Alice Cooper

Birthday: 4 February 1948, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Birth Name: Vincent Damon Furnier

Height: 177 cm

Alice Cooper was born Vincent Damon Furnier, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of a minister. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, at a young age and still lives in the state today. At age 17, he formed a rock band called the Earwigs, who changed their name to The Spiders and then The Nazz, before finally settling on Alice Cooper. The line-up included himself, Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton and Neal Smith. Rumors (which the band did not necessarily make efforts to deny) to the contrary, the name was not chosen from a Ouija board reading nor was it named after a woman once burned at the stake for witchcraft -- it was picked because the random name had a twisted sense of originality and misleading innocence, complementing the band's bizarre and macabre stage theatrics and lyric themes.The band got their first big break playing at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles one night in 1969 when Frank Zappa discovered them and signed them to his record label. After two albums-and relocating to Detroit -- they were signed by Warner Bros., hooked up with famous producer Robert Ezrin and came out with their third album, the breakthrough "Love It to Death" in 1971. Several albums followed, including "Killer", the highly successful "School's Out", "Billion Dollar Babies" and "Muscle of Love". The band made an appearance in the movie Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) and their own theatrically released documentary Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper (1974). Alice himself also starred in an episode of The Snoop Sisters: The Female Instinct (1972).The original Alice Cooper band broke up in 1975, with the lead singer getting his name legally changed to Alice Cooper -- and performing under the name ever since -- while some of the other members formed a band called the Billion Dollar Babies. That same year saw the release of a Greatest Hits album, while Alice as a solo artist completed the album "Welcome to My Nightmare" and his incredibly theatrical tour. It was on this tour that he met his future wife Sheryl Cooper, who had been hired as a dancer.Along with the album and tour came a television special, Alice Cooper: The Nightmare (1975), and both included dialog from horror movie legend Vincent Price. Alice made a number of other television and movie appearances in the second half of the decade, including The Muppet Show (1976), Mae West's final film Sextette (1978), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) and several appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).However, by the late 1970s, Alice's problems with alcohol became life-threatening, and he was checked into a clinic for rehabilitation. He told of his experiences on the semi-fictional album "From the Inside" (there was also a comic book of the same title), and explored different sounds in the early 1980s with four albums ("Flush the Fashion", "Special Forces", "Zipper Catches Skin", "DaDa"). After having a severe "falling off the wagon" to the point of almost dying, he sobered up once more -- this time for good -- and returned with the albums "Constrictor", "Raise Your Fist and Yell" and the 1989 album "Trash", which featured the hit song "Poison". The 1980s also saw Alice starring in the horror films Leviatán (1984) and Prince of Darkness (1987), as well as having mostly new songs for the soundtracks to Roadie (1980), Class of 1984 (1982), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) and Shocker (1989).However, it was the 1990s that brought Alice's most memorable movie appearance: playing himself in Wayne's World (1992). The phrase uttered by characters Wayne and Garth in his presence, "We're not worthy!", became one of the most popular movie catchphrases of the decade. Alice also played the father of Freddy Krueger in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), and himself on That '70s Show (1998) and Something Wilder (1994). The decade also saw the release of his "Hey Stoopid" and "The Last Temptation". Alice toured occasionally but took a break from releasing albums until 2000, when he released "Brutal Planet". He followed this up with "Dragon Town", "The Eyes of Alice Cooper" and "Dirty Diamonds", and continues to tour regularly, performing shows with the bizarrely dark and horror-themed theatrics that he's best known for. Hide

[2010] I'm 62 now and haven't had a drink for 30 years. Back when I was 30, I felt like I was 62 bec Show more [2010] I'm 62 now and haven't had a drink for 30 years. Back when I was 30, I felt like I was 62 because of the drinking. It's like Benjamin Button. I finish a 90-minute show and feel great - it's the guys in my band in their forties who are panting. Hide

On Frank Zappa: Throughout my life, there are four people I've met who were truly original people. T Show more On Frank Zappa: Throughout my life, there are four people I've met who were truly original people. The other three were Groucho Marx, Jim Morrison and Pablo Picasso. Hide

(2005, on quitting drinking) They tell you you're supposed to go to AA meetings, but I didn't go. In Show more (2005, on quitting drinking) They tell you you're supposed to go to AA meetings, but I didn't go. Instead, I went directly to a bar and I ordered a Coca-Cola. Everybody around me was drinking alcohol and it never occurred to me to have some too. In the 23 years since, it's never been a temptation, and that's interesting because I have absolutely no will power. If I had a beer now, I wouldn't be able to stop and I'd be hiding five bottles of whiskey in my hotel room tonight. That's how volatile a hair trigger it is for me, so I sat in the bar and it was as if all my desire to drink had completely gone. Hide

I listen to those albums and I go, "What the hell was I thinking then?" It was a whole different tim Show more I listen to those albums and I go, "What the hell was I thinking then?" It was a whole different time. There are three albums I don't remember doing. I don't remember doing Dada. I don't remember Special Forces, or Zipper Catches Skin. Those were three albums during my blackout period, and I listen back to them and I go, "Ha... there's some pretty cool stuff on there!". Hide

The hippies wanted peace and love. We [the original Alice Cooper band] wanted Ferraris, blondes and Show more The hippies wanted peace and love. We [the original Alice Cooper band] wanted Ferraris, blondes and switchblades. Hide

I've always thought if you can break the girl's heart by the second verse, it's a hit. I've always thought if you can break the girl's heart by the second verse, it's a hit.

