Alice Cooper Biography, Career, Net Worth, And Other Interesting Facts

Alice Cooper whose real name is Vincent Damon Furnier was born on February 4, 1948, and he’s been rocking out for a whopping sixty years. He’s a famous American singer, Musician, Actor, and songwriter known for his rough voice and wild stage performances. Picture this: pyrotechnics, guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, and even reptiles and baby dolls all making appearances on stage. That’s why many people call him “The Godfather of Shock Rock.”

Back in 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona, Alice Cooper wasn’t just one person but a whole band. It all started with a group called the Earwigs, with Vincent Furnier on vocals and harmonica, Glen Buxton on lead guitar, and Dennis Dunaway on bass guitar. Later on, Michael Bruce joined on rhythm guitar, and Neal Smith took over the drums. Together, they decided to name the band “Alice Cooper,” and Vincent Furnier even adopted the name as his stage persona.

Their journey to fame wasn’t instant. Their first album, Pretties for You, didn’t make a huge splash in 1969. But they hit it big with the song “I’m Eighteen” and their third album, Love It to Death, in 1970. Their peak came in 1973 with the album Billion Dollar Babies. After the band split, Vincent Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper and went solo in 1975 with the album Welcome to My Nightmare.

Alice Cooper isn’t just about one style of music. He’s dabbled in hard rock, glam rock, heavy metal, glam metal, new wave, art rock, and even industrial rock over the years. He’s been a huge influence on heavy metal, bringing horror into the music scene like never before. And offstage, he’s known for his humor earning him the title of the world’s most beloved heavy metal entertainer.

But Alice Cooper isn’t just about music. He’s also appeared in movies, gained fame as a golfer, opened his restaurant, and since 2004, he’s been hosting a classic rock radio show called Alice’s Attic. He’s a jack of all trades.

Alice Cooper’s Early Life and Education

Vincent Damon Furnier, known as Alice Cooper was born on February 4, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan. His parents were Ether Moroni Furnier and Ella Mae McCart Furnier. He was named after his uncle Vincent Collier Furnier and the writer Damon Runyon. His dad was a preacher in The Church of Jesus Christ and his grandfather Thurman Sylvester Furnier was a leader in that church.

The Furnier family lived in East Detroit, near Eastland Mall. Alice went to Kantner Elementary School and loved watching scary movies at the Eastown Theatre, where he would later perform. He also enjoyed trick-or-treating in his neighborhood on Halloween, which he took very seriously. He was involved in his church when he was 11 to 12 years old.

After dealing with some health issues as a kid, Alice and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Cortez High School. In his high school yearbook, he said he wanted to sell a million records someday.

Career

The Spiders and Nazz 1960s

Back in 1964, a 16-year-old named Furnier wanted to join his high school talent show. So, he got together with four buddies from the track team: Glen, Dennis, John, and John. They called themselves the Earwigs. They dressed up like the Beatles and did funny versions of Beatles songs but changed the lyrics to be about track instead. They were a hit and won the show.

After that, they decided to become a real band. They got some instruments from a pawn shop and learned to play. Glen taught them most of what they needed to know. They changed their name to the Spiders, with Furnier as the singer, Glen on guitar, Michael joining on guitar, Dennis on bass, and John on drums.

In 1966, they graduated and released a song called “Don’t Blow Your Mind”, which became popular locally.

They started playing gigs in Los Angeles and changed their name to Nazz. They released a single called “Wonder Who’s Lovin’ Her Now”, with another song called “Lay Down and Die, Goodbye”. They switched drummers, bringing in Neal.

By the end of the year, they moved to Los Angeles to keep chasing their music dreams.

The name changed to “Alice Cooper” 1960s

Back in 1968, the band found out that Todd Rundgren had a band called Nazz, so they needed a new name. They thought they needed something catchy to stand out, and they liked the idea of having a name that sounded innocent but contrasted with their edgy image and music. So, they settled on “Alice Cooper.” They got inspired by movies like “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” and “Barbarella” for their look.

The core group was made up of Alice Cooper (originally Vincent Furnier), Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith. Most of them were on the cross-country team in high school, and they were also into art, especially surrealism.

After a rough gig in Los Angeles, they caught the attention of music manager Shep Gordon, who saw potential in their shock value. He set up an audition with Frank Zappa, who signed them to his record label. They accidentally impressed Zappa by showing up for an early morning audition, and he gave them a three-album deal.

Their first album, “Pretties for You,” was experimental and psychedelic. Their reputation for shock rock started when an unplanned stunt involving a chicken got them press attention. They played along with the sensationalism and embraced the shock rock genre.

