Alice Cooper
Photo: Piggy D.
Alice Cooper and band are rocking their way through the UK and Europe on their Theatre of Death tour. Cooper’s longtime FOH engineer, Randy Meullier, spoke with Mix as he was winding down the last four shows of the 2009 tour; the band goes back out again this spring.
How much gear are you carrying?
We are carrying all backline, stage set, props and a complete monitor IEM package and FOH console, the amazing [Soundcraft] Vi6. We use Precise Corporate Staging from Phoenix in the U.S. and SSE from the UK in Europe. Our recent UK tour had us carrying a full L-Acoustics V-DOSC rig from SSE.
What is the most important part of your mix?
FOH engineer Randy Meullier
Keeping Alice Cooper’s vocals loud and clear above the band. The fans know every word and want to hear them.
How do you compensate in your mix due to the loud stage volume?
I need a powerful, well-tuned P.A., and I am constantly balancing the vocal with the guitars and trying to keep him above them. I have one hand on the vocal and the other on the guitars. It can get tricky at times.
What is your go-to piece of gear?
Nothing special as far as outboard gear. I am very happy with what the Vi6 has in it, so I guess you could say that right now the Vi6 is my tool of choice.
When you’re not on the road, where can we find you?
I live in Pittsburgh and am looking forward to some down time and a bed that isn’t moving.
