American Rock Musician (b. 1948)
This may come as a surprise to you, but Alice Cooper—the “Godfather of Shock Rock”—grew up in a Christian home, always knowing that he needed Christ. Both his father and grandfather were ordained Methodist ministers.
On February 4, 1948, Alice Cooper was born Vincent Furnier in Detroit, Michigan. Alice’s family moved around a great deal during his early years, but settled in Phoenix, Arizona when he was thirteen. At the age of fifteen he started making money playing music with his band at parties and bars. By the time he had reached his early thirties (c. late 1970s), Alice Cooper was a mega-successful rockstar leading the most notorious band in the world. He was blessed with a devoted and loving spouse, but also cursed with the habit of self-medicating through alcohol and drugs.
Cooper’s wife, Sheryl, was perhaps his greatest motivation to “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15) of Jesus Christ. But, right from the start, Alice Cooper was not one to be easily swayed towards repentance and faith. In his own eyes, he was a rock god, and for a rock god to become a Christian was for him to admit, “I’m not God, anymore.” He wanted to make his own decisions; he wanted to continue to live his own life, even though the life-decisions he was making were ultimately leading to death. He wanted to walk his own path; afterall, that was the path that led him to the heights of stardom, partying, and befriending some of the biggest names in show business.
Then it all changed. Cooper’s marriage was falling apart; his alcohol and drug use had taken center stage, and was killing him. It was only then, when his dream had literally become his nightmare that Alice Cooper decided to quit and get clean. Due to an ultimatum given by his wife, the two began going to church. First, they went to a church with a hell-fire and brimstone pastor. It was the fear of God that brought Alice Cooper around to Christ—he was terrified of Hell. This opened his eyes to who he was, as a condemned sinner, and to who Jesus is, as the righteous Judge and blessed Redeemer. But eventually, the couple began attending a different church with a different type of pastor, whose messages were focused more on God’s amazing grace. It was the love of Christ that grew Alice Cooper spiritually.
One day, he went to his pastor and said, “I think I got to stop being Alice Cooper now.” His pastor replied, “Look where God has put you. What if you’re Alice Cooper, but, what if you’re now following Christ? And you’re a rockstar, but you don’t live the rockstar life? Your lifestyle is now your testimony.”
Today, on the stage, the man who was born Vincent Furnier still plays Alice Cooper—a villainous role for entertainment’s sake—but in reality, on the inside, he’s born again—a changed man—living for God’s kingdom’s sake. He continues to make great music, making an impact on the world; but now, he does it unashamed to let anyone know he’s a follower of Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, the man whose albums they once physically destroyed on the Christian television show The 700 Club is now an agent for Christ. Alice Cooper is just a fictional character, an imaginary persona. This is Vincent Furnier’s reality of faith, in his own words: “People talk about Alice being a rebel. There was never a rebel—more of a rebel than Jesus Christ. He was the ultimate rebel.”
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16 ESV).
—Ron Metheny
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