Vicious Rumours (Special Forces, 1981)

Special Forces, the sixth Alice Cooper solo album, was released in 1981. It is the first of three LPs that have been dubbed the “blackout” albums – LPs Alice doesn’t remember writing or recording.

The LP is another concept album. This time Alice plays the role of a decorated war general – an arrogant persona gloating about his military career and achievements.

The cover art finds a picture of Alice dressed in an army uniform adorned with war medals and other paraphernalia. Coop’s portrait is between two crossed swords facing upwards – a universal symbol of readiness and willingness to fight.

“Special Forces is an appropriate follow-up to Flush The Fashion in that Cooper continues his exploration of sparser-sounding audio techniques. His vocal delivery is cool and distant while the instrumentation is minimal.” – Anonymous, Billboard, September 1981

The Special Forces LP mixed punk alternative with his persona and style. Alice has mastered taking the latest sounds and adding the Cooper twist to the trending genre. But, the listener still knows it’s Alice, even if the style has changed.

Alice does a brilliant job laying out the pomp and circumstance surrounding war and how it might affect someone (as portrayed by his medal-laden military general persona).

Some might even picture this character as Col. Nathan R. Jessup, the duty-driven Marine portrayed by Jack Nicholson in “A Few Good Men.”

Col. Jessup is convinced that following orders, molding soldiers, and defending honor are the only things important in life and that acquiring those goals is paramount to everything else – even the lives of those soldiers in his care.

Similarly, Alice’s character gloats throughout the LP about his accomplishments and duties.

This week’s focus is “Vicious Rumours,” a song dedicated to the abnormalities of an average man turned soldier. These oddities are portrayed by what it must feel like as a combatant returns from war and service – transformed by the experience; nothing seems normal as it once did.

You see the smoke, and you feel the flak
You’re burning up, and you’re turning black
They say you fell and you hit your head
Your ugly bump is wet and red

Vicious rumours, paranoic fears
Sonic boomers ringing in your ears
All of this is getting normal now
You’ll never go back to your farm and plough
Vicious rumours

You’re right at home back at William’s flat
You heard a sound; you turned and shot your cat
Your hands are shaking; everybody sees
And there’s a rhythm drumming in your knees

Generation after generation yields emotionally and mentally damaged veterans and victims. And, we are called to Love them all the same.

Soldiers were once mocked, ridiculed, and hated for the wars they fought. However, we found a way to honor and love them for their willingness to protect us, even though we may disagree with what they were asked to do.

While some altercations seem necessary, others make no sense. Yet, the lives involved in such conflicts matter to our Heavenly Father; they are His Creation and loved by Him (and should be by us).

Interestingly, war and its aftermath are factors humanity has dealt with for thousands of years. And, for some reason, even with the detriment war causes, we can’t find a way to just “get along.”

There are many ways to direct this discussion further. However, this post will only focus on the truth of God’s Word and His Love towards others.

“6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.” – Matthew 24:6-8

Notice how Christ asks us to redirect our fear into faith. He warns us that the world around us is hostile yet asks us to remain calm and focused on Him. As the nations rage against one another, we must remain focused on God’s Light and Truth – things that surpass the events and shortcomings of humanity.

We find many individuals affected by the bowels of war – soldiers, civilians, victims, world leaders, etc. Yet, none are more or less deserving of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love (even the pompous general portrayed by Alice on the LP).

Are we capable of showing everyone (even our enemies) that Love?

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:14-21

Perhaps this is the greatest, yet most difficult, task we’ve been given – Love your enemies. It’s not just Paul that provides us with this mission in the above-listed verses. Christ asks us to Love not only our neighbors, family, and friends but also our enemies (Matthew 5, 7, 24; Luke 6,13, 23; John 13).

The human experience transcends religion, culture, race, sex, etc. So it’s interesting to watch how all walks of life come together for a common purpose when genuinely needed or asked to do so. With that in mind, at what point do we finally see that it’s not each other or our Creator that deceives us? It’s the enemy.

