Alice Cooper guitarist Tommy Henriksen recently revealed how he transitioned from being a bass player to guitarist for the legendary rock band. He shared his unconventional journey in an interview with Kylie Olsson.
Henriksen discussed his musical background and how he approached learning guitar techniques when Alice Cooper offered him the guitarist position.
“I don’t ever consider myself a guitarist. I consider myself a musician because I can pretty much get my way around everything, but I’m really a bass player,” Henriksen said. “When Alice Cooper asked me if I wanted to be in the band, I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’ I thought he wanted me to play bass. He’s like, ‘No — can you play guitar?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I could do that.’ Never say no to anything — just figure it out.”
The guitarist explained his self-taught approach to mastering guitar solos for the band.
“I went on YouTube and I was like, ‘You know what? Let me go watch Ace Frehley, Angus Young, Chuck Berry, Link Wray and all that stuff,'” he continued. “And that’s how I really learned how to solo.”
Henriksen’s journey with Alice Cooper began through his work behind the scenes before he ever stepped on stage with the band.
Wikipedia reported that in March 2011, while associate producing, playing guitar and bass, programming, mixing, and engineering Alice Cooper’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare album, he was asked to join the live band as guitarist—a role he has held since. This transition from studio work to live performance marked a significant shift in his career trajectory with the legendary shock rock performer.
The multi-talented musician’s contributions to Alice Cooper’s work extend far beyond his guitar playing duties. Wikipedia noted that he later co-produced, played guitar on, and co-wrote three songs for Alice Cooper’s Paranormal album. This demonstrates his versatility as both a performer and creative collaborator in the studio environment.
Born on February 21, 1964, in Port Jefferson Station, New York, Henriksen has established himself as more than just Alice Cooper’s guitarist. Gagapedia documented that he is best known for his work as a guitarist, bassist, and songwriter. This showcases the multi-instrumental abilities he referenced in his recent interview.
Since joining Alice Cooper’s band in 2011, Henriksen has also expanded his musical partnerships beyond the shock rock legend. Louder Sound revealed that since 2011 he has also been a member of Alice Cooper’s band and one of the core members of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires. This further cements his position in the rock music landscape.
