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Three
adjectives to describe yourself
Alice,
the character, is theatrical, dark and funny. And for myself
it’s optimistic, creative and handsome. I’m every
girl’s dream.
Which
sports team do you support?
Detroit
Lions, Detroit Tigers. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Detroiter.
Football, baseball, anything to do with Detroit.
Do
you get on with your parents?
Yes,
although my father’s passed away. I always got on with
them. They didn’t like the idea that I was dropping out
of college to pursue a musical career – going to Los Angeles
at 17 years old is like going to Sodom And Gomorrah. It really
made them nervous, but after a year of starving in LA and doing
anything to keep the band alive, we finally got signed and it
finally looked like I had a career. Frank Zappa’s label
Bizarre Records offered us $30,000, and believe me, we didn’t
know there was that much money in the world. Then my parents
realised we were in with a shot.
Where,
when and what age did you lose your virginity?
I
was about 17. We were living in a house on Beethoven Street
in Venice [Beach], California. We were there, Pink Floyd were
living there for a while, and all the bands who played this
one club stayed there because nobody could afford hotels, and
nobody bothered you there. It was with a girl from Albuquerque.
What
are your views on groupies?
They’re
a necessary part of rock’n’roll. I just throw my portion
of them to the band, and they like that. My band goes through
a lot of women. Even in a city where you think there are none,
they find them. What they lack in drugs, they take out on women.
If
you gave up the music business, what would you do?
I’ve
always dabbled with art. Maybe I’d become a commercial
artist, although I don’t think I have the patience anymore.
So maybe I’d do acting or [film] directing.
What’s
the worst thing about being Alice Cooper?
There’s
not too many bad things, to be honest. It’s probably that
Alice [the character] hurts himself onstage without knowing
it. There’s a lot of adrenaline and there have been times
when I’ve come offstage with broken arms and ribs without
knowing it. Alice plays hard and I’m the one that pays
for it. There’s a lot of physical pain involved.
When
did you last have your hair cut?
Very
recently. Just one billionth of an inch off the ends.
What’s
the last thing you do before you go onstage?
Hit
something really hard with my riding crop. Hopefully not a human,
but whatever’s around. I’m working up to being onstage.
Would
you shave your head for charity?
Boy,
that’s a good question. It would have to be an awfully
good charity, but I don’t think it would be good for them
to see me without hair – horrible!
What’s
the weirdest request made to you by a fan?
Not
necessarily a request, but I’ve had things sent to me.
I’ve actually inherited a couple of houses. Somebody included
me in their will! I was a beneficiary of a house in Norway and
I get $175 a month from this guy’s medical insurance. I
felt kinda ghoulish because I never met the guy!
If
you could change one part of your body, which part would it
be?
Hmmmmm,
it’s hard to tamper with perfection. Maybe my hair; I’d
like it longer. I’d like to grow it back to the length
it was, right down to my waist.
Which
song would you most like to cover?
‘Something
In The Air’, by Thunderclap Newman [from 1969]. I’ve
always wanted to do that one. In fact, we did some covers for
the B-sides of singles for this album [‘Hey Stoopid’].
We did ‘Fire’ by Jimi Hendrix and ‘For Your Love’
by the Yardbirds. It’s fun to take songs you liked as a
kid and put your stamp on them. I’d love to do ‘19th
Nervous Breakdown’ [by the Rolling Stones], too. Maybe
I will…
What’s
the most peculiar place you’ve ever had a bonk?
[Laughing]:
I was with this girl in my backyard when I once came back to
visit my parents. It was in the days when I couldn’t afford
a hotel room, and I think I was drunk. My mum was doing the
dishes and I could see her from where we were. There was an
orange tree in the way and I’m sure she couldn’t see
me – I certainly hope so! If she had, she’d have said:
‘Excuse me, could you not do that in the backyard, you’re
ruining the flowers!’
Which
of the bands that were influenced by Alice are you most fond
of?
Zodiac
Mindwarp & The Love Reaction. Great band, I wish they’d
get back together. Lyrically, they were really good. Zodiac
sent me this one song called ‘Feed My Frankenstein’,
which we used on the new album and there was very little I had
to alter to make it suit Alice. Another band I like that were
influenced by Alice would be Mötley Crüe.
What’s
the best thing about being Alice Cooper?
That
I don’t have to answer for what [the character] does. If
Alice does something onstage, I can’t be blamed for it.
I just say: ‘It was Alice, not me. Arrest him instead’.
I think I might get away with it in court because I’m a
split personality.
Who’s
the most egotistical dickhead you’ve met in rock ‘n’
roll?
Nobody
specific, but usually it’s bands on the way up. It’s
not the Paul McCartneys or John Lennons of this world. It’s
bands who have just one hit. I know, because I did the dumbest
thing myself early on in my career. In an interview I was asked
what I thought of Creedence Clearwater Revival and I flew into
them, saying they were boring jerks. I met them the very next
day and I was so embarrassed because they were the sweetest
guys. Fortunately, they laughed.
What
is the proudest moment of your life so far?
The
first time I heard a record of mine on the radio. And it doesn’t
go away. It’s a strange feeling when what you’ve done
ends up in the charts above an artist that you worship.
And
what is your most embarrassing moment?
At
the Forum in Los Angeles. We used to do ‘How You Gonna
See Me Now’, which was a big hit for us and was peaking
at the time of the show. We used to build it up, the stage used
to go black, with a spotlight trained on me. Very dramatic.
Alice was standing there with this black suitcase and I started
the first verse. "Dear darling, rather you than me…".
And nothing came out. I was singing into the wrong end of the
microphone! Suddenly I was inspector Clouseau! I’ve also
forgotten the lyrics to ‘School’s Out’. When
that happens, you just stick the microphone out into the crowd
– you know they know the words!
Would
you go to heaven if you died today?
Absolutely. |