As we watch the events of the world unfold, our prayer is for God’s Will to be done. The wars and battles fought here on earth play their part in history. However, let us remember that humanity is suffering at the heart of it all.

In combat, both sides have casualties. Both sides are products of God’s creation. Both sides are part of the human family – our brothers and sisters. Let us remember that.

We pray His Love is felt and known by ALL who walk the earth and “His Kingdom Come and Will Be Done.” So all may come to see and know Him before it’s too late.

We play a role in that narrative – to Love God and Love People. Amen.

Wrapping up this week’s post, it seems war is inevitable. For thousands of years, we’ve waged them. Scripture notes that they will continue until the very end but that we should focus not on them but on Him.

The psalmist in Psalm 2:1 poses the question, “why do the nations rage?” The chapter addresses that while humanity seeks to create its own will, His Will continues to play out even to the detriment of those who oppose Him. Therefore, there’s no sense in resisting the Creator of the Universe.

Perhaps one of the greatest lyricists of all time, Rich Mullins, said it best in his song, “While The Nations Rage.”

Why do the nations rage
Why do they plot and scheme
Their bullets can’t stop the prayers we pray
In the name of the Prince of Peace
We walk in faith and remember long ago
How they killed Him and then how on the third day He arose
Well, things may look bad
And things may look grim
But all these things must pass except the things that are of Him

Where are the nails that pierced His hands
Well, the nails have turned to rust
But behold the Man
He is risen
And He reigns
In the hearts of the children
Rising up in His name
Where are the thorns that drew His blood
Well, the thorns have turned to dust
But not so the love
He has given
No, it remains
In the hearts of the children
Who will love while the nations rage

As time passes, so do the conquerors of this world, yet His Love, Word, and Will remain. Therefore, as we live out our days, we must focus on bringing His Kingdom to earth.

We must also learn to love. Loving those that love us is easy. However, true love resides in loving those who despise us and would leave us for dead – our enemies.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” – John 4:7-15

During Christ’s time here on earth, He continually showed us that love surpasses all things. By beginning His ministry at the well with the Samaritan woman, He proves that God’s Love was meant for all and the things that divide us are manufactured.

An inspiring meme showed up on social media this week. It reads: “The true test of Christianity isn’t Loving Jesus…it’s loving Judas.” Let that one sink in for a few moments.

While battles are fought in the physical world through flesh and blood, the struggles of the heart and mind are the ones that truly define us.

May we learn to fight that war covered in God’s armor and filled with His Love (Ephesians 6:10-20).

In conclusion, Special Forces is a great LP and arguably features some of Cooper’s more sarcastic and quippy lyrics. Although the album itself didn’t perform as well as Warner Bros. and Alice would have liked, the supporting tour was very successful.

Perhaps that is why on October 24, 2020 (Record Store Day 2020), “Live from the Apollo Theatre Glasgow, February 29, 1982” LP was released. Only 7000 copies were produced, making it a hot commodity for Alice fans worldwide.

Along with the nostalgia of the early 80s and a unique Alice persona, Special Forces carries with it a suggested message.

Songs like “Who Do You Think We Are,” “You’re A Movie,” “Vicious Rumours,” and “You Want It, You Got It” portray this grandiose character boasting and bloviating about his war record and some ill-gotten gains. However, another narrative is revealed in “Skeletons In The Closet.”

It seems this character is not entirely truthful about his egotistic demeanor. He is haunted by the things he’s done. Perhaps his conscience has gotten the better of him. In fact, instead of the storyline marveling about his accomplishments, maybe it’s actually about how pitiful he is.

Maybe it’s meant to show how we aren’t made to hate, kill, or destroy anything. Such things lead to a haunted life. Instead, a life filled with love and reconciliation is what our hearts truly desire, and this war-torn general is living proof of that.

Or, maybe it’s just a great Alice Cooper character and concept LP; you be the judge.

That’s it for this week. Be well, and we will see you next Friday.

In the meantime, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice.​e meantime, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice.