Nelson superfan has seen idol Alice Cooper play 58 times (From This Is Lancashire)

Nelson superfan has seen idol Alice Cooper play 58 times

11:00am Monday 1st March 2010 in

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A DEVOTED Alice Cooper fan who has spent £40,000 following his idol only bought his first record by the star to get back at his mum.

Nick Woodburn has seen his musical hero in concert 58 times and is now friends with the singer, after buying his first record at the age of 11, in 1972.

But he only bought the single Elected because he was being dragged round the shops in Manchester by mum Catherine.

Nick, 49, said: “I remember watching Top of the Pops when I was 11 and Elected came on a few times, my mum hated it so much, she thought it was awful.

“A few weeks later I wanted to go out playing with my friends, but my mum and dad dragged me out shopping.

“I was so bored but my dad gave me 50p to get a record.

"I bought Elected and I think it was to get one over on mum, but to this day I still think it’s the best single ever released.”

Nick, of Reedyford Road, Nelson, first went to see the heavy metal singer in 1982, but has now seen him across the UK, Europe and the USA.

“I go to Phoenix every December where they have a big memorial event for Glen Buxton, who has the guitarist in the original band,” he said. “I meet members of the band and with Alice over there, as well as other fans.

“It is a big social thing as well, I know a lot of other big fans and we always bump into each other at concerts.”

Nick also has a collection of Alice Cooper memorabilia worth thousands of pounds, including old concert programmes, photos, and at least 250 albums or songs.

A manager at a carpet tiles firm in Preston, and a die-hard Clarets fan, Nick admits other people don’t always understand his obsession.

“My family and friends think I am an eccentric,” he said, “and I am really, I think you have to be to do what I have done.

“But I won’t be stopping, I’m going to Phoenix in December and Knebworth in July.

“I make sure I get to as many gigs as possible.”