Michael Bruce - Desperado | Halo of Flies (Live)

Michael Bruce - Desperado | Halo of Flies - Alive & Recooperated Live in Iceland 2002
Michael Bruce - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Ingo Geirdal - Guitar, backing vocals
Pétur Örn Guðmundsson - Keyboards, backing vocals
Silli Geirdal - Bass
Bjarki Magnússon - Drums
Michael Bruce Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist and one of the Original Members of the Alice Cooper Band
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[@pariaheep]

Put this next to the best of Sabbath... Michael Bruce wrote all these super duper mega riffs, what a talent, God bless the old Alice Cooper Band!

[@marctoleds6259]

Mr. Bruce is just great.

[@gregorylapointe4157]

Back in the original Alice Cooper Band days I was a big Michael Bruce fan. He was a major reason for their success.

[@ieronimo18]

Halo of Flies was the band's middle finger to critics who questioned their musical chops.

[@richardberry8830]

I didn'y know Michael Bruce wrote Desperado | Halo of Flies! What an incredable talent. I'm just re-discovering Alice Cooper, my favorite band, and discovering It was was not just The Coop. I am, just now 2022, buying all of their CDs after all these years. playing them on a studio sound system. I'm not re-discovering, I'm finally finding out! Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Glen Buxton MADE ALICE COOPER.

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

I'm ríght there with you. I've been listening to THE ALICE COOPER BAND ever since and There's alot I'm just Finding out!🧐THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY,🧐

[@DivineFellowship]

Yup. You got it. Those four guys really got screwed.

[@bumsharvest5493]

That's the stuff I grew up on, and that's the stuff I love. We all miss Michael Bruce!!

[@Narpets2112]

My two favorite ACB songs.

[@robertmurphy4569]

Micheal Bruce carries the torch , Glen looks down , Cool Beans , Mike !

[@tinymushroom7076]

so happy to see old members of Alice Cooper still on fire and making great performances on their own

[@StellaWaldvogel]

Alice was and is a great frontman. But a lot of that great music was Michael Bruce, and this proves it! Dennis, Glen and Neal were no joke either. It's cool seeing most of the band still working.

[@lawrencearansaspasstx4374]

Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Glen Buxton MADE the ORIGINAL ALICE COOPER BAND, musically, what they were. As musicians, they got tighter and more skilled with each album. Dennis Dunaway is one of the BEST BASSISTS, in rock music. But if the Alice Cooper band hadn't of had Michael Bruce, we, the fans, wouldn't have had his GREAT writing skills and the songs that MADE Alice Cooper. Michael Bruce's songs FIT the Alice Cooper band image. When I see video of the ORIGINAL ALICE COOPER BAND, I hear an edge and sound, that I DON'T hear from the 'fill-in' musicians solo-Alice has used in all the years since. ALICE COOPER was and is a band and the reunion was LONG over due. RIP- GLEN BUXTON!

[@georgeharnwell]

I agree - the original line up is sensational. However, that doesn't take anything away from the current Alice Cooper band, most of which have been with Alice for well over 10 years, some even more than 20 years!

[@stuartjenkins3039]

Lawrence I love the original line-up. The first single I bought with my own money was School's Out. My first 'real' LP was Killer, bought from Woolworths 3 weeks later, amazingly it had the calendar. But even in the bad days Alice has ALWAYS been able to seek out and use fucking awesome musicians. Hate on him all you want, but the simple fact remains that Alice Cooper the band ended because ALL of the band members wanted a break, and ALL of the band members EXCEPT Alice wanted to do solo projects. Hate Shep Gordon all you want, but he was right to tell Alice "If they want to do solo projects, do one yourself, but make sure you keep the name."

[@DivineFellowship]

All true. If you watch this vid with a glimpse of Michael in the "Love It To Death" period, you can sense who was the real engine in the band. "Alice" was as if hanging around waiting for his part. Michael was the authority in the band. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKDUpKpuYsRngtk

[@awickedtribe]

I am only giving this a thumbs up because it's Michael Bruce doing a live version of a great song that he wrote.

[@jaelge]

Thank you Michael Bruce for spawning the Alice Cooper Band. There would be no ACB or Alice Cooper with out your great compositions, arrangements, keyboards, and guitarmanship. Alice gets all the attentiion but you deserve all the accolades.

