Glen Buxton
Encyclopedia
Glen Edward Buxton was an American musician, and guitarist
for the original Alice Cooper
band. He was born in Akron, Ohio.
In 1964, while attending Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona
, Buxton made his debut in a rock band called The Earwigs, composed of high school students Dennis Dunaway
and Vincent Furnier
. They were very popular, and changed their name to The Spiders in 1965, and later to The Nazz in 1967. In 1968, to avoid legal entanglements with the Todd Rundgren-led "Nazz", Buxton's band changed their name to Alice Cooper
.
Buxton was the co-writer of classic songs like "School's Out
", "I'm Eighteen
", "Elected," and "10 Minutes Before the Worm." He is credited as lead guitarist on seven albums by the Alice Cooper band, including the chart-topping Billion Dollar Babies
. Throughout the late '70s and '80s, Buxton maintained a low profile, playing only occasional club gigs with bands like Shrapnel and Virgin.
In the 1990s, Buxton lived in Clarion
, Iowa
, performing with local artists. A few weeks shy of his 50th birthday, he died of complications from pneumonia
at a hospital in Clarion, Iowa
. He had recently spent time with his old bandmates; Michael Bruce
, and Neal Smith.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Buxton number 90 on the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for the original Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
band. He was born in Akron, Ohio.
In 1964, while attending Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Buxton made his debut in a rock band called The Earwigs, composed of high school students Dennis Dunaway
Dennis Dunaway
Dennis Dunaway was the bass guitarist for The Spiders , The Earwigs , Alice Cooper group from 1969–1974.He co-wrote such hits as "I'm Eighteen" and "School's Out"....
and Vincent Furnier
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. They were very popular, and changed their name to The Spiders in 1965, and later to The Nazz in 1967. In 1968, to avoid legal entanglements with the Todd Rundgren-led "Nazz", Buxton's band changed their name to Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
.
Buxton was the co-writer of classic songs like "School's Out
School's Out (song)
Female pop duo Daphne & Celeste, released a cover of the song in 2000. The chorus is based on Alice Cooper's hit of the same name, and some other elements of that song have been retained, although much of the song is "original", in a pop-rap style...
", "I'm Eighteen
I'm Eighteen
"I'm Eighteen" is a 1970 song by rock band Alice Cooper, featured on their first major label release album Love It to Death. It was released in November 1970, 3 months prior to the album, and became the band's breakthrough hit.-Achievements:...
", "Elected," and "10 Minutes Before the Worm." He is credited as lead guitarist on seven albums by the Alice Cooper band, including the chart-topping Billion Dollar Babies
Billion Dollar Babies
Billion Dollar Babies is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Alice Cooper, released in 1973. The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hit number one on the album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and went on to be...
. Throughout the late '70s and '80s, Buxton maintained a low profile, playing only occasional club gigs with bands like Shrapnel and Virgin.
In the 1990s, Buxton lived in Clarion
Clarion, Iowa
Clarion is a city in and the county seat of Wright County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,968 at the 2000 census.Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, performing with local artists. A few weeks shy of his 50th birthday, he died of complications from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at a hospital in Clarion, Iowa
Clarion, Iowa
Clarion is a city in and the county seat of Wright County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,968 at the 2000 census.Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H...
. He had recently spent time with his old bandmates; Michael Bruce
Michael Owen Bruce
Michael Bruce is a US rock musician. He was a guitarist, keyboard player and backing vocalist for the original Alice Cooper group .Bruce co-wrote many of the hit songs with some or all of the other members of the band...
, and Neal Smith.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Buxton number 90 on the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."