Alice Cooper to rock Dilkon

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

Rock star Alice Cooper will be in Dilkon Saturday to play basketball and give a free mini-concert. [Courtesy Photo]

FORT DEFIANCE — School's not out for summer yet, but Alice Cooper is ready to rock and of all places, Dilkon. Of course, given Alice's maturity, rather than seeing him parade around the stage with a boa constrictor around his neck, these days it would be more natural to see him dribble his food.

And aging Alice fans won't be too disappointed if they make the drive Saturday afternoon to the Navajo Christian Foundation's Gym/Recreation Center, right behind the Dilkon Police Department.

At 3:30 p.m., fans will get a chance to see the original "Billion Dollar Baby" dribble when he, staff and board members of Solid Rock Foundation take to the gym floor in a scrimmage basketball game against Navajo Christian Foundation's staff and board members.

Several years back, James Paddock Sr., director of the faith-based Navajo Christian Foundation, and others proposed starting a children's home. "Besides the children's home, I said we would build a rec center for the community, which we did," Paddock said earlier this week.

"We have a children's home here and a rec center, and this is going to be a grand opening celebration," Paddock said.

Alice has been a generous contributor to the foundation, and has helped get the group home off the ground. "'Our goal is to make an everlasting difference in the life of teenagers and children. We're dedicated to helping.' That's what he's got on some of his papers," Paddock said.

He said he spoke with Chuck Savale, CEO of Solid Rock Foundation, when that organization first donated toward the group home. Paddock said he told Savale, "When we finish they gym, you guys come down and be sure and bring Alice Cooper."

About three weeks back, Savale called Paddock and said, "We've got some more money for you guys. We're going to send you $25,000. And Alice Cooper is going to be available on March 12, so we're going to bring him down. We're going to play basketball with you guys."

The two organizations will have dinner following the game. And for dessert, the doors will swing wide at 6 p.m. for a free mini-concert.

"Alice Cooper, he's got a son that has a band, and he's going to perform with them from 6 to 6:45 p.m." Paddock said. Runaway Phoenix will be performing the last two songs with Alice.

"We're excited," Paddock said. "We usually go to his concerts. He does golfing and he puts on what he calls, 'Christmas Pudding.' He brings top Christian singers, some bands and some friends together around Christmas time."

Alice sent 24 free tickets to the foundation last year, each valued at about $50-$60. "We went over there to that concert during Christmas time. Out of those proceeds is where we get some of those monies," Paddock said.

The basketball game and concert are free and open to the public. "We're just going to open up. No cost, nothing," Paddock said.

"Our board president, his house burned during Christmas holidays. So I put on my schedule that we would maybe sell Navajo tacos and the proceeds, we'll give them to Mr. Henry Chee, our board president," he said. In addition, foundation members also were thinking of putting up a money tree, with the proceeds going to the Chee family.

"Other than that, we're not going to charge anything," Paddock said.