PIONEERING “SHOCK” ROCKER
∗ Born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of a fundamentalist Christian minister
OTHER BAND MEMBERS:
Glen Buxton (lead guitar), born November 10, 1947 in Akron, Ohio; graduated from Cortez High School in Phoenix; died October 19, 1997
Dennis Dunaway (bass), born December 9, 1946 in Cottage Grove, Oregon; graduated from Cortez High School in Phoenix
Michael Bruce (guitar, keyboards), born March 16, 1948; graduated from North High School in Phoenix
Neal Smith (drummer), born September 23, 1947 in Akron, Ohio; graduated from Camelback High School in Phoenix
∗ Formed the Earwigs in 1964, imitating the Beatles, and won an annual talent show at Cortez High School; graduated in 1964
∗ Formed the Spiders after graduation and performed in various Phoenix area venues with a huge black spider’s web as a backdrop (their first stage prop); attended Glendale Community College
∗ Released first single “Why Don’t You Love Me” in 1965 on local Mascot Records; released second single in 1966, “Don’t Blow Your Mind” on local Santa Cruz Records
∗ Performed as the house band at the VIP Club in Phoenix and appeared in various venues around the state; performed as an opening act at Phoenix concerts by the Byrds and the Turtles; also performed on the local TV show Wallace & Ladmo in the mid-1960s; Alice won a Ladmo Bag on the show’s 35th anniversary special in 1989
∗ Renamed the band Nazz in 1967 and released third single, “Wonder Who’s Lovin’ Her Now” on local Very Records in 1967
∗ Moved to Los Angeles in 1967 and performed regularly in various clubs before becoming the house band at the Cheetah Club
∗ Renamed the band Alice Cooper after learning of Todd Rundgren’s Philadelphia group called the Nazz; the wholesome name contrasted to the group’s raucous music and macabre stage shows
∗ Pioneered the use of makeup and stage theatrics in rock concerts, preceding KISS and Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie; credited with helping to shape the sound and look of heavy metal music
∗ Signed by Frank Zappa to his Straight Records label; released albums “Pretties For You” (1969) and “Easy Action” (1970), both flops; relocated to Detroit in 1970, where the band found greater success
∗ Achieved commercial breakthrough with Love It To Death album in late 1970 featuring first hit single “I’m Eighteen”; released Killer album in late 1971, producing the hit “Under My Wheels”
∗ Released School’s Out album in 1972, their first million-seller, reaching #2 in the United States, #4 in United Kingdom; title track became a huge global hit (reaching #1 in the U.K.)
∗ Mentioned Cortez High and Camelback High in song “Alma Mater” from School’s Out
∗ Released Billion Dollars Babies in 1973, the band’s most successful album, reaching #1 in both the United States and United Kingdom; released Muscle of Love album in late 1973, but not as popular as the previous mega-hits
∗ Embarked on solo career in 1975 and legally changed his name to Alice Cooper; makes royalty payments to the other band members for using the name
∗ Released first solo album, Welcome To My Nightmare, in 1975, which included the #12 hit “Only Women Bleed”
∗ Married Sheryl Goddard, a dancer and choreographer on his stage show, in 1975
∗ Released Alice Cooper Goes To Hell album in 1976 featuring #12 hit “I Never Cry”; released Lace And Whiskey album in 1977 featuring #9 hit “You And Me”; released From The Inside album in 1978 featuring the #12 hit “How You Gonna See Me Now”
∗ Starred in film documentary Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare (1975), Alice Cooper’s Nightmare TV movie (1975); Alice Cooper And Friends TV movie (1977)
∗ Appeared also in a diverse range of films including portraying a waiter in Mae West’s final film Sextette (1978), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Prince of Darkness (1987), Wayne’s World (1991), Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare as Freddy’s wicked stepfather (1991), Dark Shadows (2012) and Bigfoot (2012)
∗ Appeared as himself in more than 200 TV shows and movies including Hollywood Squares, The Muppets Show, That ’70s Show, Monk, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Grammy Awards, Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show; his songs have been played in more than 100 TV shows and movies
∗ Released Trash album in 1989 featuring the #7 hit “Poison”
∗ Sang the role of Herod on the London cast recording of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1996
∗ Opened Alice Cooper’stown restaurant and bar (“where jocks and rock meet”) just south of the Diamondbacks’ ballpark in downtown Phoenix in 1998; closed in 2017
∗ Received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2003
∗ Created the faith-based Solid Rock Foundation to help troubled teens; partnered with Genesis Church to create the Rock at 32nd Street complex at 32nd Street and Thunderbird Road in Phoenix; includes the Rock Teen Center (“a creative sanctuary for troubled teens”) and Alice Cooper’s Attic and Thrift Store
∗ Stages Alice Cooper’s Annual Christmas Pudding bringing together big-name celebrities for an event that benefits Solid Rock and The Rock Teen Center
∗ Well known for his obsession with golf; has hosted Alice Cooper’s Rock & Roll Golf Classic since 1997, benefiting the Solid Rock Foundation
∗ Famously battled alcoholism (beverage of choice: Budweiser), finally getting clean in the mid-1980s; received MusiCare’s Stevie Ray Vaughn award in 2008 for helping others recover from their own addictions
∗ Hosts “Nights With Alice Cooper” nightly radio show since 2004, now heard on more than 100 stations worldwide (including each weeknight on KSLX in Phoenix)
∗ Released Welcome 2 My Nightmare in 2011, (a sequel to his 1975 album) which featured the three surviving Alice Cooper band members
∗ Inducted (with the Alice Cooper band) into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011
∗ Performs occasionally with the Hollywood Vampires, a band that also includes actor Johnny Depp, Joe Perry of Aerosmith as well as multiple guest stars; name derived from an ad hoc group of celebrities who drank together at Los Angeles area clubs during the 1970s – including John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, John Belushi and others; band performs mostly songs from rockers who have died; released self-titled debut album in 2015
∗ Has released to date 26 studio albums, 46 singles, 10 live albums, and is on 21 compilation albums
∗ Mentioned in the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s 2017 hit song “Go Robot”: “She cried so much, she looked liked Alice Cooper”
∗ Performed as King Herod in NBC-TV’s Easter 2018 live broadcast of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar
∗ Lives in Paradise Valley with wife Sheryl
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