Guitarist Damon Johnson has shared the phase with a really extended list of legendary functions, but an incident for the duration of his initial show with Alice Cooper nonetheless left him shaken.

All through an appear on the Converse Louder podcast, Johnson — who 1st played with Cooper in 2004 — recalled his hair-boosting debut with the shock rock icon.

“We seasoned a couple of days of rehearsal and there is absolutely all of this, all these notes about the creation,” the guitarist remembered, such as that he was explained to in which to stand for a assortment of theatrical components of the show, which contain the use of a guillotine and sword engage in. “I was like, ‘Wow, particular person. This is like a Broadway musical.’”

Johnson was excited for his debut alongside Cooper, whom he’d really extended held in substantial regard.

“I’m just like vast-eyed and like ‘Holy shit, male. I am the guitar player for Alice Cooper! Nicely a single enormous immediate that I realized was coming was I seasoned to take pleasure in the guitar lick, the intro to ‘Is It My Whole physique.’”

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“So I stroll up to the front of the, useless center entrance of the stage,” the guitarist continued. “Merely since Coop seasoned now reported, ‘Hey guy, I want you shoving that guitar down their throat, gentleman. Do not lay back once again, get up there and operate it.’ I mentioned, ‘Got it. No dilemma.’ I am actively playing the intro to ‘Is It My General physique.’ You will discover like six spotlights. And I am standing there knowledge like Thor on major of the mountain with his hammer.”

Johnson Was not All set for A particular person of Cooper’s Renowned Props

As substantially as Johnson was taking pleasure in his time in the spotlight, factors had been about to take a spectacular transform.

“I actually really feel Alice stroll up beside me and he puts his arm up on my shoulder, because he’s heading to lean on me and sing that opening line,” the guitarist discussed. “All of a sudden you will discover that fucking boa constrictor. Which no a particular person had ever reported one particular unique term about. Not 1 word.”

Caught off guard, Johnson all of a sudden uncovered himself paralyzed by anxiousness.

“It was about eight,000 males and girls,” he recalled. “I am shitting myself. For the explanation that I am intriguing with snakes as comprehensive as I know I am about to see just one particular. Just under no circumstances spring that shit on me, gentleman.”

Johnson attempted out his really greatest to outwardly keep excellent, even nevertheless internally his brain was racing. “I’m just seeking down at my nonetheless left hand like, ‘Oh God. As quickly as the drums come in I am acquiring the fuck away from listed right here.”

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Johnson reported he was delighted he didn’t faint or run away, presented how stunned he was. The guitarist ended up savoring two separate runs performing with Cooper, from 2004 to 2006 and after much more from 2009 to 2011. Nonetheless, all these yrs later on, he admits he would have appreciated a heads up probably into that initial present.

“Why under no circumstances you just publish ‘snake’ on the set listing?” Johnson pondered although laughing. “That’s all you had to do. ‘Is It My Body’ sprint ‘snake.’”