The veteran death metal showman and pioneer showed no signs of his 61 years as he endured a beheading, an impaling and a lethal injection as part of his extravagant Theatre of Death show.

The stage show was dreamed up by Broadway director and Alice Cooper fan Rob Roth, whose credits include Beauty And The Beast.

In between the elaborate storyline, Cooper and his band performed hits from his 25-album back catalogue, including School's Out, Department of Youth and Poison. Songs from the 2008 album Along Came A Spider also featured.

Despite courting controversy early in his career, both on and off the stage, Cooper (real name Vincent Furnier) is more renowned these days as a clean-living Christian family man and mad golfer.

Full report in today's Canberra Times