Dennis Dunaway
Encyclopedia
Dennis Dunaway was the bass guitar
ist for The Spiders (Pre-Alice Cooper
), The Earwigs (Pre-Alice Cooper), Alice Cooper
group from 1969–1974.
He co-wrote such hits as "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out
".
Dunaway's bass playing displayed varying influences including Latin ("Below Your Means"), Indian Raga ("Gutter Cat") and Jazz
y Blues
("Crazy Little Child", "Blue Turk") along with many other genres. He incorporated all of these musical styles to help create a sound that could support the theatrical performance of the "on-stage" Alice Cooper persona. He had a Gibson EB-0
short scale bass, modified with a Fender Precision Bass
split pickup in the treble position, that he spray painted green and called "the frog". He can be seen with it on the back cover of the Love it to Death
album. He used this bass exclusively in the making of the original Alice Cooper group's first three albums. It currently is on loan to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
. Dennis would in time switch to a Fender Jazz bass
. He had three.
'Billion Dollar Babies' was the name of the band founded by Michael Bruce
, Mike Marconi, Dennis Dunaway, Bob Dolin, and Neal Smith after they split from Alice Cooper in 1974.
This band was embroiled in a legal suit over the usage of the name. They only released one album, 1977's Battleaxe, before disbanding.
Dennis is married to Cindy Dunaway, Alice Cooper's original costume designer who helped create the Shock Rock
fashion style. Cindy is the sister of original Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith. Their oldest daughter, Renée Dunaway, is also a musician and fronts the band Jetsetter.
Dennis performs on Alice Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare
. On July 1, 2010 when talking about the newly retitled album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Alice said in a Radio Metal interview: "We’ll put some of the original people on it and add some new people, I’m very happy with working with Bob (Ezrin) again.” Other names mentioned were: Slash, Neal Smith, Dennis Dunaway, Steven Hunter and Dick Wagner. Dunaway and Smith wrote two songs and perform, along with Michael Bruce, on three tracks on the album, released in September, 2011.
Dennis currently plays live with his bands, Blue Coup and 5th Avenue Vampires.
Dennis Dunaway and Blue Coupe's new single "You (Like Vampires)", written by John Elwood Cook, is nominated for the Best Rock Song Grammy. The song can be heard on ITunes or Pledgemusic.
It is available on iTunes, their website and at shows.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist for The Spiders (Pre-Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
), The Earwigs (Pre-Alice Cooper), Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
group from 1969–1974.
He co-wrote such hits as "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out
School's Out (song)
Female pop duo Daphne & Celeste, released a cover of the song in 2000. The chorus is based on Alice Cooper's hit of the same name, and some other elements of that song have been retained, although much of the song is "original", in a pop-rap style...
".
Dunaway's bass playing displayed varying influences including Latin ("Below Your Means"), Indian Raga ("Gutter Cat") and Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
y Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
("Crazy Little Child", "Blue Turk") along with many other genres. He incorporated all of these musical styles to help create a sound that could support the theatrical performance of the "on-stage" Alice Cooper persona. He had a Gibson EB-0
Gibson EB-0
The Gibson EB-0 is a bass guitar that was introduced by Gibson in 1959.-History:The EB-0 was first marketed in 1959 in response to the declining sales of Gibson's EB-1. The body was styled after the Les Paul Junior, but retained the mahogany neck and body and 30.5" scale length of the EB-1. It was...
short scale bass, modified with a Fender Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
split pickup in the treble position, that he spray painted green and called "the frog". He can be seen with it on the back cover of the Love it to Death
Love It to Death
Rolling Stones John Mendelsohn found it favorable. He explained that it "represents at least a modest oasis in the desert of dreary blue-jeaned aloofness served up in concert by most American rock-and-rollers." However, referring to "Black Juju" he also stated that "the one bummer on this album is...
album. He used this bass exclusively in the making of the original Alice Cooper group's first three albums. It currently is on loan to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. Dennis would in time switch to a Fender Jazz bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
. He had three.
'Billion Dollar Babies' was the name of the band founded by Michael Bruce
Michael Owen Bruce
Michael Bruce is a US rock musician. He was a guitarist, keyboard player and backing vocalist for the original Alice Cooper group .Bruce co-wrote many of the hit songs with some or all of the other members of the band...
