Cooper wrote this song about the reaction of friends and family toward his over-the-top stage persona. The maniac he plays on stage goes over well with his audiences, but the folks in his mother's church groups were unsure how to handle it and were uncomfortable talking about it. This song was the shock rocker's declaration that the "gloves are off," and he's no longer going to apologize for his wild-man stage antics, as there are many worse things that he could be doing with his life.
The upbeat pop-rock anthem boasts an irresistible sing-along chorus that helped its chart fortunes.
Cooper co-wrote this song with Michael Bruce, who was a member of the original Alice Cooper Group. Bruce played guitar, keyboards and contributed vocals as a band member. He was also the group's chief songwriter and wrote or co-wrote many of their most-recognized songs, including "School's Out," "Under My Wheels," "I'm Eighteen," "Ballad of Dwight Fry," "Be My Lover," "Desperado" and "Billion Dollar Babies."
The lineup on this track was Cooper (vocals), Glen Buxton (lead guitar), Michael Bruce (rhythm guitar), Dennis Dunaway (bass) and Neal Smith (drums). In our interview with Smith, he explained that this song came at a time when the band was burnishing their shock rock for greater appeal. "'No More Mr. Nice Guy' is a good combination between the dark side and the commercial side," he said.
This was the third single from Billion Dollar Babies, the sixth studio album by Alice Cooper (the name of both the singer and the band at the time). This was the band's most commercially successful album. It topped the album charts in both the United States and the UK, and also made the Top 10 in Australia, Austria and Canada.
The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, who has produced many albums for Cooper - both the Alice Cooper band and his solo LPs. With this album, Ezrin aimed for a more polished sound, but the tracks still have Cooper's signature hard rock flavor. Ezrin was one of the most commercially successful and acclaimed producers of the 1970s. Highlights in his career include his production work for Pink Floyd's groundbreaking album The Wall and KISS's multi-platinum Destroyer. Other notable albums he's produced for Cooper include Welcome to My Nightmare, School's Out, Love It To Death and Lace and Whiskey. Cooper has described Ezrin as "our George Martin."
Pat Boone pulled off an ironic cover of this song for his album In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, released in 1997. The thrash metal band Megadeth recorded a more sincere version for the 1989 horror film Shocker, which was later included on the band's EP Hidden Treasures in 1995.
This was featured in the 1993 movie Dazed and Confused during a scene where the school seniors (one of which was played by Ben Affleck) paddle a freshman per tradition. It was an appropriate choice, as the movie was set in 1976. When this scene was spoofed in the 2005 Family Guy episode "Jungle Love," the song was also used. The song also appears in the 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing."
In 2010, Cooper rerecorded the song for the popular video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.
Dave Mustaine, the frontman for Megadeth, became Alice Cooper's godson after Cooper became his mentor. When the video for Megadeth's version of this song was being shot in 1989, director Penelope Spheeris remembered Mustaine being so messed up on drugs he could not do the vocals and guitar playing at the same time, so the parts had to be recorded separately.
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Dan from Bc CanadaI've been a fan of Alice since '72. Watch the documentary "Super Duper Alice Cooper". Alice was NOT drug free... he was a freebase coke addict from 1975 to about 1984. He had it one day, and says he flushed a rock the size of a baseball down the toilet and quit on the spot (Good move Alice :)) Gotta hand it to a guy who can quit booze and coke, and still make great tunes. He is currently recording a new album with his original band (less Glen Buxton RIP).
Burke from St. Paul, MnAlice said No More Mr. Nice Guy was designed to sound like Roger Daltrey and The Who.
Ciara from Ses, Beninhis makeup is awesome
Ciara from Ses, Beninan alchoholic is better than a drug addict i would rather be hooked on alchohol than drugs hes doing fine cuz he didnt do drugs i mean look at ozzy osbourne he did every drug known to man and he cant speak right
Ciara from Ses, Beninalice cooper is just a stage personsa and it dosent reflect his life he said in an interview he doesnt have to put nudity curse words or santinism in his music like all the other bands do
Rick from Belfast, MeThis song and others from Alice Cooper made the 1970's what it is today......the songs from the decade of the 70's have stood the test of time!
