Halo of Flies (song)
Encyclopedia
"Halo of Flies" is a 1973 single by rock
band Alice Cooper
taken from their 1971 album Killer. The single was only released in the Netherlands. The song was, according to Cooper's liner notes in the compilation The Definitive Alice Cooper, an attempt by the band to prove that they could perform King Crimson
-like progressive rock
suites, and was supposedly about a spy organisation.
The song was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands
.
The noise rock
band Halo of Flies
named themselves after this song. Jello Biafra
& The Melvins
covered the song on their release Sieg Howdy!
.
It featured a B-Side, "Under My Wheels
", which the band had released 2 years before. Both of the songs were featured on the album Killer (released in 1971), but "Halo of Flies" was not released as a single until 1973.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
taken from their 1971 album Killer. The single was only released in the Netherlands. The song was, according to Cooper's liner notes in the compilation The Definitive Alice Cooper, an attempt by the band to prove that they could perform King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
-like progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
suites, and was supposedly about a spy organisation.
The song was a top 10 hit in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band Halo of Flies
Halo of Flies
Halo of Flies was a noise rock band from Minneapolis. Named after an Alice Cooper song from Killer, Halo of Flies was formed in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer, John Anglim and Tim Mac. Over the next 5 years they released a series of 7 inch singles and mini LPs starting with a limited edition, hand...
named themselves after this song. Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
& The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
covered the song on their release Sieg Howdy!
Sieg Howdy!
Sieg Howdy! is the second album by Jello Biafra and The Melvins. It consists of songs recorded during the same sessions that produced their first collaboration Never Breathe What You Can't See but not used on that album, plus remixes of four songs from the first album.The opening track, a cover of...
.
It featured a B-Side, "Under My Wheels
Under My Wheels
"Under My Wheels" is a rock song by Alice Cooper. It was originally released on the group's Killer album in 1971, and was also that album's first single release.The song was written by Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Bob Ezrin...
", which the band had released 2 years before. Both of the songs were featured on the album Killer (released in 1971), but "Halo of Flies" was not released as a single until 1973.
Tracklisting
- "Halo of Flies" (Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Glen BuxtonGlen BuxtonGlen Edward Buxton was an American musician, and guitarist for the original Alice Cooper band. He was born in Akron, Ohio....
, Michael BruceMichael Owen BruceMichael 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...
, Dennis DunawayDennis DunawayDennis 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"....
, Neal Smith) - 8:22 - "Under My WheelsUnder My Wheels"Under My Wheels" is a rock song by Alice Cooper. It was originally released on the group's Killer album in 1971, and was also that album's first single release.The song was written by Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Bob Ezrin...
" (Michael BruceMichael Owen BruceMichael 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...
, Dennis DunawayDennis DunawayDennis 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"....
, Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
) - 2:51
Personnel
- Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- vocals - Glen BuxtonGlen BuxtonGlen Edward Buxton was an American musician, and guitarist for the original Alice Cooper band. He was born in Akron, Ohio....
- lead guitar - Michael BruceMichael Owen BruceMichael 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...
- rhythm guitar, keyboards - Dennis DunawayDennis DunawayDennis 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"....
- bass guitar - Neal Smith - drums
Charts
| Year | Chart | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Dutch Singles Chart | 5 |