because of it.

“We’re all in this together,” he says. “Whether you’re entertainer or fan, rich or poor, male or female, old or young. And we’ll get through this together. And when we do, we’ll be back on the road, doing what we love to do.”

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the music landscape. A total halt on live music has had unprecedented ramifications on revenue for musicians, and those behind the scenes.

In an attempt to help musicians that have suffered major revenue loss during this time of crisis, Bandcamp announced that for 24 hours on March 20 they will waive revenue shares on music sales in an attempt to “put much-needed money directly into artists’ pockets.”