Haydn from Stockport, United KingdomKen, Alice was a raving alcoholic, comsuming bottles of jack a day!His golf came later when he eventually cleaned up his act.
Dan from Coeur D'alene, IdVince, its not "Rev. Smithy." It is "Rev. Smith. He recognized me."
Harold from San Bernadino, CaThis one's an all-time fave by Alice Cooper, hands down!
Daevid from Glendale, CaAlice in his prime. what a great song! that particular era [Zepp, Stones, Aerosmith, Steely Dan..etc.]always brings back good memories for me.
Ricky from Ohsweken, -I'm surprised no one here has mentioned the Pat Boone cover version of this song (until NOW that is LOL).
Alan from Syracuse, NyBand was good but I think Dennis Dunaway is one of the most underrated bass players. His playing was incredibly powerful and dynamic, and groovin.
Mark from Grafton, United StatesI agree with Andrew from Toronto - "Love It To Death" and "Killer" are the original groups best albums (their 3rd and 4th, respectively).
Vince from Rome , NyReverend Smithy mentioned in the song was a nickname that the band gave their drummer Neal Smith.
Zac from Sydney, Australiagreat song awesome riff. love the megadeth/mustaine version where dave goes "me? a nice guy? YEAH RIGHT!" at the start
Ozzi from Brookhaven, PaWas he realy drug-free, i didnt kno that, wow thats somethin.
Ken from Louisville, KyCooper's personal life was nothing like his stage persona. He lived, drug-free, in a suburban home and his biggest pasion, besides music, was playing golf!
Dave from Scottsdale, AzAlice Cooper grew up in Phoenix. When he was in high school- Cortez High- he ran track. He passed out after a race and landed on his nose- hence it's crooked state. The track coach- Emmit Smith (not the footbal player) told all the lettering athletes they each had to do a skit at the Lettermen banquet. The lyrics "the Rev. Smith, he recognized me, he punched me in the nose" was referring to Coach Smith, a Mormon Bishop. He and several of his fellow athletes decided to do a take-off on the Beatles and named it after a different insect- The Earwigs. Much of Phoenix in the early 60s was surrounded by citrus groves. These were sub-divided and turned into housing projects ("15 full-grown citrus trees in each yard!"). Earwigs are centipede-like insects with pinchers on their tales that favored orange groves. After homes were plopped down there, you always had them in your houses. The show went off so well, that they remained as a group later changing their name to the Spiders ("Return of the Spiders" on their second album). Alice is now a pillar of the community in Paradise Valley.
Fyodor from Denver, CoGuitarist Michael Bruce co-wrote this and used it for the title of his retrospective book about the band. In the book he says that Alice Cooper was the name of the band long before the whole band decided to let lead singer Vince Furnier take the name as well -- "and created a monster"!
Dave from Cardiff, WalesFantastic song! Megadeth's cover version in 1990 was not bad either
Joel from Columbia, ScThis song was featured on the Dazed & Confused soundtrack. I agree with you, Shana, that this is a cool song.
Josh from Thornhill, Canadarealting to what you said kevin, the part in family guy was actually knockoff of the scene in the movie dazed and confused where they are spanking the kid because of his initiation to high school. the kid who is spanking him is played by a young ben affleck and is quite amusing to watch.
Kevin from Sandy, Utthis song was on a 2005 episode of 'Family Guy' the songs chorus is played over and over while chris recieves spankings from seniors for him being a freshman. (side note: the mayor, adam west, also administers spankings to chris)
Andrew from TorontoGreat song but getting more parody in their music which would become a staple in the later albums.I prefer the dark heavy doomy Alice tunes such as-Halo of Flies,Killer,Ballad of Dwight Frie and Sick Things but I love all the early Alice Cooper Band records.
Shana from Detroit Rock City, CanadaFreakin awesome song!