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED,BY HOW MUCH INPUT YOU HAD WITH MAKING THESE SONGS!! 😱 YoURE THE🥩 ON THE 🦴THE BEST!🖤🖤🎸🍻👀🗽

[@jaelge]

@@rickyhiemstra9993: WTF is your retarded arse banging on about?

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

@@jaelge What I was referring to was .Just how much input MICHALE BRUCE HAD IN THE MUSICÀL ARRANGEMENTS OF THEIR MUSIC but I guess that WENT OVER YOUR HEAD. and calling you any DEROGATORY NAMES. Like you did me, RETARD isn't going to get us anywhere🖕

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

@@jaelge PS WE DON'T HAVE ARSE'S WHERE I'M FROM!

[@jaelge]

@@rickyhiemstra9993: By the slant of the writing, I thought you were mocking me. It was written as though you thought I was taking credit instead of giving credit to Bruce. Your meaning was not clear to your reader. If I snapped at you unwarranted, I genuinely apologize.

[@tabasco7915]

Lyrically, he sang Halo of Flies different but I still enjoyed it just as much.

[@Brogiaid]

One of the greatest rock songs ever. MB was way ahead of his time. He and Glen and Dennis and Neal were the heart and life energy of the Alice Cooper band.. Saw them twice as a teenager.. :)

[@DivineFellowship]

Yea it was one of the strangest tricks of rock history to end up with the singer carrying on without them, representing the name, as if Michael, Glenn, Neal and Dennis didn't matter. Total scam. Drugs, I guess. Plus a scheming manager.

[@paulyabe]

sounds like you may be close to my age. My first AC show was the WTMN tour. Was 20 then, 67 now. Was so disappointed; was not aware it would it be solo Alice for one, and the band & show was crap. I know a lot of ppl would argue with that, but after becoming an ACG fan, hearing that band, and seeing what appeared to be a Broadway show... I didn't boo though

[@allsbrook1]

Micheal Bruce the Heart of Alice Cooper band!!!

[@fakenews3911]

Michael Bruce LEGEND!!!! GREAT VIDEO!!!

[@williamfitch1408]

Outstanding!!!

[@jamiewerner9531]

Big Coop fan But this just blew me Away

[@bobcatbikerlady]

Ummm he wrote It

[@18andlikeit]

Saw the original band do both those songs in '72 on the Killer Tour. Believe me, I was REALLY blown away. A concert I'll never forget.

[@mrob611]

Alice Cooper, 1971, Wildwood NJ Convention Hall. Original line up. Incredible, crazy, show!

[@WarcraftIsForVirgins]

He does as good a job as Alice ever did singing those songs . Way to go Mike👍

[@edrader]

hah, no

[@surveyordave]

@@edrader hardly.....

[@neilmartin99]

Damn...that was really good. Tight. Killer and Love It To Death among the most underrated albums of all time.

[@goldenwheeledbanshee9160]

Best of the best. Did it all back in the day.

[@mmashbir]

Killer band..☠️

[@Vikezupa]

My gosh that was amazing! Wow! Michael Bruce is legendary.

[@penname1001]

There are rockstars and then there are rock gods.

[@robertloya4628]

WOW! What were they thinking back in 71 when they wrote these songs. Alice Cooper band were way ahead of there time. Best American band period!

[@shirtshine73blitz]

I was blessed to see the original ACG back in 73. Really wish they would reunite for one more big show. I know GB has passed but they could get two guys to replace him. So great to see Michael Bruce back!

[@jamesbailey4885]

Desperado is a fucking brilliant piece of music. One of rock's most underrated songwriters.

[@nelsonjorge26]

Wow... great. Thank you so much Michael

[@888theinmostlight]

We love you Michael Bruce. Thank you for everything.

[@flatlander5054]

Mike Bruce ...still got it. Just like I knew he would!

[@evb62]

Loved both songs. And I was happy to hear those different lyrics in Halo of Flies.

[@mariocroisetiere4900]

Thank you Michael Bruce......

[@markhorton1718]

Mike's a really good singer! A multitalented musician!! He and Glen have always been my favorite guitar players. RIP-Glen Buxton

[@caroldenino9092]

Michael Bruce had an amazing voice! He did this song with Alice Cooper. The original group was Priceless!

[@davidpeterson7268]

Wow ….always thought MB was the badass of the group. Confirmed here.