We'd found out that another band was called the Nazz. And I said, "We don't have anything to lose, l Show more We'd found out that another band was called the Nazz. And I said, "We don't have anything to lose, let's do something that no one's going to relate to at all." I could have said "Jennifer Smith" or "Mary Truesdale", but it just happened that "Alice Cooper" came out. It was the very first name that came out too. There was something axe-murderish about "Alice Cooper". It reminded me of Lizzie Borden (Lizzie Andrew Borden). Alice Cooper - Lizzie Borden. That's got a What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) feeling to it. It was like feminine, but it wasn't feminine. It had some sort of ring to it, something disturbing. Hide

Oh, I love to lie. That's one of my favorite things in the world, coming up to somebody, especially Show more Oh, I love to lie. That's one of my favorite things in the world, coming up to somebody, especially press people, and telling them some enormous lie that couldn't possibly be true. Hide

Why be boring? Have some fun. Rock shows should be like movies: I don't go to a movie hoping it'll c Show more Why be boring? Have some fun. Rock shows should be like movies: I don't go to a movie hoping it'll change my life. When I saw 'Jaws III' (Jaws 3-D (1983)), it wasn't a great movie, but it was worth the seven bucks to see the shark eat the helicopter. It was a wonderful waste of time. Hide

[on continuing to perform at 65] When people say "Why are you still touring?", I go "Because that's Show more [on continuing to perform at 65] When people say "Why are you still touring?", I go "Because that's what I do.". Hide

I would say 50 per cent of the things you hear about Alice Cooper is urban legend. The same thing wi Show more I would say 50 per cent of the things you hear about Alice Cooper is urban legend. The same thing with Michael Jackson and Marilyn Manson. It's all partly legend. But everything you've heard about Keith Moon is true - and you've only heard 10 per cent of it! Every day was an event with Keith. Hide

I like horror movies that are over-the-top gory, that's the essence of what I do. I like setting an Show more I like horror movies that are over-the-top gory, that's the essence of what I do. I like setting an audience up, giving them a good scare and a good laugh, but it's all based around the songs. Without the 14 top 40 hits, there'd be no cake to put the icing on. Hide

The late sixties and early seventies were kind of a breeding ground for exciting new sounds because Show more The late sixties and early seventies were kind of a breeding ground for exciting new sounds because easy listening and folk were kind of taking over the airwaves. I think it was a natural next step to take that blissful, easygoing sound and strangle the life out of it. Hide

[on his memorabilia] I have a warehouse in L.A. that probably even ghost hunters wouldn't go into la Show more [on his memorabilia] I have a warehouse in L.A. that probably even ghost hunters wouldn't go into late at night. I'm sure the stuff that's living in that warehouse has been through a lot. Guillotines, gallows, electric chairs. Everything you can think of is in that warehouse and there should be a movie about it. I wouldn't stay in there late at night by myself. Hide

Put my head in a guillotine, fine, but put a needle near me and I'm passed out on the floor. Put my head in a guillotine, fine, but put a needle near me and I'm passed out on the floor.

[on being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame] It's like graduating because what happens is Show more [on being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame] It's like graduating because what happens is the guys that you learned from are the ones that vote on you. The Jaggers (Mick Jagger), the McCartneys (Paul McCartney), the Pete Townshends (Pete Townshend), the Jeff Becks (Jeff Beck). And you never feel like you're ever in their league. It just doesn't matter how many records you've sold or how many tickets you've sold, you always look up to those guys as being your big brothers, and you're never going to be quite in their league, which is good. It's not an ego thing, it's a humbling thing. Hide

Everyone likes to be scared a little bit. Everyone likes to be scared a little bit.