During this time, they were heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, especially their early work led by Syd Barrett. Glen Buxton especially admired Barrett’s guitar playing.

Alice Cooper band in 1970s: 1970–1975

After a bit of a flop with their first album, the band released another one called Easy Action in 1970. But, unfortunately, it didn’t do much better. They were getting frustrated with the audience in California not getting their style, so they decided to move to Michigan, where people were more into their wild stage performances. They got a better reception there.

Then, they played at a festival near Toronto in Canada. Their style was quite different from the other bands at the time. While everyone else was into peace and love, they were all about fun, sex, death, and money. They felt like they were changing the game.

Their third album, Love It to Death, was their last chance to make it big. Luckily, their song “I’m Eighteen” became a hit, and the album started doing well. Warner Bros. Records saw potential and gave them more support.

Their stage shows got even wilder, with mock fights and shocking scenes. They started getting noticed in Europe too, with big names like Elton John and David Bowie coming to their shows.

Their next album, Killer, continued their success with hits like “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover”. They were pushing boundaries with their performances, which included things like boa constrictors and fake executions.

“School’s Out” became a huge hit in 1972, reaching number one in the UK. Their album of the same name also did well. They became known for their rebellious attitude, shocking parents, and pleasing fans.

Their album Billion Dollar Babies was a massive success, reaching number one in both the US and the UK. They kept pushing the envelope with their music and stage shows, even breaking records set by the Rolling Stones.

But all the touring and pressure started taking its toll on the band. Their last album with the original lineup, Muscle of Love, didn’t do as well as expected. They decided to take a break from each other for a while.

During this time, Alice Cooper started hanging out with other celebrities at a club in Hollywood. He also moved back to Los Angeles and started appearing on TV shows. Their greatest hits album did well, but their movie didn’t.

Their final shows as a group were in Brazil in 1974, where they played to huge crowds. After that, they took a break, leaving fans wondering what would come next.

Alice Cooper solo: 1975–1980

In 1975, Alice Cooper made a comeback as a solo artist with his album “Welcome to My Nightmare.” He had to change his name to Alice Cooper legally to avoid some legal issues. He said that the band had done all they could together after ten years. The album was a hit, featuring a song called “Only Women Bleed” which made it to the Top 20 in the US.

The album was about a kid’s scary dreams and had famous actor Vincent Price doing some narration. Alice’s stage show got even more dramatic, with things like an 8-foot-tall Cyclops getting killed.

He also made a TV special called The Nightmare with Vincent Price, which was a big deal in rock history. And there was a concert movie called “Welcome to My Nightmare” filmed in London.

Alice Cooper decided to keep going solo because he was so successful, and the original band broke up officially. Some of the members formed a new band called Billion Dollar Babies. They did reunite for a few shows later on.

In 1976, Alice had another hit with “I Never Cry” and released two more albums. But during his 1977 tour, it was clear he needed help with his drinking problem. He went to a hospital for treatment and released a live album during that time.

After getting sober, Alice made an album called “From the Inside” in 1978, based on his time in the hospital. He also did a tour with a stage show set in an asylum. He even appeared on The Muppet Show and in some movies during this time. He also helped raise money to fix the Hollywood Sign.

1980s

Alice Cooper’s albums from the early 1980s are often called his “blackout albums” because he can’t remember making them due to his growing cocaine addiction. These albums, like Flush the Fashion (1980), Special Forces (1981), Zipper Catches Skin (1982), and DaDa (1983), didn’t do as well commercially as his earlier work. Flush the Fashion had a new wave sound that surprised fans, but it still had a hit with “Clones (We’re All)”. Special Forces had a similar style and featured a revamped version of an older song. After that, Cooper took a break from touring for several years until he came back in 1986 with Constrictor.

During the making of DaDa in 1983, Cooper had to go to the hospital because of alcoholism and liver problems. Despite releasing DaDa and a home video that year, both didn’t meet expectations. This led to Cooper parting ways with Warner Bros. and becoming a free agent in 1984.

Cooper dealt with personal issues during this time, including a divorce that was eventually called off. He stayed active musically, collaborating with other artists and appearing in a horror movie. He reunited with his wife and moved to Chicago.

In 1985, Cooper started working with guitarist Kane Roberts and signed with MCA Records. He also made a cameo in Twisted Sister’s music video. In 1986, he released Constrictor and returned to touring with The Nightmare Returns. This tour got a lot of attention for its shocking stage antics.

The controversy continued with his next album, Raise Your Fist and Yell, which led to calls for banning his shows in some countries. Cooper also made appearances in movies and even at WrestleMania III in 1987.

