Music Bloodline

Alice Cooper

Pioneers of heavy rock, and masters of shock rock in the early '70s, the titular lead singer remained a successful solo artist into the 2000s.

Biography

Originally a band led by singer Vincent Damon Furnier, Alice Cooper pioneered a theatrical and violent brand of heavy metal designed to shock. While the visuals were extremely important for their impact, the music was nearly as distinctive, driven by raw, simple riffs and melodies that derived from '60s guitar pop as well as show tunes. It was rock & roll at its most basic and catchy, even when the band ventured into psychedelia and art rock. After the original group broke up and Furnier began a solo career as Alice Cooper, his music lost most of its theatrical flourishes, becoming straightforward heavy metal. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine