The amazing ‘Spider’ man

Alice Cooper returns just in time for Halloween

INTERVIEW.The pioneer of controversy and shock rock, Alice Cooper is an undeniable legend. Born Vincent Furnier 60 years ago, he originated theatrical live performances in rock music and has been a noted influence on four decades of costumed character musicians who followed. Releasing 25 albums in 40 years, 22 of which reached the charts (six platinum, two gold), Alice Cooper’s recent release “Along Came A Spider” came out this July. Based upon an old and unpublished short story by Alice, the concept record revolves around a serial killer obsessed with spiders who falls in love with his last victim.
Cooper proves he can still thrill and chill his audiences with his albums and shows, which are decadently dark and dramatic, complete with character costume changes, various killing devices and gallons of fake blood.


What is the concept behind the new record?
It started out as a short story I wrote a while back. I wrote a series of short stories. It was a book I was gonna put out called “Spirits Rebellious.” It was a series of 10 short stories. “Along Came a Spider” was based on a character. As Americans, we love our serial killers, but we only love our fictitious serial killers. We find it very hard to sympathize with real serial killers. We find it hard to sympathize with John Wayne Gacy or Jeffery Dahmer, but we just love our Norman Bates and our Hannibal Lecter. So I said, “Let’s write one about someone really interesting. Let’s make it about someone who’s psychotic enough to look at a spider as his favorite predator. And when he kills his victims he wraps them in silk, because a spider would do that. And then I’m gonna take one leg from the victim.” Then you find out this guy has a human side. This guy falls in love with his eighth victim and he can’t kill her. You never saw that coming. That would never happen to Hannibal Lecter. He realizes that he’s done. She knows who he is and he can’t do anything about it, really. And then on top of it, he has a religious epiphany. Everything that he’s not putting into the equation is being put into the equation. And he’s thinking, “What if I’m wrong?” This guy isn’t secure in what he’s doing and I think that gives him a more human side. He’s almost forgivable at some point.

Have you encountered any censorship on this record?
That would be like trying to censor Stephen King. He writes about vampires and killers. Especially during my show, you know there’s an act of comedy. As far as I’m concerned, this is about having a character I can bring on stage. And Alice can play this character, and you know at the end he’s going to be hung or guillotined. Then he’s going to come out with white hats and tails for “Schools Out”.

You have influenced a lot of people theatrically. Is there any band you’re embarrassed to have influenced?
There are certain bands that have cleverly used some of my act. I look around and see Marilyn Manson, but Manson said he’s Alice Cooper for this generation. Kiss said, “Look, if one Alice worked, then four should work.” They all in one way or another said, “If there’s no Alice, there’s no us.” Everyone who came into the goth movement has tipped their hat to Alice, and I appreciate that. Then there are a few where I hope they don’t use me as an influence. I’m not into the whole black death metal thing. The greatest insult you could say about Alice is that he’s Satanic. All of my stuff is anti-Satanic. Even when I wasn’t Christian I was making anti-Satanic remarks. That is the biggest misconception about Alice Cooper. I don’t mind good ‘ol horror and good ‘ol comedy in rock ‘n’ roll, but you’re not going to see me tip my hat to Satan.

What scares Alice Cooper?
Needles. I can put my head in the guillotine and I can wrap a 20-foot boa constrictor around me and I have no problem seeing rattlesnakes while playing golf in Arizona. But blood tests… I panic. I turn white. I know it has nothing to do with pain. The good thing about this is I could never be a junky. That’s my only true phobia.

Do you have any vivid recurring nightmares you may or may not have created from your performances?
No, I am probably the most stress-free person you’ll ever meet. I’ve been married for 32 years to the best girl in the world. And she’s still in the show. My daughters are still in the show. They’re all actresses. I never had to have auditions for this show because everyone in my family was perfect for it. They have all been in show business. It’s a very creative process. I don’t say, “This is the show!” Everyone has some input.

You’re playing a lot of state fairs on tour. Those can be very scary places at times.
Oh yeah. Have you ever noticed how creepy the carnival thing can be?  Alice’s show was born in that. If there’s a carnival, we would be that sideshow. Who are these people? Every time I go to a carnival I think, “I want this guy to run this ride?” There’s something very creepy about the carnival that I relate to. We are that sideshow.

Did your kids go through goth phases?
My kids never had a chance to rebel. What are they gonna do? Come home with blue hair and black lipstick? Daddy invented that. The only way they can get back at me is to say “Hey dad, did you hear the new Clint Black record?”. I would go “Oh no, don’t go country-western on me!”

Do you make it a point to golf before shows?
Whether permitting, if I’m home, I play days a week. When I’m on the road, if we’re lucky. I tour in the summer time because of that. I never tour in the winter. I play as much as I possibly can. The funny thing is, golf and Alice never meet. There’s never a time when Alice Cooper has been on a golf course. He wouldn’t know what to do. He’d think they were weapons. I don’t allow Alice and golf to be connected at all.

Do you have any outspoken political stances?
I am the least political guy you know. I think that my job is to take you away from politics. If I go to see “Harry Potter,” or “Alien” – any of those kind of movies that take you to a different universe – that’s my world. That’s what I want you to feel. You’re not going to get my opinion. This tour, being in the heat of an election and the fact that I have a song called “Elected,” everyone is fair game. So we do have McCain, Obama and Bush on stage and let’s just say they’re equally made fun of… for good reason.

How much of your day is spent in makeup?
Two hours a night. There area people that think I wear makeup when I walk down the street and think I have the snake with me, if Alice lived in this world he would probably do that, but he doesn’t. He lives on stage.

You do a regular radio show. How do you like doing that? Does it go on hold while you’re on the road?
I love the radio show. It’s the easiest thing in the world. I take the audience with me. With ProTools you can do the show from your tour bus, or from your hotel room.

Do you have a favorite accolade over the years?
No, not really. I am one of those guys who is afraid to not be doing something. There was one moment in my life where I was in three days of a depression. It was before I made it and I always knew I never wanted to feel that again. Now I’m up at 6:30 in the morning and I don’t not give myself a chance to not be involved in something. I’m doing a tour, I’m doing a radio show, I’ve got a restaurant, I’ve got a Solid Rock foundation, I’ve got golf and the Calloway thing. I wonder, “How can all this work together?” But it does and I’m a very stress-free guy.

Alice Cooper
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
The Orpheum
One Hamilton Place, Boston
MBTA: Red or Green Line to Park
$30-$40, 617-931-2000
www.ticketmaster.com