At age 76, dubbed the Godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper still maintains a hectic tour schedule. The Schools Out singer is best known for decades of horror-themed theatrics and rock psycho-drama tours.
During the 70s, Alice Cooper admitted he had garnered a reputation for his hard-partying ways. He reveals during this era, he also developed an addiction to alcohol and cocaine. He adds that his drug issues became out of hand while partying with other musicians, including Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, and John Lennon.
Alice reveals that his addiction became a real problem after following the musician rules laid down by the other rockers. They said the rule at the club was to out-drink the other members and be the last one standing.
Fortunately for Cooper, by the 80s, he saw the damage he was doing to his body and mind and was able to get a grasp on his hard-partying ways. However, as a seasoned rocker who stays on the road more days than not, these days, things look very different for Alice.
Alice Cooper Claims He Hasn’t Softened His Rockstar Edge
Cooper claims being a rocker in the ‘70s meant having an “eternal party.’ “When I used to drink, my drink was whiskey and Coca-Cola. I used to be the Dean Martin of rock ‘n’ roll. There was always a drink in my hand.”
Alice Cooper recalls his early days of sobriety. Everyone was drinking around him, and he had to explain his issues. “I went, ‘Guys, it’s different with you. You guys can have a drink, two drinks, and then leave it. When I was drinking, I had to have another one and another one and another one and another one.’ If you’re in my situation, I can’t have any alcohol.”
Radar Online reports that the singer notes that rock ‘n’ roll is more about “attitude” than being drunk or high. “I’ve never once had anybody come up to me and go, “Wow, what a wimp.'”
Alice Cooper is preparing for his 2025 Too Close For Comfort tour. The tour starts on January 31 in Agusta, Georgia, and winds up on May 9 in Columbus, Ohio. As for the drugs, Alice claims they are still a tour staple.
“The drugs backstage are still there — except they’re Bengay, Advil, Tylenol. All the rockstar drugs are now at Walgreens,” he jokes. Alice Cooper is an incredible 42 years sober.
Alice claims he enjoys surrounding himself with others on the sober path. He reveals that Hollywood Vampire pals Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen all live alcohol-free lives.
He reveals he is incredibly proud of Johnny. He laughs and jokes, saying of Depp, “So he’s got phony cigarettes and phony alcohol, and I told him he was gonna have a phony heart attack.”
Cooper adds he feels very fortunate and thankful. He feels great, even at his advanced age, and has zero desire to drink or use drugs ever again. Who knows, at this rate, Alice Cooper could be touring well into his 90s.
