Steven (Welcome To My Nightmare, 1975)

Welcome To My Nightmare, released in 1975, was Alice’s first solo LP. It’s an ambitious album that catapulted his career into the next phase.

With Bob Ezrin now a fixed partner in the mix, Alice Cooper was no longer a band, and Alice Cooper, the man, found himself in new territory.

Alice admits Welcome To My Nightmare was a risky album but worth the work and gamble. He was right. Still today, the Nightmare concept has been woven into the framework of the Alice Cooper experience. It’s hard to imagine him without it.

The LP’s success was overwhelming. Bob Ezrin speaks fondly about that time and has disclosed much of the process used to create the record. With so many dynamics changing, it became a new, untested approach to production and songwriting for both Ezrin and Alice.

“When we assembled the musicians and all that, it was so much fun doing that; it was just fun, fun, fun. Great musicians, stuff flying off the floor. It was fabulous, plus it was successful. I think it was like his biggest record in album sales up to that point, except for maybe Billion Dollar Babies. The audience liked it too, and we took it on the road, making it a great show.

There was so much more he could do with it, and now he carried the show himself. If you think about it, it’s a whole ‘nother animal. So he needed dancers, props, all that. Then once we were in that frame of mind, in that theatrical and musical place, it was a natural progression to go to Goes to Hell and Lace and Whiskey and so on.” – Bob Ezrin

The concept, music, musicians, dancers, theatrics, etc., are so well-woven together; it is difficult to find another act in 1975 that tops Welcome To My Nightmare.

The listener is also introduced to a newfound element in Alice Cooper’s show – someone that would become synonymous with the Alice Cooper experience. Steven, the character inside the Nightmare, is initiated into Alice’s repertoire.

As the concept unfolds, we are placed within the scenarios of his dreams and given a front-row seat to the multi-act horror show he encounters during his slumber.

The fourth track on side two of the LP is “Steven.” From the silence, an array of soft, bright notes is played and plucked from the piano and an ensemble of strings. Although dream-like and surreal, the introduction has an eerie vibe – like a horror film’s score or musical theme.

I don’t want to see you go
I don’t even want to be there
I will cover up my eyes
And pray it goes away
You’ve only lived a minute of your life
I must be dreaming; please stop screaming

I don’t like to hear you cry
You just don’t know how deep that cuts me
So I will cover up my eyes
And it will go away
You’ve only lived a minute of your life
I must be dreaming; please stop screaming

Steven!
Steven!
I hear my name!
Steven!
Is someone calling me? I hear my name!
Steven!
That icy breath, it whispers screams of pain!

Alice’s voice begins the song with a trembling, uncertain tone and slowly builds to emotional shouts and screams as the song progresses.

During the song’s transitional measures, the listener is reminded of that twilight phase between reality and slumber – where we aren’t quite sure if we are awake or asleep. Sometimes, the narrative leaves us wondering, “is Steven actually asleep, or is this nightmare real?”

Peeling back the layers of “Steven” and now knowing his psychological traumas witnessed on future Alice Cooper LPs, one can correlate childhood experience to adulthood behavior.

In many ways, “Steven” represents the inner child – that innocent portion of our being that doesn’t understand why things happen or how to process them.  

It’s not genuinely accurate (or Biblical) to blame others for our sinful actions because of our childhood past or trauma. However, it sheds light on many scriptures about raising children and what Christ taught us about children.

As parents (and adults that influence children), God’s Word calls us to teach them according to our faith (Proverbs 22:6), avoid mistreating them (Ephesians 6:4), and defend their innocence (Proverbs 6:16-19). This doesn’t mean children can’t find God without those things, but it will make it more difficult for them.

Christ often spoke about children. His Love for them was immense. However, there is more to it than merely cherishing them.

About that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7 “What sorrow awaits the world because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven, their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. – Matthew 18:1-10

Look at the above-listed verses closely. Almost every parable and lesson Christ taught carried multiple meanings. It’s evident Christ is warning us not to cause children to stumble in their faith, but He’s also showing us what we can learn from them and the importance of childhood experience.

Christ points us to the faith and trust of a child. He was teaching His disciples and those listening to Him that children are not meant to be neglected, overlooked, or placed beneath adults. Instead, we should learn from them.

Children trust their parents (and other adults). Through that trust, their capacity to trust God grows. Jesus asks us to compare ourselves to children. He wants us to learn from them – to trust God with child-like faith.

Looking back at the song “Steven” and knowing parts of Steven’s narrative (based on other Alice Cooper LPs), would it be safe to assume that he wasn’t cared for as a child? Was he overlooked? Was he abused?

Is our perception of the world (and others) formed during childhood? What did we learn? How are we affected by those years? Could it be that Christ teaches us to love children, not only because of their innocence and faith but also because the way we are treated as children significantly affects our future?

Wrapping up this week’s post, the journey of “Steven” has taken some crazy ups and downs over the years. Alice has used this beloved character to tell many fascinating stories – a few of which help us better understand his plight.

Preacher crucifies me
Warden wants to fry me
I was never young
Never just a little boy

Daddy won’t discuss me
What a pain I must be
Mama couldn’t stand having such a wound-up boy

The above-listed lyrics are from the song “Wind-Up Toy” from Alice’s Hey Stoopid LP, released in 1991. In the song, Steven recounts his past and the detrimental ramifications of how he was treated as a child. As if his parents (and others) would rather he not be “seen or heard.”

How often have we heard the saying, “children should be seen and not heard?” As if they don’t contribute anything and are just a nuisance. Unfortunately, that’s how a good portion of society (and even the church) sees them.

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. – Matthew 19:13-15

Notice in the above-listed verses how even the disciples rebuked them and treated children as unimportant. However, Christ quickly corrects the situation and the attitudes of His followers. He clearly shows us the importance of children and how we should treat them.

Still today, as adults, how we were raised and handled (good and bad) as children often affect our minds and well-being. Knowing that, let us remember the words and lessons of Christ. Let us show His Love to even the youngest hearts and minds. Let us share His Word and example with all we meet.

In conclusion, Alice’s career has spanned more than 50+ years. During that time, certain elements, props, and characters appeared, disappeared, and reappeared. Of course, Steven is one of them and is a fan favorite.

Interestingly enough, fans and critics have guessed who or what inspired Steven’s creation. Some would say he’s a troubled boy; others would claim he’s the “inner child” of a psychotic man. Still, some claim Steven is two characters, one a father and the other his deceased son.

The most interesting theory is that Steven is the story of Alice – the transformation from Vincent Furnier to Alice Cooper.

Whatever the inspiration, true art is individualistic – it becomes something different to each person that observes it.

For us, Steven is that voice of doubt, fear, or the unknown lurking in one’s mind. He’s that minor distraction, causing just enough uncertainty to keep us one step behind the process. Someone placed him there, and now he’s holding the mind hostage.

Maybe it was a parent. Perhaps a teacher, Maybe a preacher. It doesn’t matter who made us believe lies that cause pain and fear; they don’t define us.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Proverbs 139:14) in His image (Genesis 1:27) – His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). No other person or voice describes us – not even our worst Nightmare(s).

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

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