Guitar legend Steve Hunter announced his decision to leave Shock Rocker Alice Cooper's band this morning. Here is what Hunter said about the decision to fans on his Facebook page:
"Hello all my peeps and fans. I have an announcement to make. I have spent many weeks mulling this over...losing sleep. For many reasons both personal and professional I have reluctantly decided not to join Alice Cooper onstage this year. None of the reasons has to do with my health which is very good at the moment. Nor do any have anything to do with my poor eyesight, because I was able to find ways around my impairment to enable me to perform and play guitar onstage. Nor is Alice any part of the reasons I have made this decision. He is a brother to me and we share a real history. I think it’s time I move on. I have a solo album to finish among other things. I will miss all the beautiful people I met last year. I will miss glancing over to my right and seeing Alice belting out 18 again. I hope you all understand and aren’t disappointed in me. But I think I have to do this. I hope to see you all out there again one day soon. Thanks for understanding and God bless!"
Hunter, along with Dick Wagner, was an instrumental factor in helping Cooper forge his identity as a solo artist with his signature licks on Cooper's first solo album Welcome to My Nightmare. After joining Cooper on stage during a 2010 show in Hunter's hometown of Nashville, he contributed work to Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare, the Bob Ezrin produced sequel to 1975's Welcome to My Nightmare.
Cooper made the announcement in March 2011 that Steve Hunter would be joining Cooper's all-star lineup of new guitarists that included young sensation Orianthi. Hunter toured with Cooper throughout the latter half of 2011 and early 2012.
It has not yet been announced by Cooper who will be replacing Hunter in his touring band. Former Cooper touring guitarist Kerri Kelli replaced Orianthi for one show in January.
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