Today we’d like to introduce you to Calico Cooper.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Calico. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve lived an odd life for a celebrity kid. I wasn’t sheltered. I went to public school. I am so grateful for that because I was exposed to very little entitlement. On the other hand, I was going to the Grammys and flying around the world on tour… so I sort of became two people. I never talked about the glitz and glam at school. Those kids would have eaten me alive. So at school, I was just Calico. On the cheer squad, track team, multicultural committee.
Then at 18, my dad decided to revamp his show and go full theatrical again. An Alice Cooper show of epic proportions called BRUTAL PLANET. He asked me to come. On tour and play all the female roles in the show. So at 18 years old, I took Off and toured the planet directing, singing and acting In multiple Alice Cooper shows.
As the years went on, I realized I had a knack for acting, so In 2011 I left the tour and began acting full time.
I worked so hard. So hard. I never wanted my success to be about my last name. I wanted to be better than good. I wanted to be excellent. So I was enrolled and studying with Stella Adler school, Ivana Chubbuck, The Groundlings, Margie Haber, UCB, Gordon Hunt. I wanted this badly and was willing to do the work.
And it began to come When I signed with Aqua talent and The Entertainment lab.
Movies, Tv, commercials… it really started to take off. But it was years of knocking on doors, studying, being Rejected. Hell, I still get rejected but I’m finally at a place where I know what’s good for me wants me too. And what’s not right moves along and I live by that now.
Then the big bomb hit when my band Beasto Blanco took Off. It’s the same struggle story. We started in vans, sleeping at truck stops, grinding it out. But the hard work paid off, we started getting a buzz for our theatrics and high energy stage show.
Soon we were touring and playing with bands like Halestorm, Palaye Royale, doing rock cruises with suicidal tendencies and Meagadeth.. our record hit #1 on the Heat Seekers chart on billboard.
Now mind you all of this is happening WHILE I’m trying to maintain all the hard work I did to foster my acting career. Lol
So now we are in the studio doing our 4th studio record and I’m always looking and matching up with tv and film that inspires me.
I think this season I’m going after a Sci-fi show. It’s sorta in my DNA. I think it’s a fit!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No never. Being a celeb kid opens some doors and kick slams some right in the face. For a while, all I was “good for” was reality shows. And as much as I love watching them… that wasn’t for me. I was so passionate about the craft of acting. About how it moves people and can motivate and change lives. I needed to be a part of that.
And as far as the band goes, imagine being a rock icon like Alice Coopers kid doing a theatrical rock band. We knew we were gonna get compared. But the trick is to know that I am doing what I love and I’m not in competition with him. He loves Beasto. He’s a huge champion of The band. But we are our own entity.
Now when I perform, I look down and see girls dressed up as my character and I feel accomplished. I feel proud. But I’m certainly not done…
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
Beasto Blanco was conceptualized by our guitar player Brother Latham and Alice’s bass player and my co-lead singer Chuck Garric. I jumped in on the first record to do “backing vocals” and well… here we are, four records later.
What sets Beasto apart from other bands is that it’s more of a lifestyle than a band even. It’s the people that raise and grind every day. The people that do the hard stuff that makes the world Turn. We see you. We are you. It’s anthems for those heroes.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. (Everyone can boo me here lol) I really believe in hard work and blessings. I try and help God help me. We have a Jerry Maguire thing going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Beastoblanco.com
- Instagram: @Beastoblanco
- Facebook: Beasto Blanco
Image Credit:
Jed Williams and Joe Schaeffer
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