Posted on 03/01/2002 8:42:22 AM PST by BlueCrab
Alice Cooper goes with God
'Shock-rock' pioneer now 'dedicated to follow Christ'
Alice Cooper says he loves God but doesn't want to become a 'celebrity' believer.
The father of shock rock whose music and stage antics have outraged parents for more than 30 years told how the fear of hell turned him to God.
Alice Cooper, who sang about necrophilia and chopped up baby dolls during his concerts, said that although he continues to record and tour with a theatrical horror-style show, "My life is dedicated to follow Christ."
Although he became a Christian in the 1980s, apart from brief comments in some interviews the 54-year-old singer has always been guarded about his faith – until now. But in a frank interview with a Christian music magazine, he spoke at length publicly for the first time about his love for God and reluctance to become a "Christian celebrity."
A chart-topper with the teen anthem "School's Out," Cooper – who legally changed his name from Vince Furnier – has been credited with paving the way for the likes of today's outrageous performers such as Marilyn Manson.
But he maintains that his act was never political or religious and always had "a sense of humor." He told HM: The Hard Music Magazine that he was always insulted whenever he was accused of being satanic. Raised in a Christian home, he still believed in God, although he was not committed.
That changed when alcoholism threatened his marriage. He and his wife, Sheryl, attended a church with a "hellfire pastor." Cooper said he became a Christian "initially more out of the fear of God, rather than the love of God ... I did not want to go to hell." Interviewed for HM's March/April issue, Cooper views his faith as "an ongoing thing."
"Being a Christian is something you just progress in. You learn. You go to your Bible studies. You pray," he said.
He has avoided "celebrity Christianity," because "it's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a philosopher. I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians. So, don't look for answers from me."
Yet he has been able to speak to others in the music scene about his faith.
"I've had a couple of people that were friends of mine that I've talked to that have vocally said they have [accepted Christ]. I have talked to some big stars about this, some really horrific characters ... and you'd be surprised. The ones that you would think are the furthest gone are the ones that are more apt to listen."
Songs on Cooper's more recent recordings have hinted at his change of heart. He sees his stage persona now as "the prophet of doom," telling people: "'Be careful! Satan is not a myth. Don't sit around pretending like Satan is just a joke.' I think my job is to warn about Satan."
He no longer performs some of his older repertoire. Any song promoting promiscuous sex and drinking "gets the axe," he said. "I'm very careful about what the lyrics are. I tried to write songs that were equally as good, only with a better message."
Cooper told HM he answers his critics: "'I was one thing at one time, and I'm something new. I'm a new creature now. Don't judge Alice by what he used to be. Praise God for what I am now.'"
And in another direction was Jerry Colangelo and family, owner of the D'Backs.
It really shocked us to see Alice Cooper in church at the time.
That hasn't seemed to work with Cher or Streisand.
Yeah, but when he leaves a putt short, his partners say "Hit the ball, Alice!"
That's because The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
I have lots of grace for those who fall--I have to given the fellow in my mirror. . . it does seem to be essential that folk admit their failings . . . which some do, some don't. . . . those who don't seem doomed to wallow in them.
LOL!!! I can only say that this must be the reason why Jews only allow men 40 years old and older to begin study of the more 'mystical' components of their faith...because it takes about 30 years for all the silliness and immaturity to be leached away...so that by the time the man is middle aged, he begins to see the error of his youth and the wisdom of those who previously were 'rigid' and 'uncompromising' in their tradition.
To me it is a mark of maturity to recognize how silly you used to be and how much you can veer away from that by simply acknowledging the errors of the past.
It always does my heart good to hear/see a person who was formerly so 'unsalvageable' transform into something of a higher level.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.