[@kirbygene]

Same here. he was overshadowed back in the day because Alice was always the focus (deliberately) but I always thought from his songwriting credits and from seeing them live back in the early 70s that Bruce did so much to make their sound work on backing vocals, keyboards, and lead-rhythm guitar

[@raybassman7536]

You are so right on MB was the Badass writer and player, My 2 albums are Love it to death and Killer = the real Alice Cooper band. And I remain ignorent about it.

[@davidpeterson7268]

Raybass...I too love those two albums. Under my Wheels is an outstanding rock and roll anthem!

[@jamesbillington5769]

Please give credit to the whole band and its chemistry. They all deserve it!!! I wish all of them could have kept their egos in check just imagine what they could have been. These recordings are amazing!

[@beatlehmann3424]

I‘m a Fan !!! Michael was / is underrated ! He was very important in the Original Band also as a Guitarist, I love his Solo‘s too - he is also a fantastic Singer with great Lead Vocals !

[@taimeuppe6174]

ah the songs of my youth..awesome

[@barrysmith5830]

Dennis Dunaway had fantastic bass lines

[@MsMcmoe]

Wow really great musicianship here, I'm sure these ppl at this concert were thrilled- glad I got to see the original band back in the mid '70s, just incomparable.

[@theaformentioned9673]

This is an absolutely marvelous performance from a Rock n Roll master, Michaels vocals are legendary and really hit the mark, fuckin' badass, wow, really made my brain feel good...

[@kirbygene]

Wow! Amazing quality in these live performances-- sound quality and performance-wise

[@ultimatesoundbarrier]

Rejuvenated !! tons of energy with these guys on bass,guitar and drums. The spirit of these updated songs make them sound the way REAL ROCK should be performed.Thanks for uploading them. I really enjoyed them !!!.

[@briandarnell1809]

Love it! Michael's original lyrics were interesting. Only thing missing for me was Neal's drum arrangement.

[@tejas3818]

Thanks for posting this. I saw the original Alice Cooper line up in Houston in 1972 (I believe that's right.) and I remember each of those guys made an impression on me that night. Really tight band at that time. And the music was excellent. Desperado has always been a favorite. Wish I could have seen this show live!

[@dfraserml11]

Feckin amazing, top performance.

[@mrod3526]

Vince may have gotten the name but without this guy there would have been no Alice Cooper... the songs he wrote are a testament to that. And hats off to Glenn, Dennis and Neal... probably the best and most advanced group of their era.

[@DivineFellowship]

They were American rock originals and the godfathers of gothic rock, and I mean seeded straight from the GUITAR. Those guys had a love affair with the rock guitar and they made something new, dark, and original.

[@joaocarlos2352]

Great performance. Excelente música, excelente apresentação da banda e do Michael. I am sixty years old and still listening this song like fifteen years old.

[@IronmanKMSA]

Huge Alice fan, but Killer was by far the best album. It's in my top 5 all time albums.

[@jeffbogue3718]

Killer is all killer no filler

[@edrader]

love it to death and killer are the best

[@kr-pm1xg]

Furst album I ever bought..1973..I was 9 years old.

[@trailrunner919]

So cool to find this video! Love it to death & Killer are two of my all time favorite albums, any genre. My older brother bought them when they first came out and turned me on to them at 8 years old and I still love them to this day!!!

[@rickknutson6540]

Great video I have the CD of the Michael Bruce band in Iceland and I love it to death get it!

[@jackriddle1135]

Michael, really love how faithful this is to the original version.....the original Alice Cooper group is the best!..had these songs on album, 8 track, cassette, and now CD...for 45 years I have been enjoying this music...thank you so much for the brilliant songs...😉

[@DivineFellowship]

The verses were great. I thought the chorus was overkill, too much like "Nirvana" or whatever. The SG sound on the original chorus was perfect to my boomer ears.

[@anelisep.oliveira4491]

Such a root fierceness on stage that you may not find in current rock band made millioneire by record companies...where is this talent?!

[@kpete9219]

Halo of Flies has the best intro of ANY song!

[@mr.jamesvincent3519]

I always felt that Michael Bruce never really receives the respect and recognition that he rightfully deserves. We always here amazing stories about the late Glenn Buxton & Neil Smith & how Dennis Dunaway was Alice's best friend back in high school etc... but, for some reason Michael Bruce always seems to be overlooked....I mean, even in the Alice Cooper documentary, "Super Duper Alice Cooper" there is no mention of M.B. at all.