During this time, Cooper’s band lineup changed, but he continued making music. In 1988, he had a scary moment during a concert rehearsal when a safety rope broke. Despite this, he signed with Epic Records and in 1989 released Trash, which revitalized his career with hits like “Poison”.

1990s

In 1991, Alice Cooper put out his album Hey Stoopid, but it didn’t do as well as his earlier ones because the glam metal scene was fading, and grunge was taking over. Around the same time, a video called Alice Cooper: Prime Cuts came out, showing his whole career through interviews with him, Bob Ezrin, and Shep Gordon. Critics say it highlights how Cooper used satire and moral messages effectively in his music. Bob Ezrin described Cooper as representing the dark side of humanity, like the killer and the victim.

In the early 1990s, Cooper collaborated with big bands like Guns N’ Roses on their album Use Your Illusion I. He also had a small role in the horror movie Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare as Freddy Krueger’s abusive stepfather.

Cooper made a fun appearance in the movie Wayne’s World in 1992, where he played himself both on stage and off, surprising fans by being smart and calm behind the scenes.

In 1994, he released The Last Temptation, a concept album dealing with faith and modern life’s struggles. It came with a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman. After this album, Cooper switched from Epic Records to Hollywood Records.

For the next six years, he didn’t release any new studio albums, but he toured a lot, even going to South America for the first time in over 20 years. He also sang the role of Herod in the London cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.

In 1999, a box set called The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper came out, including a biography by Jeffrey Morgan called Alcohol and Razor Blades, Poison and Needles: The Glorious Wretched Excess of Alice Cooper, All-American.

2000s

Alice Cooper was super busy in the 2000s! He was already a legendary rocker, but he kept going strong as he hit his 60s. He went on a bunch of tours and released a bunch of albums that critics loved.

In 2000, he dropped “Brutal Planet,” which was all about heavy metal and scary stuff, like a horror movie in music form. He even toured around the world for it and made a DVD of one of his shows in London.

He made a fun cameo on That ’70s Show in 2001, playing a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

Then in 2001, he released another album called “Dragontown,” which was kind of like a follow-up to “Brutal Planet.” Both albums explored his Christian beliefs in a dark, edgy way.

In 2003, he switched things up with “The Eyes of Alice Cooper,” which had a simpler, more rock ‘n’ roll sound. He even started his radio show, chatting about his life and interviewing other rock stars.

His 2005 album “Dirty Diamonds” was a hit, and he went on tour again, even playing at big festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival. There was even a DVD of his performance there.

In 2006, he got the original Alice Cooper band back together for a charity event in Phoenix.

Then in 2007, he surprised everyone by singing with Marilyn Manson in Romania. They had had some beef before, but they patched things up.

In 2008, he lent his voice to a song on someone else’s album, and then he released his album called “Along Came a Spider.” It was a creepy concept album about a serial killer.

Throughout all this, Alice Cooper got a bunch of awards and honors, like a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and even a key to a city in North Dakota. He’s a living legend in the rock world!

2010s

In January 2010, it was announced that Cooper would be going on tour with Rob Zombie on The Gruesome Twosome Tour. In May 2010, he appeared on the season finale of American Idol, singing “School’s Out.”

Cooper also worked on the music for the indie horror movie Silas Gore in 2010, alongside his daughter and former band member Dick Wagner.

During that year, he started working on a new album called Welcome 2 My Nightmare, which is a follow-up to his earlier album Welcome to My Nightmare. He mentioned in an interview that he was happy to work with Bob Ezrin again and that they would include some original members along with new ones.

On December 15, 2010, it was announced that Cooper and his former band would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place in March 2011, when Cooper was inducted by Rob Zombie. They performed some songs together, and Cooper made a memorable entrance with a python around his neck.

In March 2011, Cooper performed at a benefit concert in Arizona. In June, he appeared on the BBC show Top Gear and received the Kerrang! Icon Award.

He toured with Iron Maiden in 2012 and headlined the Bloodstock Open Air festival. Cooper also appeared at the Sunflower Jam charity concert alongside other rock legends.

Cooper had a cameo in the 2012 film Dark Shadows which starred Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter. In 2013, he announced a covers album and toured with Mötley Crüe. He was also featured in a song by Theory of a Deadman.

A documentary about Cooper called Super Duper Alice Cooper was released in 2014, and he won an award for it. He also released a live album recorded at the Wacken festival.

In 2015, Cooper formed a supergroup called Hollywood Vampires and released an album. He also resumed his humorous campaign for the US presidency. He toured with Deep Purple and released his twentieth solo album Paranormal in 2017.

In 2018, Cooper performed as Herod in NBC’s live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, earning positive reviews for his performance.

