Alice Cooper

Questions

Is Alice Cooper the name of a person or a band?

Both, originally. Alice Cooper started as a band formed in 1964, and the name was later adopted by its frontman, born Vincent Damon Furnier, who legally changed his own name to Alice Cooper in 1975 when he launched his solo career.

What is Alice Cooper’s real name and where is he from?

He was born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan. The classic band came together at Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Why did they pick the name Alice Cooper?

The band chose it because it sounded innocuous and wholesome, a humorous contrast to their menacing image.

Who was in the original Alice Cooper band?

The classic lineup featured Glen Buxton on lead guitar, Michael Bruce on rhythm guitar, Dennis Dunaway on bass, and Neal Smith on drums, alongside frontman Vincent Furnier. That original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

What are Alice Cooper’s most famous songs?

Signature hits include "I’m Eighteen" (1970), "School’s Out" (1972), "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (1973), "Only Women Bleed" (1975), and "Poison" (1989). "School’s Out" reached number one in the UK.

What is the story behind the infamous chicken incident?

At the 1969 Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, a chicken reportedly ended up on stage during a feather pillow bit, and Cooper, assuming it could fly, tossed it into the crowd. Newspapers falsely reported he had bitten its head off, and Frank Zappa reportedly advised him, "Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone you didn’t do it."

What kind of theatrics are in an Alice Cooper stage show?

He pioneered theatrical shock rock with staged guillotine and electric chair executions, mock hangings, decapitated baby dolls, and live boa constrictors draped around his neck.

Who designed the guillotine used in his shows?

The stage guillotine was reportedly designed by the magician James Randi.

How many records has Alice Cooper sold?

He has sold over 50 million records worldwide and released around 30 studio albums across a career spanning more than six decades since 1964.

Did he ever break any touring records?

Yes. His 1973 US tour reportedly broke box office records that had previously been set by The Rolling Stones.

What movies and TV shows has Alice Cooper appeared in?

He had a memorable cameo in Wayne’s World (1992), appeared in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) and Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows (2012), and was a guest on The Muppet Show in 1978.

Is it true Alice Cooper is a serious golfer?

Yes. He is a passionate golfer and wrote a memoir titled Alice Cooper, Golf Monster in 2007. He has credited golf as part of overcoming his addictions.

Did Alice Cooper struggle with addiction?

He battled severe alcoholism and cocaine addiction and has remained sober since 1983. He is a born-again Christian who credits his faith with his recovery.

What is the Hollywood Vampires?

It began in the 1970s as a celebrity drinking club Cooper founded at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood. He later revived the name as a supergroup in 2015 with Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.

What has Alice Cooper done outside of music?

He has hosted the radio show Nights with Alice Cooper since 2004 and founded the Solid Rock Foundation, which provides free music and art programs for at-risk youth in Phoenix. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.