Without a doubt, the most famous opening guitar riff in all of rock ‘n’ roll (right up there with Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child Of Mine") is “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper. Every time I hear that song, I just automatically go to the radio that it’s playing on and crank up the volume until the speakers start shaking. I sometimes even go into “air guitar” mode, much to whomever I’m hanging out with’s chagrin.
Alice Cooper really captured the sentiment of a few generations of school-aged kids since the song was released way back in 1972. It’s so hard to believe that the song is 40 years old, and yet it still strikes a nerve with anyone who’s ever heard it.
I was 13 years old in 1972 and in the seventh grade at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch. When I first heard the song on WABC, I just stared at the radio and listened intently. Not only was the music ahead of its time, but the lyrics touched a chord with me as well – talking about not being able to find words that rhyme, not being able to salute the flag in the morning because the flag went missing. . .
Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This song was simply wild. . .the anthem of adolescent anarchy.
And of course, when I started playing in garage bands a few years later, it was one of the songs I tried playing on the guitar so we could put it on our group’s playlist. . .that, and, of course, “Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple. Unfortunately, the riffs in “School’s Out” were so intense, my fingers couldn’t take it all that well, which is the main reason why I switched to playing rhythm guitar. Well, that, and the aches and pains that I suffered from a broken left wrist a year or so later.
Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Now that it’s the middle of June, the radio stations have begun to play this song all the time, and I couldn’t be happier. With both of my kids in college, the season consists of them heading out and working their summer jobs, performing some chores around the house, and hanging out with their friends when time permits. . .all in that order.
My wife will get a break of about three weeks after school’s over, then she starts her summer job teaching at an enrichment camp for five weeks. As for me, I’ve always worked year round. What I really need to hear on the radio right about now is “Working For The Weekend” by Loverboy. . .
(The entire Jersey Shore Retro Blogography can be found at http://longbranch.patch.com/blogs/kevin-cieris-blog .You can also follow Kevin Cieri's blog on Twitter @jsretro).
