Teenage Frankenstein (Constrictor, 1986)

Constrictor, released in 1986, is Alice’s ninth solo studio album. The LP has him returning after a three-year hiatus from the music industry.

During that time, Alice redirected himself – breaking ties with Warner Bros. Records, replenishing his health, and focusing on his new addiction, golf. All these factors helped bring the godfather of Shock Rock roaring back to the stage.

Constrictor and “The Nightmare Returns” tour brought a new Alice to the forefront – a clean, renewed, sober Alice. Alice also became synonymous with the successful “Friday the 13th” series and appeared with Jake “The Snake” Roberts in the WWF’s “Wrestlemania III” on March 29, 1987, in Detroit, Michigan.

“Naturally, Alice got a huge response from the crowd, as it was at the Pontiac Silverdome, just outside of Detroit – a city synonymous with Alice.

At the time, Roberts was one of wrestling’s most popular good guys, known for bringing a live snake in a bag for each match. After winning a match, Jake would ceremoniously dump the python on top of a beaten foe. The Honky Tonk Man (Roberts’ opponent in “Wrestlemania III”) was the perfect rival — he was a cowardly Elvis-wannabe character, noted for having smashed an acoustic guitar over Jake’s head weeks before the event. What better way to get even with the phony musician than for Jake to enlist a REAL heavy metal icon to watch his back. It was (The) Oldies versus Heavy Metal!

Unfortunately, Jake Roberts lost the match via pinfall. However, the fans were not entirely disappointed. Alice and Jake had a few laughs trying to introduce The Honky Tonk Man’s pesky manager, Jimmy Hart, to Jake’s pet python named “Damien.” – Constrictor, sickthingsuk.co.uk/01-discography/19-constrictor.php

Alice had once again become part of pop culture. The Nightmare indeed had returned, and a cameo appearance in Wes Craven’s “Prince of Darkness” (1987) and the next LP, Raise Your Fist and Yell, would follow on the heels of Coop’s triumphant return to the stage.

“Teenage Frankenstein,” the first track on Constrictor, is pure ’80s metal and was one of the songs included on the soundtrack for the movie Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives  (along with the songs “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” and “Hard Rock Summer”).

I ain’t one of the crowd
I ain’t one of the guys
They just avoid me
They run and they hide
Are my colours too bright
Are my eyes set too wide
I spend my whole life
Burning, turning

A story about the separation and distance experienced through the eyes of a teenage outcast, in many ways, this song encompassed the Heavy Metal genre – so many didn’t understand it. As a result, they placed many labels on the music and those that enjoyed it – just a group of “Teenage Frankensteins.”

The teenage mind and the battle in the trenches known as adolescence are strangers to no one. Our formative years are a bittersweet time, one we often look back on with endearment and horror simultaneously.

What’s funny about this stage (in life) is how society looks at it. There’s often this unrealistic notion that only particular teens feel misunderstood, out of place, undesirable, etc. – as if the jocks, the popular kids, and the class superlatives aren’t affected by the growing pains of adolescence just like everyone else.

But the fact is, all teens are struggling. They struggle to find their voice, excel, and figure out who they are. During this time, they struggle to wade through the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual changes from childhood to adulthood.

The older we get and the more we learn, we discover that everyone struggles – some openly, some inwardly, some together, some alone. But life is a battle – especially as we enter adulthood (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: Next week is usually one of my favorite weeks. The one week each year that guarantees several good memories will resurface, some replayed, and some new ones made. It’s the week we would ordinarily go to summer camp, and “Teenage Frankenstein” comes alive for me.

Perhaps it’s the awkwardness of the teenage mind and observing them interact with one another. Or maybe, the lyrics remind me of my teen years. Whatever it is, the song takes me back to a simpler yet more difficult time (what an oxymoron).

However, although camp is back in session and we were scheduled to go, our family caught the infamous COVID bug this past week. So, needless to say, we won’t be going this year.

As an adult, disappointment is a little easier to swallow. After a few years of experience, setbacks are still “hard pills to swallow,” but they are a little more understood. When life serves up lemons, you try to make lemonade, but it’s not always that easy during our teenage years.

My three teenage children are the ones affected most by this setback. Another year away from distant friends waiting to see each other during that special week in the Summer is a big deal for them. It breaks my heart to know they aren’t able to go.

