For such a likeable and amiable man, Alice Cooper really does like his darkness, his blood and his gore. He normally thinks nothing of chopping someone's head off, slinging some blood around or assisting in the death of a chicken (he claimed on BBC's "Something for the Weekend" that the hen's death had nothing to do with him - "it was the audience that ripped it to pieces"). But, it it's all in the name of entertainment and times have changed - you get human interaction these days, not a skit involving some turkey-twizzling.

You may remember last year's Roundhouse Halloween concerts, in which Cooper auditioned for loads of 'freaks' in the style of X-Rated Factor. Winners performed at the concerts, alongside the usual theatre and music guests, as well as a full-on show from the man himself. For 2011, things have got just a little bit more wide-scale.....

Alice Cooper's Halloween Night Of Fear will tour the UK with special guests, New York Dolls, in full glam-shock support for the Birmingham, London, Manchester and Glasgow gigs. But most importantly, he wants the same depravation and the same reign of terror as last year - but even more ghoulish.

In addition, he needs YOU for the London show! "It takes a lot to shock me," says Alice, "But last year even my stomach was churning, Britain really has got freaks." (Too right - he's obviously used the night-buses in South London). Go to www.alicecooper.com/freaks to submit your delightful horror (by 22nd June). Auditions take place on 27th June in Hyde Park (that'll scare the ducks). Three winning acts are then paraded at the Ally Pally gig (see below) in front of an audience who will collectively pick a winner!

Confirmed stops begin with Sheffield on 25th October, followed by Bristol (26th), Birmingham (27th), London's Alexandra Palace (29th - this is what you can audition for), Manchester (30th) and Glasgow (31st). Tickets are on sale from 9am Friday, priced at £34.50 for London (or £33.50 regionally).

You can expect to hear tracks from the long-awaited new album, "Welcome 2 My Nightmare", released in September.