Picture this: A teenager picks up a guitar for the first time, hesitant fingers finding unfamiliar chords. A few months later, they're confidently performing on stage, opening for a nationally-known band. Sound like a rock and roll fairy tale? At Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers, it's just another success story.
"Teens have needs to be creative—all around the world," Cooper says with the wisdom of someone who's spent six decades in the music industry. "Teens can be angry, disgruntled or confused, and having a teen center that they can play guitar at or meet friends... that's a breath of fresh air. It's a life-changing part of their day and week."
Cooper knows a thing or two about transformation. The Phoenix native went from local musician to international superstar, reinventing himself as "The Godfather of Shock Rock," and now he's helping Arizona teens discover their own potential at centers in Mesa, Phoenix, and Goodyear.
The best part? It won't cost parents a penny. In an era when extracurricular activities often come with eye-watering price tags, this matters.
Randy Spencer, who handles Development & Partnerships for the teen centers, sees the impact firsthand. "We have many success stories," he shares. "Teens have overcome depression and anxiety by being a part of our teen centers. We have seen teens go from never playing drums to a few months later, joining their own band and performing live music."
These aren't just casual jam sessions, either. Young musicians from the centers have opened for seriously big names. "We've seen youth bands receive opportunities to open for ZZ Top, Collective Soul, Newsboys, P.O.D., Social Distortion and many others," Spencer notes. For many teens, the center provides not just their first stage experience, but their first paycheck.
Ask Gilbert resident Recker Eans about the center's impact. Now a Grammy and Emmy-nominated artist, drummer, producer, and actor with millions of streams across platforms, he lights up when discussing his experience.
"The experience working with Alice and the teen centers was amazing and such a fun experience," Eans says. "To be a part of such an impactful project is truly an honor."
What makes the centers special isn't just the equipment or the programs—it's the people. Teens don't just learn from regular instructors; they often work alongside genuine music industry legends.
"We are very proactive on bringing highly skilled musicians to our teen centers," Spencer explains. "Teens often can do music jam sessions with Nita Strauss (guitarist for Alice Cooper, Demi Lovato), take dance classes with a dancer from the Phoenix Suns, get lyric classes from Alice Cooper."
Imagine being a teenage drummer and suddenly finding yourself in a session with rock royalty. "We've had teens on stage in Mesa performing songs with Brian Head Welch of KORN," Spencer continues. "Last month, we had Bernard Fowler the backing singer for The Rolling Stones and Teddy Zig Zag, the piano player for Guns N' Roses on stage encouraging young musicians and performing songs with them. That's life-changing for a young person."
Beyond the star power, these centers address something teens consistently tell Spencer they're missing: connection. "In Mesa, as well as Phoenix and Goodyear, teens tell us they want to meet other teens. They want to be understood and they often don't have that at home or school," he shares. "Teens need a safe space to meet other teens."
And while music might be the headline act, it's not the only creative outlet available. Photography, filmmaking, visual arts, and dance classes give teens multiple avenues to express themselves and discover hidden talents.
Eans now encourages other young people to dive in: "As a musician who loves to try a lot of things, this school has it all. It is so cool that there are places like this for kids like me, so I want to tell other kids to really take advantage of it because big things might come from it."
Cooper's pitch to teens is refreshingly straightforward: "ALL teens can be a part of our teen centers. Come over, give it a try. How do you know that you're not the next Eddie Van Halen? You may be. Let's find out and put a guitar in your hands"
No pressure. No judgment. No cost. Just an invitation to discover something amazing about yourself that you might never have known otherwise.
In a world where teens often feel they need to have it all figured out already, the Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center offers something increasingly rare: space to explore, permission to try new things, and a community that celebrates the journey as much as the destination.
For more information about volunteering or participating in Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center, visit their website at alicecoopersolidrock.com to get your teen involved, schedule a tour, or fill out a volunteer form.
I want to tell other kids to really take advantage of it because big things might come from it." _ Recker Eans
Behind every teen success story is a network of dedicated volunteers who make the center's mission possible. The diversity of volunteer roles means that both musically-inclined community members and those with other skills can make meaningful contributions.
"Volunteers are so essential to our teen centers," Spencer emphasizes. "We have volunteers bring meals to teens. If they perform music, they can offer lessons. We also have volunteers help teens create job resumes and help them apply for jobs."