2020s

Cooper, the famous rockstar, released his twenty-first album called “Detroit Stories” in February 2021. He then announced a tour starting in September 2021 to promote the album, with Ace Frehley supporting him.

He wrote a piece for Jeffrey Morgan’s autobiography “Rock Critic Confidential,” which came out in June 2021.

Cooper was also a judge on a music competition show called “No Cover” in its first season, which aired on Sumerian Records’ YouTube channel starting in April 2022.

There were some changes in the band lineup: Nita Strauss, the touring guitarist, left in July 2022, but then came back in March 2023. Kane Roberts rejoined the band in place of Strauss temporarily.

Cooper’s twenty-second album, “Road,” came out in August 2023. He also co-headlined a tour with Rob Zombie called “Freaks on Parade” in the fall of 2023, along with Filter and Ministry as opening acts.

In the UK, Cooper hosts a show on Planet Rock five days a week.

He also recorded an album called “Solid Rock Revival” with kid-friendly versions of his songs and others. For example, “School’s Out” became “School’s In,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy” “Now, I’m Mr. Nice Guy,” and “I’m Eighteen” became “I’m Thirteen.” He collaborated with Rob Halford on “Pleasant Dreams” and with Darryl McDaniels on a hip-hop version of “In the Midnight Hour” called “Midday Hour.” The proceeds from this album support the Norelli Family Foundation and Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation.

Style and influences

In a 1986 interview on Entertainment USA, Alice Cooper revealed that his favorite band of all time was the Yardbirds. He had been a fan of music from the mid-sixties, especially British bands like the Beatles, the Who, and the Rolling Stones, along with the Yardbirds. Cooper later honored the Who by performing their song “I’m a Boy” in 1994 and covering “My Generation” in 2000. In a chat with Ozzy Osbourne in 2007, he emphasized the influence these bands, particularly the Beatles, had on him. Cooper and Osbourne lamented the lack of quality songwriting in contemporary rock, blaming it on bands not paying enough attention to the Beatles.

Cooper was heavily influenced by shock rock pioneer Arthur Brown, especially after seeing his fiery performance of “Fire” in 1968. Cooper described it as a Halloween dream come true. He acknowledged the theatrical nature of British rock, often mistaken as British himself due to his theatrical performances.

Cooper’s diverse taste in rock music is evident in his radio show playlists and his appearances on programs like BBC Radio 2’s Tracks of My Years and Desert Island Discs. He listed tracks from various eras and genres, showcasing his broad musical appreciation.

Rob Zombie, former lead vocalist of White Zombie, credited Alice Cooper with his first “metal moment” on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert and acknowledged being influenced by Cooper’s stage costumes. Even Bob Dylan praised Cooper’s songwriting in a 1978 Rolling Stone interview.

John Lydon of the Sex Pistols hailed Cooper’s album “Killer” as the greatest rock album ever, while The Flaming Lips covered Cooper’s songs and cited him as an influence.

In 1999, a tribute album to Alice Cooper titled “Humanary Stew” featured contributions from various rock and metal stars like Dave Mustaine, Roger Daltrey, and Slash, among others.

Even unlikely fans such as comedian Groucho Marx, actress Mae West, and artist Salvador Dalí found something intriguing in Cooper’s performances, viewing them as a mix of vaudeville and surrealism. Dalí even created a hologram portrait of Cooper’s brain after attending one of his shows in 1973.

Personal life

In the early 1970s, there was a big rumor going around that the actor Ken Osmond, known for his role as Eddie Haskell on the show “Leave It to Beaver,” had transformed into the rock star Alice Cooper. But here’s what happened: Alice Cooper, the rock star, once said in an interview that he was a lot like Eddie Haskell when he was a kid. He meant he was kind of annoying and not very nice. But the person who wrote the article got it mixed up and said Alice Cooper was Eddie Haskell. Even though Alice tried to clear it up, some people still believed the rumor for a long time.

Then, in 2005, before going on tour, Alice Cooper talked about a bunch of different things in an interview. He talked about struggling with alcoholism and how he got better, his faith as a Christian, and how he got along with his family. He also mentioned that he’s inspired by Mick Jagger, who’s older than him but still rocking out on tour. Alice said he won’t stop performing until he’s beaten Mick Jagger’s record for staying in the music scene.

One thing you might notice is that Alice Cooper often talks about himself as if he’s someone else, like saying “Alice” instead of “I.” He does this to separate himself from his wild stage persona.

Marriage and relationships

When Alice Cooper’s band was signed to Frank Zappa’s label, his girlfriend was Miss Christine, who sadly passed away in 1972 from an overdose. Another girlfriend he had was Cindy Lang, and they lived together for some time.

