I Hate You (Detroit Stories, 2021)

Detroit Stories is Alice Cooper’s 21st solo album. It was released on February 26^th, 2021, and it quickly reached the #1 slot on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart. Inspired by Alice’s hometown, Detroit, MI, he states the record pays homage to “the birthplace of angry Hard Rock,” and it seems many critics agree.

“Well, I was born in Detroit…Detroit was Alice Cooper, Iggy and the Stooges, the MC5 – all really show bands but really hard rock bands. Guitar-driven hard rock. And I remember when I was seven years old, my uncle brought over a Chuck Berry record and said, ‘Listen to this!’ That right there was the first time I ever heard rock ‘n’ roll that wasn’t driven by piano or horns. It was guitar. And I went, ‘Oh!’ That really gave it another edge, you know?” – Alice Cooper

Contributing to the album’s flashback appeal, “I Hate You” and “Social Debris,” two tracks on the album that feature the original lineup, could have easily been included on any of the classic Alice Cooper (Group) LPs.

The original band is still loved by many, and Alice has found a way to include Dennis Dunaway (bass), Neal Smith (drums), and Michael Bruce (guitar) in the creative process when possible. It’s incredible to witness circles of fans that still follow and love this phenomenon 50+ years later.

The original Alice Cooper has weathered the storm, putting aside any differences they may have had during the mid-70s and the transition from band to a solo act. Seeing such respect and admiration is quite impressive, but there’s still a missing link – Glen Buxton.

“I HATE YOU” is an ambitious song about the original band’s quirks and dysfunction – the unspoken annoyances that friendships and relationships endure. The song pokes fun at the things each member “hates” about each other.

However, it’s evident they don’t actually hate one another. Instead, within the punk-influenced vibes of this catchy tune, one can deduce that the members of Alice Cooper love each other.

To Glen:
Dennis: “We hate you, we hate your sneer”
Alice: “The cigarettes, the smell of beer”
Neal: The mutton chops, the switchblade knife”
Mike: “Your unapologetic life”
All: “But most of all we’re filled with rage at the empty space you left on stage…”
Alice: “What a Sid”

H. A. T. E. Y. O. U.
H. A. T. E. Y. O. U.
H. A. T. E. Y. O. U.
H. A. T. E. Y. O. U.
Hate You!

By the song’s end, the band is most upset with Glen Buxton, the original lead guitarist, who passed away in 1997. However, it’s not the quippy things that bother them most about Glen. But instead, it’s that he left this world too soon and an empty space on the stage.

Isn’t it funny how the people we love most sometimes annoy us more than others? One might suppose this is because of the vast amount of time we spend together, but whatever the reason is, it happens. So, how do we handle this?

What is it about each other that triggers us? Are there specific actions, words, or behaviors that annoy us? Are there particular social norms or cues that aren’t being followed? Are some triggers universal, while others are more personal?

As believers, we are asked to check our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) before we act and look to Christ as our example.

Here are a few examples from scripture:

The above-listed examples show us the heart of Christ. They are illustrations of the Passion He bestowed upon those He met and blessed. However, notice that Christ displays Love to people that He “should” ignore according to the world’s criteria.

Jesus is showing us that there is no benchmark for Love. He’s teaching us that Love surpasses annoyances, social structures, religious principles, etc. He’s teaching us that it doesn’t matter whether we deal with family, friends, or total strangers; Love should outshine the things that trigger us.

We cannot control the actions of others, but we are called to control our own (2 Timothy 1:7).

We often carry a belief or behavior that leads us to think we are better than those who annoy us. However, the gift of the Holy Spirit allows us to rein in the most common root of our annoyance and subsequent behavior – Pride.

Pride is a killer. It causes strife (Proverbs 13:10). Yet, the Spirit offers us help to combat pride and see individuals and situations from Christ’s point of view.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. – Galatians 5:22-26

Just as the above-listed verses state, Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance (Patience), Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control are given to those that belong to Christ, we must do our best to walk in step with the Spirit – asking for daily guidance and help when dealing with triggers and aggravation.

Wrapping up this week’s post, we are called to Love (John 13:34-35). It sounds simple, yet it may be the most challenging part of our Faith.

The world, believers, family, and friends give us reasons to be annoyed or triggered by their actions or reactions, yet we are called to overlook those and love them all the same.

The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:40-41). So it is, for this reason, the Holy Spirit is our guide. We must learn to lean on Him and bear His fruit – the greatest being Love.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:7-10

As Peter states in the above-listed verses, Love covers a multitude of sins, if that is true, and Love covers all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12). Then indeed, Love can cover our annoyances and the things that trigger us as well.

In conclusion, Detroit Stories is an incredible LP. While many may appeal that the old days are Alice’s best work, we tend to disagree. The last 35+ years of Alice’s work have provided multiple songs and LPs that have become classicks.

That said, it’s difficult to argue with the love and admiration for the original band, music, and individual members of Alice Cooper. After all, there would be no Alice today without the creativity of that original lineup.

“When bands break up, they generally hate each other, and they don’t want to talk to each other, and they really are kind of (like) oh, you know, I don’t want to talk to that guy again.

We wrote I hate you in order for the fans to understand that we didn’t hate each other at all; we actually loved each other…

And then, at the end, we all wrote a verse about Glen because Glen had passed away of his own doing. You know he just never stopped – he was that guy…and at the end, we all said the thing we hate most about you, Glen is the hole that you left on stage.” – Alice Cooper

What better way for Alice Cooper, the band that broke all social norms, shocked the world, and scared parents to death, to show how much they love one another than by declaring what they “hate?” It’s pure genius.

That’s it for this week. Catch you next Friday.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!