Alice Cooper Talks the Death of “Shock Rock,” Scoffs at Retirement

Labeled the “Godfather of Shock Rock”, Alice Cooper spent over sixty years showcasing his love for hard rock and heavy metal. And wanting to put on a memorable concert, the singer was known for using props and illusions to entertain fans. Releasing over 20 studio albums as a solo artist, the rockstar, who turned 76 back in April, recently discussed why he refrained from trying to shock audiences over the last few years.

Appearing on the radio station KLPX, Cooper opened up about his rich history in the music industry. With his past full of amazing concerts and iconic music, the singer explained how times have changed. “It used to be easy to shock an audience in the ’70s. Now nobody’s really trying — we’re not really trying to shock an audience. I don’t think anybody is ‘shock rock’ anymore.”

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Alice Cooper Doesn’t Care About Retiring From Music

Although not looking to shock the audience, Cooper insisted he still keeps some of those elements in the show. “Those elements still remain in the show because they’re fun to watch. It’s still fun to watch the guillotine and the fact that you really buy into it because of what happens before that. You’re really concerned about this character Alice up there, what happens – and that’s what I like about it. I want the audience to get involved in the show.”

As for Cooper’s ongoing career, the rockstar continues to tour the world. Finishing up the extension of his Too Close for Comfort tour, the hitmaker will head overseas for a tour in Europe. Although in his late 70s, Cooper claimed he never wanted to retire. “The word retirement is not in my vocabulary. I have never felt better in my life. I have never done better shows than the ones I’m doing now. My band is unbelievable.”

Outside of his time on stage, Cooper recently traveled to Springboro, Ohio for a concert. But learning that the city named a snow plow after him in a 2023 contest, the rockstar couldn’t help but introduce himself to the famous “Alice Scooper.”

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)