by Alice Cooper and Daniel Richler
When you think of Alice Cooper, images of the goth rocker putting on a macabre theatrical rock and roll performance likely fill your mind. A chicken, the gallows, the guillotine, baby dolls, and (fake) blood were all part of the show, alongside the music which spanned heavy metal, glam rock, and even new wave. Mr. Cooper is now 78 years old, and this is his third memoir/autobiography. He opens this latest by pledging, after six decades of entertaining, to come clean about some of the previous rumors, exaggerations, and inflated legends.
You might be aware that ‘Alice Cooper’ was first the name of the band, and then in the 1970’s lead singer Vincent Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper. That matters because this book is written from the perspective of Vincent Furnier, with periodic (and often humorous) interjections from Alice Cooper, Vincent’s celebrity alter ego (and his now legal name). If that’s a bit confusing, fear not, the book’s structure works just fine, and we empathize with the man who prefers to separate himself from the legend.
The first half of the book acts as a cautionary tale for teenagers dreaming of a glamorous and high-roller lifestyle associated with rock stars. Alice Cooper the rock star was borne from Alice Cooper the band, which had begun as The Spiders and transitioned into Nazz. Vincent/Alice walks us through the teenage years of poverty and sleeping in cars, hoping to book a gig that could be split amongst band members in a way sufficient for food and beer. The cautionary tale label can be applied equally to the struggles of a band striving to get noticed and young men succumbing to the bottle (and other things). In fact, Vincent seems intent on emphasizing the regrets he has about his many years of heavy drinking, and eventual drug use. In the later chapters, he goes into detail about the drug use and difficulty in finding a way out. Sure, these are entrapments we’ve come to expect from a rock band, but the effects on the person behind the mask (makeup) are what come to light here.
As you might expect, much of the book is dedicated to the band’s rise to the top with gold records, charting singles, and the infamous live shows. What’s surprising is that the glory days are recalled with as many downs as ups. Challenges within the band, with recording, and with the record companies are all outlined. It acts a bit as a behind-the-scenes look, as the curtain is pulled back and we find out that even the most popular and famous performers face professional challenges throughout their career.
Songwriting, performing, band dynamics, life on the road, addiction, and love life are all given due weight throughout the book, and this never reads like self-promotion or an ego trip. Rather, it’s memories of the progression from high school band to global fame, with the many ups and downs highlighted for those who want or need to know. From the childhood foundation of religion to blackout addiction and rehab to finding and losing love, Alice Cooper/Vincent Furnier has lived a life every bit as colorful as the stage persona. What many will find surprising is that he’s basically a shy and thoughtful and nice guy … admittedly one who has made mistakes along the way. In this book, Alice Cooper welcomes us to his nightmare, while confirming it wasn’t all so bad.
Available on Amazon October 6, 2026
