Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier; February 4, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. With a career spanning more than five decades, Cooper is known for his raspy singing voice and theatrical stage shows that feature numerous props and illusions. He is considered by music journalists and peers to be “The Godfather of Shock Rock.”
Before he was a solo artist, Alice Cooper was the name of a five-piece band consisting of Vince Furnier (vocals), Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith. After moving to Detroit, they found success with the 1971 hit “I’m Eighteen” and the 1972 anthem “School’s Out.” Their 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies hit #1 in both the US and UK, featuring a tour that broke box-office records previously held by the Rolling Stones. Their live shows became legendary for featuring guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, and live boa constrictors.
The original band split in 1975, and lead singer Vince Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper to launch a solo career. Landmark concept album Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) and its massive stage production solidified his status as a theatrical icon. Later in the decade, Cooper experimented with softer, more mainstream ballads like “Only Women Bleed” and “You and Me.” By the late 1970s, Cooper’s heavy alcoholism led to his hospitalization, an experience he chronicled in the 1978 album From the Inside.
Cooper became a household name, making surreal guest appearances on TV shows like The Muppet Show and The Snoop Sisters. The original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 for their 1970s contributions.
much better than his coked-out-of-his-tree stage: he looked like a corpse.
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