[@DivineFellowship]

He was the musical genius in the band. The melody composer. If you just listen to "Beautiful Flyaway" on "Easy Action" that's ALL Michael Bruce. Perhaps some weird words provided by Vincent. "DDT poisoning me..." Typical.) He's doing the piano (it's a total piano song). The chorus is very English pop, and Michael was very much out of the school of British rock, which was why he wrote hit melodies and chord structures (like "Nice Guy" -- all his melody and chords.)

[@stuartjenkins3039]

Thanks for posting this. Was lucky enough to see Michael and Neal play again with Alice. Couldn't believe how lucky we all were that Michael didn't bear a grudge after being effectively 'Stalinized' out of the Super Dooper Alice Cooper documentary.

[@stuartjenkins3039]

Damnit, I'm sure I wrote 'Dennis' in there too. Too much Spicey.

[@DivineFellowship]

Yea, that was a real atrocity.

[@richardberry8830]

Very musical. Wow, there is reallly great rock being created by Michael Bruce! This is as good as the Alice Coop Band, I can hear thread!

[@Romany1111]

Spot-on! Amazing songs done perfectly. From their father, of course.

[@milesneil1466]

Michael Bruce was a Alice Cooper because without him they wouldn’t have ever happened

[@caroldenino9092]

I liked Michael Bruce's voice much better!

[@kennymik1509]

WOW!!! FREAKIN' WOW!!!!!

[@tattooedmillionaire]

Superlative! 👍

[@ruudvankoesveld9956]

absolutely fabulous!!! Thank you veeeeryyyy much!!!!

[@jault69]

Legend!!

[@marblox9300]

M Bruce has proven that the song and his guitar are more than just Alice. He pulls this off better than the Coop with his new band. Original Band was better than after 1975. But to give Alice some credit Nightmare and a few later songs were pretty good. Original Alice Cooper Band was the GOAT.!!!

[@alfredarsiniega2224]

Im sad that the band billion dollar baby's didn't take off. If u don't know look it up. They really did ROCK

[@tswizard13]

Halo of Flies one of my favorites. My Stars is another

[@rickvia8435]

Incredible work by Mike and His Band

[@jamesbailey4885]

makes ya wonder what if he had a band this tight supporting him in his immediate post-Alice years.

[@mrdottle8581]

THIS IS REALLY GOOD!!

[@RandyFricke]

Absolutely friggin' AWESOME!!!

[@Rush-pt4cy]

Michael, great voice and great guitar playing. Wish the original band would have stuck together longer you guys really had some kind of band going but glad to know you still enjoy playing.

[@DivineFellowship]

Yea, I get wistful sometimes thinking "What if they had stayed together a few more years? What amazing rock songs might they have written?." The mental p-o-v of "Alice" began to dominate too much by the time of "Muscle of Love" (just crass). No other band created guitar rock that intrigued me as much.

[@LoneWolf-zs4iv]

Awesome!

[@z75sportster]

Just awsum, this rocks! Great job mike! Then and now!

[@joephotiades]

Never heard this version of halo of flies. Not sure if I like the lyric changes but it rocks !

[@aschule5684]

Yeah I'm just learning they were the original lyrics he wrote and I don't like them personally it actually really bothered me that he didn't sing the ones everyone is familiar with but........ It sounds good other than that

[@celiaansell4860]

Love love this well done such a wonderful time

[@shinyoneincarnate5565]

WOW! This looks & sound pro all the way! Great songs & execution, with all carrying more that their own weight.

[@rickvia8435]

Every bit as good as the original band. Excellent vocals by Mike Bruce.

[@edrader]

hah, no

[@rickvia8435]

@@edrader almost as good..?

[@williamk3702]

Amazing.

[@glutusmaximus]

Mick makes it sound the way it did..... Fucking respect to Mick

[@blackwingA520]

F**king AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[@alwaysopen7970]

Halo of flies has always been one of my favorite ACG tunes. i remember when that album came out and parents hated us for it. The calendar was too much and I had to leave it in the cover. I never hearsd it live as clear as it is here because mixing was shit 50 years ago.

[@stuartjenkins3039]

alwaysopen, This is a completely different version of Halo though. MB re-wrote the lyrics entirely. The original Killer version is a James Bond pastiche.

