![Alice Cooper performs a rendition of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."]](https://backingtracksfullcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Alice-Cooper-performs-a-rendition-of-Nirvanas-Smells-Like-Teen-758x426.jpg "Alice Cooper performs a rendition of Nirvana's \"Smells Like Teen Spirit.\"] 1")
It was a case of ‘game recognizes game’ over the weekend as Alice Cooper surprised fans by dishing out a shock rock-ified take of a grunge classic.
Just a few gigs into his latest tour, which sees 22-year-old Brit Anna Clara handpicked as Nita Strauss’ maternity cover, the veteran rocker paid homage to ’90s rock legends Nirvana by covering Smells Like Teen Spirit at his Coopstock festival in Phoenix.
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It was long-serving guitarist Ryan Roxie who broke out into the song’s unmistakable guitar riff on his Sunburst Les Paul, and Coop certainly makes its tense verses that little bit creepier. Roxie stayed faithful to the simplistic guitar solo that ices the song’s bridge.
As for Cara, she’s limited to a supporting role here, but she’s taken her dream gig in her stride. Strauss has hailed her “precision and soulful, emotional playing,” as the young shredder was welcomed into the band, having previously worked with Cooper’s other guitarist, Tommy Henriksen.
In related news, Cooper’s Trash era guitarist John McCurry has lifted the lid on the iconic Poison riff’s unlikely origins.
