Something in Common

Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Jimmy Cliff playing Common Ground

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Brace yourself for a dose of shock-rock, some classic reggae and a flashback to “Swingers” at this year’s Common Ground Music Festival.

Alice Cooper, Jimmy Cliff, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Sammy Hagar and Tesla are the first five acts announced for the 11th annual event, scheduled for July 12 to 18 at downtown Lansing’s Adado Riverfront Park.

Cooper burst onto the rock landscape in the 1970s with his ghoulish stage shows and radio-friendly hits, such as “Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Only Women Bleed” and “How You Gonna See Me Now.” The Detroit native later crossed over into cinematic horror with appearances in director John Carpenter’s “Prince of Darkness” and “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare,” in which he played the slovenly stepfather of Freddy Kruger.

Cliff has also seen the light of the silver screen, most notably in the 1972 film “The Harder They Come,” which helped to introduce the sounds of reggae and ska to U.S. audiences through songs like “You Can Get It If You Really Want It” and “Many Rivers to Cross.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

There’s an online petition circulating to push Hagar as a future Hall of Fame inductee for his solo work; Courtesy Photo he’s already in there as a Alice Cooper member of Van Halen. The guitarist/singer’s career spans more than four decades, from his stint in the 1970s with Montrose to his controversial selection as David Lee Roth’s replacement in Van Halen. Hagar’s best known solo hit is his 1984 anthem “I Can’t Drive 55.”

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy first came to prominence via their appearance in the 1996 cult film “Swingers.” The band graced the Super Bowl half-time show in 1999.

Tesla formed in 1984, disbanded for six years in the 1990s and reunited in 2000. Their albums include “The Great Radio Controversy” and “Psychotic Supper.” Seven-day tickets for Common Ground Music Festival are on sale now. The pass can be purchased for $93 in advance and $99 beginning July 1.

Click here for this weeks trivia question to win Common Ground tickets.

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