Company
Alice Cooper Band
Alice Cooper Band, as described on the show by Ryan Roxie.
Episodes (1)
Ryan Roxie, longtime guitarist for Alice Cooper, explains the economics of being a hired gun, why bands break up over ego, and his AI avatar.
Questions these episodes answer
What does it mean to be a hired-gun guitarist for a star like Alice Cooper?
Roxie says people often assume playing guitar for Alice Cooper puts him on the same economic level as the star, but that is not how it works. Alice Cooper is the marquee name with three decades of albums behind him, and the band's role is to support and elevate that name rather than share in it.
Why does Ryan Roxie say bands break up?
Roxie says the biggest threat to a band is ego: members start focusing more on their own individual place and personal goals than on the whole group, and that is what usually causes bands to fall apart. In a hired-gun role the hierarchy is already clear, so that particular conflict does not come up in the same way.
What is AI Roxie and how did it connect Ryan Roxie with the podcast host?
Roxie built an AI avatar of himself, nicknamed Roxy 7.7, and used it to interview him about his career and a new single. The AI came up with its own questions, and Roxie treated the result as a promotional tool, which is also what led the podcast host to reach out to him in the first place.
What is Ryan Roxie's advice for surviving long-term in the music business?
Roxie says the three P's, practice, persistence and patience, are what have kept him working for decades. He says the real goal is to enjoy whatever you are doing, even when it is a struggle.