Dick Wagner facts for kids

Richard Allen Wagner (born December 14, 1942 – died July 30, 2014) was an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and author. He was best known for his amazing guitar work and songs with famous artists like Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and Kiss. He also led his own bands from Michigan, called the Frost and The Bossmen.

Playing Music on Stage

Dick Wagner was born in Oelwein, Iowa, and grew up in Owosso, Michigan. He finished high school in 1961. His first band, The Bossmen, was very popular in the Detroit area. They had songs like "Baby Boy" played on the radio.

Later, in the late 1960s, Wagner started a new band called the Frost. This band became very popular in Michigan. The Frost released three studio albums: Frost Music (1969), Rock and Roll Music (1969), and Through the Eyes of Love (1970). Dick Wagner wrote most of their songs and was the lead singer.

In 1972, Wagner moved to New York and formed a band called Ursa Major. They released one album and toured with Jeff Beck and Alice Cooper.

In 1973, Wagner joined Lou Reed's band. He and Steve Hunter played guitar on Reed's album Berlin. Wagner helped change Lou Reed's older songs for live shows, making them more energetic. This helped Reed get his first gold album. Their live album, Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974), became very famous. Guitar World magazine even ranked their guitar solos on "Sweet Jane" as one of the greatest of all time.

Dick Wagner first met Alice Cooper when he was with The Frost. He played lead guitar on many of Alice Cooper's albums, even before officially joining the band. He played the guitar solo on "My Stars" from the album School's Out (1972).

When the original Alice Cooper band broke up in 1974, Wagner officially teamed up with Alice Cooper. He became Cooper's main co-writer, lead guitarist, and band leader. They wrote the concept album Welcome to My Nightmare, released in 1975. The "Nightmare Tour" was one of the biggest rock shows of its time. Wagner continued to write songs and play guitar on many more Alice Cooper albums, including Goes to Hell (1976) and From the Inside (1978).

Wagner also played guitar on the famous Kiss album Destroyer (1976). He played lead guitar on songs like "Flaming Youth" and "Sweet Pain," and acoustic guitar on "Beth." He also played on albums for other artists like Peter Gabriel, Aerosmith, and Hall & Oates.

In 1978, Dick Wagner released his own solo album called Richard Wagner. However, the name caused some confusion because there was a famous classical composer with the same name.

Writing Hit Songs

One of the most famous songs Dick Wagner wrote is "Only Women Bleed." He had started writing it with his band The Frost. Later, he worked with Alice Cooper to finish the lyrics, and they recorded it for Cooper's album Welcome to My Nightmare. Since 1975, over 30 artists have covered this song, including Tina Turner and Guns N' Roses.

After "Only Women Bleed," Wagner co-wrote other popular songs with Alice Cooper, such as "I Never Cry" and "You and Me." He also co-wrote "Shine Silently" with Nils Lofgren and "Just as I Am" for Air Supply.

One song Wagner was very proud of was "Remember the Child." This song is about how children remember the love or hurt from their childhood. It was used as the theme song for a PBS TV special called "Homecoming: Reclaiming and Healing Your Inner Child." The song helped many people express their feelings.

Later Life and Work

In 2005, Wagner moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He continued to write songs and produce music. In 2007, he helped Wednesday create her album Torch Rock, which was considered for a Grammy Award.

A film called Rock and Roll Animals was being made about Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter's work. Alice Cooper was interviewed for the film, talking about working with Wagner.

In 2007, Wagner had a serious heart attack and stroke. He spent two weeks in a coma and woke up with his left arm paralyzed. While recovering, he started writing his life story, which became his book, Not Only Women Bleed (2011).

In 2011, Wagner was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that affected his movement and thinking. After successful surgery, he recovered much of his ability to play guitar.

In 2008, Wagner's former band, The Frost, was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. His song "Mystery Man" was also named a Legendary Michigan Song.

Wagner released a new solo album in 2009 called Full Meltdown. He also worked on music for the horror film Silas Gore, A Film Trilogy (2010) with Alice Cooper.

In 2010, Gibson honored Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter for their guitar solos, placing them among the Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time. Wagner also won several music awards for his songwriting.

In 2011, his book Not Only Women Bleed was released and became a bestseller on Amazon. It also won five international book awards. In 2012, Wagner was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

Despite his health challenges, Wagner continued to perform, tour, write songs, and produce music. His book tour took him to many states. He also had three songs featured in the documentary "Louder than Love."

On July 30, 2014, Dick Wagner passed away at the age of 71 due to breathing problems.

Helping Others

Dick Wagner was also known for his charitable work. In 2013, he released a song and video called "If I Had the Time (I Could Change the World)" to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Over 50 musicians helped him record it.

In 2011, Wagner and other Detroit musicians recorded "Motor City Music" to support Brother Al Mascia's "Bicycle Ministry." Brother Al uses a bicycle cart to deliver food and warm clothes to homeless people in Detroit.

Wagner was also the first Artist Ambassador for Guitars for Vets, an organization that helps veterans. After recovering from hydrocephalus, he became a national spokesperson for Hydrocephalus.org, helping to raise awareness about the condition.

To support awareness about violence against women and children, Wagner's company created a video of Wednesday performing "Only Women Bleed" at Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding Show.

After Wagner's death, his son Robert and others continued his legacy by organizing the Dick Wagner "Remember the Child" Memorial Concert. This annual event raised money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for three years.

Discography

The Bossmen

• Personally Yours: The Complete Anthology of the Bossmen (Compilation)

The Frost

• Frost Music 1969
• Rock and Roll Music 1969
• Through the Eyes of Love 1970
• Live at the Grande Ballroom 1969 2001
• Early Frost 1969 (Compilation)

Ursa Major

• Ursa Major (1972)

Alice Cooper (band)

• School's Out (1972)
• Billion Dollar Babies (1973)
• Muscle of Love (1973)

Alice Cooper (solo)

• Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)
• Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976)
• Lace and Whiskey (1977)
• The Alice Cooper Show (1977)
• From the Inside (1978)
• Zipper Catches Skin (1982)
• DaDa (1983)
• Hey Stoopid (1991)
• Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)

Lou Reed

• Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974)
• Lou Reed Live (1975)

Kiss

• Destroyer (1976)
• Revenge (1992)

The Throbs

• The Language of Thieves and Vagabonds (as co-producer) (1991)

Solo

• Dick Wagner (originally released as Richard Wagner) (1978)
• Rock History (1999)
• Home at Last Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (2008)
• Remember the Child (2008)
• Full Meltdown (compilation of unreleased recordings) (2009)
• Captured (2014)

Meat Loaf

• Midnight at the Lost and Found (1983) (songwriting credit for 'Fallen Angel')

Chris Catena's Rock City Tribe

• Truth in Unity (2020) (lead guitar in the song "Theme from an Imaginary Western" recorded in 2006)

See also

In Spanish: Dick Wagner para niños