However, like many things, a lesson is learned. Life is short and uncertain, but no matter the circumstance, we place our Hope and Trust in Him (Psalm 71:5), for we know that God works for good in all things of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Back to the song, the lyrics may seem extreme, but they aren’t.

I can’t walk in the day
I must walk in the night
Stay in the shadows
Stay out of the light
Are my shoulders too wide
Is my head screwed on tight
I spend my whole life
Burning, turning

Lonely. Dark. Out of place. These words describe the teenage years for many of us (adulthood for some of us as well). The darkness of this world leaves us empty, while the Light of His Love offers so much more.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:16-18

When we learn to use God’s Word and Spirit as the GPS for our lives, we begin seeing breakthroughs during our time here. We find the Love of Christ is the equalizer that levels the playing field and unifies humanity.

Many teens never get the opportunity to experience His Love firsthand. Many of them aren’t offered one week (let alone a few moments) set aside to focus on skills, talents, or God’s Word.

Summer isn’t always a break or reprieve from things. Many children and teens struggle with homelife, boredom, and avoiding dangerous situations during the Summer. So, as adults, what are we doing to offer the next generation an alternative to an idle mind?

Church camp is designed to unify the most unlikely people through His Love. The cliques and clichés of the world disappear by the end of the week – no division, no classifications, little to no vitriol, just a focus on Him and His Word. So let’s focus on bringing that experience to our homes and communities.  

Let us focus on making His Word a weekly experience for ourselves and those around us. Avoid division as much as possible (Romans 16:17). It’s incredible to see the change His Love can make. Approaching others with that tone and mindset changes lives, not only others’ lives but our lives(1 John 4:21).

What if we decided to embrace those who are different? The teenage mind. The outcast. The lonely. The hungry. The poor.

What if we decided to extend a loving arm or a helping hand to those we may not understand or even like?

What if we chose to break social norms and hang out with all types of people (not just those we relate most to)?

Would there still be violence in schools?

Would there always be extreme bullying?

Would there still be hate?

The Love of Christ is the answer to such issues.

When it comes to Christianity, it’s not Christ that people reject; it’s the contempt and judgment of man.

It’s time to break down the religious clichés and step out in faith. It’s time to love and do to one another as we do ourselves. He has asked us to do these things (Matthew 7:12, 22:36-40, 28:16-20). Why shouldn’t we?

Wrapping up this week’s post, there’s much to digest here. If we all grew up to be teenage versions of ourselves, most of us would be embarrassed, imprisoned, alone, or even worse, dead. We need to remember this; we need to remember just how challenging the waters of early adulthood can be.

Alice does a great job of writing narratives. In this narrative, we find a dark, isolated character filled with feelings of self-doubt and disruption, but the secret is that it’s not just this teenager’s narrative. It’s the narrative of adolescence.

In many ways, it’s also the narrative of humanity apart from its Creator. But, much like a teen becoming an adult, there comes a time when we must learn what our strengths and weaknesses are. One of the greatest life lessons is knowing who we are and where we come from – our Creator.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Where is our Hope found, and what does love Look like?

Are we sharing Him with others?

If we know our worth, shouldn’t we also teach and guide the young (and old) about how worthy they are? Worthy of God’s Love – sacrificed for them and all humanity on the cross. However different we may seem, we were created by the same Maker – the Author of Life and Love.

In conclusion, Alice has a way of explaining things perfectly. His relationship with the teenage mind is fascinating. He finds a way to connect and relate to his audience – all colors, ages, and walks of life. Alice is an uniter, not a divider.

Constrictor was Alice’s first LP back after a much-needed break from the industry, and it was the perfect time to re-emerge. The mid-to-late ‘80s saw the return of Rock and Metal, and Alice Cooper needed to be a part of that mix.

“My kinda music is back in…Constrictor is a pretty straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll album. When we put the ballads out, it was only at the time when disco was so big and that was the only way we could more or less keep in the game, in the realm of being on the radio. But if you’ll look at the time period for that, there’s been a lot of bands kinda dropped away. Aerosmith did. Alice Cooper did. We all just did the honorable thing and got out while disco was big (laughs).” – Alice Cooper

Luckily for us all, disco passed after a short-lived life and gave birth to the next phase of Rock. With the emergence of “Hair Metal,” a new Alice and a new direction were offered. The Coop was back, and this time there would be no retreat!

That’s it for this week. Be well and catch you next Friday.

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