History Music / AliceCooper

A heavy metal/hard rock artist from UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}}, Michigan, Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948) was originally the frontman of a band called Alice Cooper. He has also used it as his stage name from the start. Every Alice Cooper album credits vocals (and sometimes harmonica) to Alice Cooper. He has since legally changed his name to this. The split was entirely amicable, probably because Furnier [[NiceGuy pays royalties to his former bandmates for the right to use the name.]]

* GenderBlenderName: His name was originally Vincent until he legally changed it in 1973 to the feminine name Alice. He once described a trip to the bank where he was asked his name and gave "Alice Cooper." The teller said "I have about six Alice Coopers here, which one are you?" His response? "I'm the one whose account says ''mister'' Alice Cooper."

* GenderBlenderName: But of course. He once described a trip to the bank where he was asked his name and gave "Alice Cooper." The teller said "I have about six Alice Coopers here, which one are you?" His response? "I'm the one whose account says ''mister'' Alice Cooper."

* Special Guest: in ''Film/WaynesWorld''.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "The Congregation", on ''Welcome 2 My Nightmare'' has the standard AcceptableTargets gem:

* AWildRapperAppears: [=XZibit=] raps a verse in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJV8TbyoKpY "Stand"]]

* LongTitle: "Look at You Over There, Ripping the Sawdust From My Teddy Bear" from ''Special Forces'', and "I'm Alive (That Was the Day My Dead Pet Returned to Save My Life)" from ''Zipper Catches Skin''.

* CoolOldGuy: He's in his 70’s and he's still [[TheyKilledKennyAgain killing himself four times per show]].
** He has said his goal is to last as long as Mick Jagger, who is five years older than him.

Cooper's career spans 45 years with 28 studio albums, and is often cited as one of the most influential performers in the hard rock genre. Music/BobDylan even commented in a 1978 interview that he thought "Alice Cooper is an overlooked songwriter". Cooper's stage shows are known for their shock value and vaudevillian influences, of which [[Creator/MarxBrothers Groucho Marx]] and Mae West were both fans. Starting in 2004, he began hosting a Detroit-based radio show, ''Nights with Alice Cooper''.

* CoveredUp: Music/HelenReddy's version of ''Only Women Bleed'' was a big single hit and is far better known than Alice Cooper's original, which is on the LP ''Music/WelcometoMyNightmare''. People are genuinely surprised that Cooper, not Reddy, wrote the song.

Cooper's career started in 1964, when his band was named The Spiders. In 1969, they renamed themselves Alice Cooper and released their debut album, ''Pretties for You'' on Music/FrankZappa's Straight Records label. Their first major breakthrough was in 1971 with the release of the song "I'm Eighteen" on the album ''Love it to Death''. The song was followed up with what is considered Cooper's SignatureSong, "School's Out" in 1972. In 1973, they released their most commercially successful album, ''Billion Dollar Babies'', which reached #1 in both the US and UK. Their next album, ''Muscle of Love'', was less successful, but still reached #10 on the ''Billboard Pop Albums'' chart. This was the last album recorded by the original Alice Cooper band. [[note]]The surviving members of the band, (guitarist Glen Buxton passed away in 1997), have performed live with Alice at various concerts. They performed at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as all five members were inducted.) They have also played on some solo albums, including 2021's ''Detroit Stories''.[[/note]] Furnier continued with a solo career (still as Alice Cooper) and released ''Welcome to My Nightmare''.

Cooper's career started in 1964, when his band was named The Spiders. In 1969, they renamed themselves Alice Cooper and released their debut album, ''Pretties for You'' on Music/FrankZappa's Straight Records label. Their first major breakthrough was in 1971 with the release of the song "I'm Eighteen" on the album ''Love it to Death''. The song was followed up with what is considered Cooper's SignatureSong, "School's Out" in 1972. In 1973, they released their most commercially successful album, ''Billion Dollar Babies'', which reached #1 in both the US and UK. Their next album, ''Muscle of Love'', was less successful, but still reached #10 on the ''Billboard Pop Albums'' chart. This was the last album recorded by the original Alice Cooper band. Furnier continued with a solo career (Still as Alice Cooper) and released ''Welcome to My Nightmare''.

Cooper's career spans 45 years with 26 albums, and is often cited as one of the most influential performers in the hard rock genre. Music/BobDylan even commented in a 1978 interview that he thought "Alice Cooper is an overlooked songwriter". Cooper's stage shows are known for their shock value and vaudevillian influences, of which [[Creator/MarxBrothers Groucho Marx]] and Mae West were both fans. Starting in 2004, he began hosting a Detroit-based radio show, ''Nights with Alice Cooper''.