, Mike Marconi, Dennis Dunaway, Bob Dolin, and Neal Smith after they split from Alice Cooper in 1974.
This band was embroiled in a legal suit over the usage of the name. They only released one album, 1977's Battleaxe, before disbanding.
Dennis is married to Cindy Dunaway, Alice Cooper's original costume designer who helped create the Shock Rock
Shock rock
Shock rock is an umbrella term for artists who combine rock music with elements of theatrical shock value in live performances.-History:Screamin' Jay Hawkins was arguably the first shock rocker...
fashion style. Cindy is the sister of original Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith. Their oldest daughter, Renée Dunaway, is also a musician and fronts the band Jetsetter.
Dennis performs on Alice Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Welcome 2 My Nightmare is the 26th studio album by Alice Cooper, following his 2008 album Along Came a Spider.The idea for the album came about soon after the thirtieth anniversary of the original Welcome to My Nightmare album, while Cooper was talking with producer Bob Ezrin, who proposed the idea...
. On July 1, 2010 when talking about the newly retitled album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Alice said in a Radio Metal interview: "We’ll put some of the original people on it and add some new people, I’m very happy with working with Bob (Ezrin) again.” Other names mentioned were: Slash, Neal Smith, Dennis Dunaway, Steven Hunter and Dick Wagner. Dunaway and Smith wrote two songs and perform, along with Michael Bruce, on three tracks on the album, released in September, 2011.
Dennis currently plays live with his bands, Blue Coup and 5th Avenue Vampires.
Dennis Dunaway and Blue Coupe's new single "You (Like Vampires)", written by John Elwood Cook, is nominated for the Best Rock Song Grammy. The song can be heard on ITunes or Pledgemusic.
2010 album release
In April 2010, 5th Avenue Vampires released their debut album, Drawing BloodArtists
- Joe Von T - Vocals
- Dennis Dunaway - Bass
- Ritchie Scarlet- Guitar
- Russ Wilson - Drums
Track listing
- Cravin a Drink
- Light in My Head
- She'll Lie
- Psycho Sexual
- Vampires of 5th Avenue
- Pleasure and Pain
- Dream Police
- Hell O Insanity
- Fear Me
- Broken Ways
2006 album release
In September 2006, The Dennis Dunaway Project released their debut album Bones from the Yard.It is available on iTunes, their website and at shows.
Artists
- Dennis Dunaway - Bass, vocals,
- Rick Tedesco- Guitar, vocals, keyboards
- Russ Wilson - Drums
- Ed BurnsEd BurnsEd Burns is a producer, screenwriter, and novelist. He has worked closely with writing partner David Simon. They have collaborated on The Corner and The Wire . Burns is a former Baltimore police detective for the Homicide and Narcotics divisions, and a public school teacher...
- Keyboards, vocals - Ian HunterIan Hunter (singer)Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
- Piano on "Little Kid (With A Big, Big Gun)," Background Vocals on "Me and My Boys," Theramin on "Subway" - Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
- More Cowbell on "Little Kid (With A Big, Big Gun)," Shakers on "Subway" - Patty Gesmondi - Shakers on "Subway"
- Gary Blu - Saxophones on "Me and My Boys," and "Home Sweet Home"
- John DaSilva - Trumpet on "Me and My Boys," and "Home Sweet Home"
- Jessica WilliamsJessica WilliamsJessica Jennifer Williams is an American pianist and composer who has deep roots in jazz. She has been called "one of the top jazz pianists of today."-History:...
- Moans of pleasure on "Red Room" - Mike Tedesco - Saxophone on "Home Sweet Home"
- Stephanie Tedesco - Help Me! Vocals on "On the Mountain"
Track listing
- Kandahar (Dunaway, Tedesco, Burns, Wilson)
- Me and My Boys (Dunaway)
- Man Is a Beast (Dunaway, Tedesco)
- Red Room (Dunaway, Tedesco)
- Little Kid (With AaBig, Big Gun) (Dunaway)
- New Generation (Dunaway, Tedesco)
- Needle in the Red (Dunaway, Tedesco, Burns, Wilson, Hunter)
- Stalker (Dunaway, Tedesco, Wilson)
- Satan’s Sister (Dunaway)
- On the Mountain (Dunaway, Tedesco)
- Subway (Dunaway)
- Home Sweet Home (Dunaway, Tedesco)