An individual featured in the Cheech and Chong comedy routine known as Earache My Eye. What precisely this individual did for the piece is uncertain. If anyone actually has the liner notes for the Cheech and Chong Wedding Album of 1974 and wants to add their wisdom to this node, I'd be much appreciative. Most probably, Alice Bowie was the character name of the vocalist performed by Cheech Marin. Or perhaps it was a real person who was the electric guitarist who performed the kickass solo during the piece, but that's mere speculation. Another possibility could be that Alice Bowie played the voice of the unhip sadistic father in the comedy routine, but that would mean Alice was a guy. I guess that's possible. I mean there's Alice Cooper and he was a guy.. sorta.

Searches on the Internet to discern the true identity of Alice Bowie only brings up Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Alice In Chains and some geneological data about complete nobodies. I'm afraid this is an example of someone who did one really cool thing that no one really remembers, and then dissappeared in a puff of their own inadequacy. Too bad we didn't have Everything2.com back in 1974.

"Alice Bowie" is the name of the character credited with singing the musical portion of the 1974 Cheech and Chong routine "Earache My Eye (featuring Alice Bowie)." Cheech Marin was apparently the actual singer. Cheech & Chong had done this fake-artist before on their 1973 "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" (a takeoff on the pop song "Love Jones" by the Brighter Side of Darkness). The Alice Bowie name is an obvious reference to Alice Cooper and David Bowie, and the lyrics to the song bear this out. "My daddy, he disowned me 'cause I wear my sister's clothes" seems an obvious reference to the early dress-wearing days of Alice Cooper, and "As long as I can have a limo and my orange hair" brings to mind an image of Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie. The All Music Guide's Richie Unterberger actually speculates that the fake heavy metal singer was the inspiration for Spinal Tap.

Sources:
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?ean=81227426521
http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/cheech-and-chong.html
http://www.vgg.com/tp/tp_080700_fakeband.html
http://home.epix.net/~dhnb/bowiecovers/parody.htm
http://www.geocities.com/ccdiscography/upinsmokesndtrack/15.htm

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