Saturday 9: Welcome to My Nightmare

Saturday 9: Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) Tell us about a bad dream you've had.

A. I dreamed the other night that I was at a government meeting, and a cult group came in to "demonstrate" something and they lopped off a child's head. Everyone thought it was fake, but my spidey sense told me otherwise, so I went back after the meeting to check things out. They were cleaning up their mess, and this one fellow came over and asked me to help him. He said they'd really killed a child in front of us. He said he needed to get out of there, but he couldn't leave. I called 911 and asked for help, but the sheriff's office said they couldn't respond, so I asked for an ambulance. However, no sirens were forthcoming, and I called my husband. He finally showed up driving our Kawasaki Mule (a utility vehicle that goes about 30 mph) and carrying a shotgun. Meanwhile, I was busily trying to convince these crazy killers not to leave until help arrived.

When I was younger, I used to dream about a bathtub full of blood. I have always had night terrors and occasionally sleep walk. I frequently wake both my husband and myself up with screams.

2) Sam is not crazy about spiders. What frightens you, or gives you "the creeps?"

A. I'm definitely not into snakes. I'm not a fan of spiders, either, but I will take care of them if I must. Also, I don't like live mice. Yuck. I do like mice dressed up like Santa Claus, though.

3) This week's featured artist, Alice Cooper, has always liked to dress up. Performing as Alice, he wears garish eye makeup. In his first group, he and his bandmates dressed as the Beatles. Will you be wearing a costume this weekend?

A. I will be my usual self, as far as I know.

4) Alice says his makeup was inspired by Bette Davis in his favorite horror movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? This Halloween weekend, will you seek out horror movies and scary TV shows, or will you avoid them?

A. I will mostly avoid them, although the plan for tonight is a Murder Mystery dinner.

5) Born Vincent Furnier, Alice used to tell reporters that he and his band got the name Alice Cooper from a Oujia board. Have you ever tried a Oujia board?

A. When I was much younger we had an Oujia board. I would like to get my hands on one now as an adult. I think it would be a different experience.

6) Alice and his band (also called Alice Cooper) were discovered by music manager Shep Gordon while playing in Venice, California. Have you ever visited Venice, California or Venice, Italy?

A. Not to my knowledge, no. No Venices for me.

7) In 1970s England, a morality campaigner named Mary Whitehouse persuaded the BBC to ban Alice Cooper. The ensuing publicity resulted in such a bump in record sales that Alice sent Ms. Whitehouse flowers. Do you believe in censorship? Or should adults be able to choose to see/hear whatever they wish?

A. I do not believe in censorship generally; however, there are limits. Pornography, for example, that blatantly shows the abuse of any human being or animal. Yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. Commonsense, which long left the building, should rule. Given that it is no longer with us, I suppose we must have somebody out there thumping the pumpkin to see what is ripe.

8) Today Alice has a popular syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. Listeners all over the United States, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and the UK hear him introduced as, "a man for whom even Dr. Phil has no cure." Do you watch Dr. Phil?

A. No. I rarely watch TV, and certainly not Dr. Phil.

9) Did you get many trick or treaters this year? What candy did you give them?

A. I live in a rural community and far off the road. I've never had a trick or treater. However, I always buy some Smarties to keep on hand in case someone shows up. I end up eating them. At least they aren't chocolate.