[@DivineFellowship]

I remember being 16 and hearing "Halo of Flies" on the "underground" FM station around 3 am. I was transfixed like a statue. It was epic, a rock bonanza. My mind said, "WHO in blazes could create such an amazing thing as this" and "Guitars can do that?!" The part where Dennis remains churning along alone, then Neal starts coming in with the snare -- I was in a trance. I waited breathlessly to catch the name of the group. Dennis D. told me once that it was a grab bag of different riffs and parts the guys had laying around in their yarn basket, so to speak, that they stitched together. Absolutely the creation of the five men. "Alice's" original lyrics for it were dopey, then improved. He was always dickering around with lyrics, seeming to have no definite vision for his message, finally settling on "Just be scary and creepy."

[@ravenbishop5232]

OMG......OMG......OMG perfect.......I'm so alive right now

[@daseguin]

I actually like these lyrics best, and am believing these were the original. The album version is obviously great, with it being turned into a James Bond super-spy type of theme, but i think it was originally intended to be this.

[@siatras1]

The best ever MB solo gig with Ingo and band . Thx Ingo .............

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

THATS WHAT ZAPPA HEARD BACK IN THE DAY.HE KNEW THE DEAL AND SIGNED THEM.HE'S THE GUY WHO PUT OUT JOE' GARAGE, WEASELS RIPED MY FLESH,and OVER NITE SENSATION.🦖🕷️👹🕳️

[@Luileadolfo]

Awesome ! He managed to do his own interpretation of the song, similar to Alice Cooper. Two songs that portrait the best of the old Alice Cooper Band. That album (Killer) should be remixed and re released ! The superband they were !

[@daseguin]

I'm thinking these were his original lyrics....

[@anelisep.oliveira4491]

Michael Bruce amazing solos and vocal performances in Alice impersonation is more than strong, robust, of perfect live quality and emotion!!!!! A tremendously talented lead guitarrist and rock composer, I'm so glad to see you back on stage with Alice in May 2017!!!! Tks for this excellent, amazing material TurnItUp

[@preahko]

What impersonation? You do realize he originally sang Desperado on the album Killer, right?

[@Tollero999]

Frank Smith He didn't, don't know where you got that idea. Micheal sang at least a few songs on Pretties For You, maybe something on Easy Action aswell. From Love It To Death onwards though... only Alice singing.

[@rogerstedina2202]

Bruce was cowriter on many of the biggest hits. It's great that he is back on stage. He is known as a very elusive fellow. He plays his show, then disappears.

[@DivineFellowship]

@@rogerstedina2202 I believe Michael Bruce was fundamentally the melody writer and creator of the chord structure for most of their songs, Alice the lyric writer. Certainly he envisioned the basic guitar parts, and they were a guitar band. Melody and chord structure are more important than lyrics. In fact Alice was constantly evolving/changing the lyrics. Micael wrote lyrics too as part of composing, but they were often altered or overruled by "Alice." The melody's the thing, and what makes a song a hit or not. He was the musical engine of the band. This is born out by listening to some of the crap "Alice" recorded on his own. Alice hit on the lyrical gimmick/schtick that he stuck with (be creepy, be repulsive, scary). But these lyrics usually disadvantaged the songs Bruce wrote. I suspect the lyrics to the early "Living" show the lyrical tendency of Michael Bruce and it's a wonderful song. I also suspect the words to "My Stars" show Bruce's lyrical vision. Thank God "My Stars" is about space and such instead of corpses and worms.

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Outstanding ! thanks for this

[@amerocker]

This is great. Thank tou, TurnItUp!

[@josephgeber2543]

10 stars out of a possible 5..:)

[@gr7673]

The remaining three members should play as alice Cooper

[@buttkid3548]

You mean four? And they have played together in recent years

[@robbiedaug]

Wow.

[@kabali1788]

WOW !!

[@a.markhawkins593]

Where is a Mike Bruce concert when you need one? Man if you are reading this come on down to the Warehouse in Houston. They are looking to kickstart rock gigs again now into 2021! Sebastian Bach just announced his tour next year there.

[@sidneywhitehead1575]

They where called billion dollar babies I saw some of there shows fantastic stuff

[@1largelaw]

Alice Cooper's biggest mistake was not reuniting with the original band. After 74, AC material was never anywhere close to being as good.

[@sdeboz]

Bad Ass!

[@clisk35]

thats so dope..very cool.

[@TacomaPaul]

"Desparado" is all about Robert Vaughn. "I wear lace, and wear black leather". He was a "gay" character in movie.