The thing about Keith (Keith Moon) is that I've seen everybody play in this business, and he's still Show more The thing about Keith (Keith Moon) is that I've seen everybody play in this business, and he's still the best drummer I've seen in my life. And that eccentricity showed up in his drumming so that there was nobody like him - Ginger Baker didn't drum like Keith, Mitch Mitchell didn't, Ringo (Ringo Starr) didn't. He was totally unique. Hide

Jesus spent half his time dealing with demons and throwing them out of people. I don't think you jus Show more Jesus spent half his time dealing with demons and throwing them out of people. I don't think you just float around when you die - there's judgment, you either go to heaven or hell. Hide

I have never made fun of religion. Religion is something I don't even want to mess with, because I a Show more I have never made fun of religion. Religion is something I don't even want to mess with, because I am really afraid of the clouds opening up and my being struck by lightning. Satanism is something else I don't mess with. I think that the heavy metal bands that do are playing with fire. I have never influenced people in a negative way, and I'm not about to start now. Hide

[Regarding rock artists involved in the 2004 "Vote For Change" tour] When I was a kid and my parents Show more [Regarding rock artists involved in the 2004 "Vote For Change" tour] When I was a kid and my parents started talking about politics, I'd run to my room and put on the Rolling Stones as loud as I could. So when I see all these rock stars up there talking politics, it makes me sick. If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal. Hide

On stage, I'm this figure, this actor, who does things that people aren't used to seeing and I relis Show more On stage, I'm this figure, this actor, who does things that people aren't used to seeing and I relish in that reaction. In real life, though, I play golf, I shop and I walk around with no makeup on and my hair in a ponytail. I may not be the typical middle-aged Joe, but I'm closer to normal than you think. Hide

You can't out-shock CNN. You can't out-shock CNN.

The funny thing was that The Last Temptation really wasn't part of the trilogy. That was on its own. Show more The funny thing was that The Last Temptation really wasn't part of the trilogy. That was on its own. That was the first thing I wrote as a Christian. And then, it was six years before I wrote Brutal Planet. Brutal Planet was a whole different story. Brutal Planet was a story that was talking about, "What's the world like? Let's get a picture of the future 50 years from now, when all of the systems have failed, church, family, school, politics, every system has failed, and there's no God. Let's say that no one believes in God. Well, what have we got? Now we've got Brutal Planet this horrible place that nobody wants to be." That's what that album was about. Hide

[About Marilyn Manson] He took a girl's name as his first and wears a hell of a lot of makeup. I wis Show more [About Marilyn Manson] He took a girl's name as his first and wears a hell of a lot of makeup. I wish I'd thought of doing that. Hide

Everybody relates to trash. Kids get trashed in school, trashed by the cops, trashed at home. We liv Show more Everybody relates to trash. Kids get trashed in school, trashed by the cops, trashed at home. We live in a high-pressure era. It's a dangerous world, and trash is what it's all about. Hide

We don't use any animals in the shows now. Snakes catch pneumonia very easily. They become ill if yo Show more We don't use any animals in the shows now. Snakes catch pneumonia very easily. They become ill if you take them from a hot climate to a cold climate. I didn't want to put them through that any more. As long as a 15ft boa constrictor has been fed, they're like a kitten. Hide

I didn't go to my senior prom, but I played it. I didn't go to my senior prom, but I played it.

After I started having hits I saw lots of bands who'd been Alice Cooper-ised; KISS came out after us Show more After I started having hits I saw lots of bands who'd been Alice Cooper-ised; KISS came out after us, even David Bowie before Alice Cooper was a mime and a folk singer. Then, when we broke down the barriers, we said you could do music and theatrics at the same time, which opened the door for acts like Marilyn Manson and Slipknot. Hide

[on the infamous "Chicken Killer Alice" incident] Now everywhere I go the ASPCA is there, "Now no ki Show more [on the infamous "Chicken Killer Alice" incident] Now everywhere I go the ASPCA is there, "Now no killing chickens." Okay I promise I won't kill any chickens. Go tell that to Col. Sanders. He kills 7 million chickens a day. If I had barbecued the chicken it probably would have been okay. Hide

I didn't really care about meeting Rod Stewart or Sonny and Cher. I wanted to meet Groucho Marx, Fre Show more I didn't really care about meeting Rod Stewart or Sonny and Cher. I wanted to meet Groucho Marx, Fred Astaire, Errol Flynn. I wanted to meet the guys that had invented me, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, the real stars. Hide

I loved The Beatles because they wrote such simple songs, which is a really tough thing to do. I loved The Beatles because they wrote such simple songs, which is a really tough thing to do.

To me that's treason. I call it treason against rock n' roll because rock is the antithesis of polit Show more To me that's treason. I call it treason against rock n' roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics. - criticizing the rock artists involved in the anti-Bush "Vote For Change" tour. Hide

Girls started talking to me and I got hooked on the limelight. That's why I went into rock 'n' roll, Show more Girls started talking to me and I got hooked on the limelight. That's why I went into rock 'n' roll, for fame and sex. Hide

Alice Cooper's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (221)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast - Season 6

That 70s Show - Season 4

American Idol - Season 9

Strictly Come Dancing - Season 16

Top Gear (UK) - Season 29

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Season 4

Top Gear (UK) - Season 4

Urban Myths - Season 2

Roadie

Top Gear (UK) - Season 21