After breaking up with Lang, there were rumors about him and actress Raquel Welch, but apparently, Cooper wasn’t interested. Instead, he ended up marrying Sheryl Goddard, who was a dancer in his shows. They got married in 1976. There were some rough patches, especially when Cooper was dealing with alcoholism in the ’80s, but they managed to work things out and have been together since. They also have three kids.

In 1995, Cooper and his wife started the Solid Rock Foundation, which helps teens with vocational and arts training. They opened teen centers in Arizona to provide these services.

Cooper once said in a TV interview that he never cheated on his wife and believes going on dates is important for a strong relationship.

In a 2019 interview, Cooper mentioned a “death pact” with his wife, which caused some confusion. He clarified that they don’t plan to die together, but because they spend so much time together if something were to happen, they’d likely be together. They have a “life pact” instead.

Drugs and alcohol use

Back in 1986, during his US Constrictor tour, the legendary rock star Alice Cooper had a surprising encounter with the members of the thrash metal band Megadeth. He noticed they were struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. So, being the caring person he is, Cooper personally reached out to them to offer support in getting clean.

Since then, Cooper has maintained a close relationship with Megadeth’s lead vocalist, Dave Mustaine, who sees him as a mentor figure. Overcoming his battle with alcohol addiction in the 1980s, Cooper has made it his mission to help other musicians facing similar struggles. He’s been there for them, offering a listening ear and guidance whenever they needed it most.

For his dedication to helping fellow artists in their journey to recovery, Cooper was honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award at the MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert in Los Angeles in 2008. It’s a testament to his unwavering support and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others in the music industry.

Religion

In a chat with Johnnie Walker on BBC Radio 2 back in September 2007, Cooper mentioned that he wasn’t a Christian when he decided to quit drinking. However, he expressed gratitude to God for helping him overcome alcoholism, saying something like, “If God can do big things like parting the Red Sea and making the universe, surely He can help someone beat alcoholism.” Although he didn’t talk much about his beliefs at first, Cooper eventually became open about being a born-again Christian.

Politics

In his career, Cooper has a strong belief that politics and rock music should stay separate. He doesn’t usually share his political views and describes himself as very neutral. He recalls times when he’d rather listen to music than get involved in political discussions.

Sometimes, Cooper criticizes musicians who mix politics with their music. Before the 2004 election, he called out rock stars supporting John Kerry, saying they were betraying the spirit of rock music. He even joked that seeing certain musicians support Kerry made him consider supporting Bush instead.

In 2018, Cooper predicted that the next U.S. president would be worse than Trump and criticized musicians for using their fame to push political opinions onto their fans, calling it an abuse of power.

Sports

Cooper loves sports! He’s a big fan of NHL teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Arizona Coyotes. He even got his bobblehead from the Coyotes as part of a promotion. When it comes to baseball, he roots for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers. As a kid, he dreamed of playing baseball alongside Al Kaline. Cooper’s also into NBA basketball, cheering for both the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns.

But it’s not just watching sports – Cooper loves playing golf. He says golf helped him beat his addiction to alcohol. He’s so into it that he jokes about swapping one addiction for another! Golf means a lot to him – it’s even the title of his autobiography. Cooper plays golf six days a week and has a handicap of four. He even became buddies with Glen Campbell through golf, playing with him almost every other day.

Cooper’s passion for golf goes beyond playing – he’s been in commercials for Callaway Golf and has appeared on golf shows. He even wrote the foreword for a golf book and took part in a golf competition called the All-Star Cup.

In popular culture

Cooper, who loves The Simpsons, got to write a story for a special edition of Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror in 2004. This special issue was all about rock music and also had stories by famous people like Gene Simmons, Rob Zombie, and Pat Boone.

Back in October 1979, Cooper appeared in a Marvel comic book called Marvel Premiere. It was based on his album From the Inside.

You might know Cooper from the “We’re not worthy” meme. It got popular when he made a quick appearance in the movie Wayne’s World in 1992 with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.

Cooper lent his voice and likeness to a pinball machine called Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle in 2018. It’s pretty special because there were only 500 of them made. It also has ten songs sung by Cooper.

In October 2021, a web-based game called Alice Cooper and the Tome of Madness was released by Play’n GO. It’s got Cooper’s voice and an animated version of him. Plus, it features his song “Welcome to My Nightmare”.

If you visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, you can see a special exhibit all about Cooper. It’s got stuff like props and instruments from his career, including one of the fake heads used in his famous guillotine stunt.

Alice Cooper’s Net Worth

Alice Cooper’s Net Worth is estimated to be $50 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.