Alice Cooper Pg. 3
The 1980s
The new decade found Alice Cooper at a crossroads. Professionally, he remained one of rock's biggest stars, but behind the makeup and theatrical stage shows, alcoholism had tightened its grip on nearly every aspect of his life. The 1980s would become the most difficult and ultimately the most transformative decade of his career.
more modern sound influenced by new wave music. The album produced the hit "Clones (We're All)" and demonstrated that he was willing to experiment rather than simply repeat the formula that had made him famous.
The following year, Alice released Special Forces. Although the album received mixed reviews and modest sales, 1981 brought a far more important milestone away from the stage. On May 19, Alice and Sheryl welcomed their first child, daughter Calico. Becoming a father added a new sense of responsibility to his life, but behind the scenes his addiction continued to tighten its grip.
By this point, the music was becoming secondary to a far more serious problem. Years of heavy drinking had begun affecting Alice's memory, concentration, and overall health. Friends, family, and colleagues watched with growing concern as one of rock's most creative performers struggled to maintain control of his life.
Doctors prescribed tranquilizers, including Valium, in an effort to ease his anxiety and alcohol withdrawal. Instead, the medication combined with his drinking to deepen the addiction. Alice has since admitted that large portions of the early 1980s disappeared into what he describes as an alcoholic blackout, leaving him with little memory of recording sessions, tours, or even everyday life.
In 1982, Alice released Zipper Catches Skin. Although the album contained moments of creativity, he has repeatedly acknowledged that he remembers almost nothing about making it because of the state he was in at the time.
His personal life was also reaching a breaking point. By late 1983, Alice's alcoholism had placed enormous strain on his marriage. That November, Sheryl filed for divorce after years of watching the addiction consume both his career and family life. Faced with the very real possibility of losing everything that mattered most, Alice finally recognized that he could no longer continue living as he had.
He entered rehabilitation once again, this time fully committed to getting sober.
Unlike earlier attempts, this decision became the turning point. Through determination, professional treatment, and the unwavering support of those closest to him, Alice achieved lasting sobriety. As his health improved, he and Sheryl reconciled before the divorce was finalized, preserving the marriage that would become one of rock music's greatest success stories.
Sobriety changed far more than his health. Alice has often said that overcoming alcoholism was a greater accomplishment than any platinum album or sold-out concert. For the first time in years, he could think clearly, enjoy family life, and begin rebuilding a career that many believed had already ended.
On June 3, 1985, Alice and Sheryl welcomed their second child, son Dashiell, known as Dash. With a growing family depending on him, his determination to remain sober became even stronger. That same year, he returned to the recording studio with renewed purpose.
In 1986, Alice released Constrictor, embracing the heavier guitar-driven sound that had become popular during the decade. Featuring guitarist Kane Roberts, the album included "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)," which appeared in the film Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. The song introduced Alice to a younger audience while reminding longtime fans that one of rock's greatest showmen had returned.
His comeback continued in 1987 with Raise Your Fist and Yell. The album balanced aggressive hard rock with Alice's trademark theatrical storytelling, while extensive touring proved that his stage presence remained every bit as commanding as it had been during the 1970s.
The decade reached its commercial high point in 1989 with Trash. Produced by Desmond Child, the album featured contributions from an impressive collection of musicians and songwriters, including Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Diane Warren. Its lead single, "Poison," became Alice's biggest hit in more than a decade, while "House of Fire" and "Bed of Nails" helped return him to the upper reaches of the charts around the world.
By the end of the 1980s, Alice Cooper had completed one of rock's most remarkable comebacks. He had survived addiction, rebuilt his marriage, embraced fatherhood, rediscovered his faith, and returned to commercial success without sacrificing the theatrical identity that had made him famous. Entering the 1990s, he was no longer simply a survivor of the classic rock era. He had become one of its most enduring figures.
The 1990s
The remarkable comeback that began in the late 1980s carried naturally into the new decade. Alice Cooper had regained his health, restored his marriage, and reestablished himself as a major recording artist. While many of his contemporaries struggled to adapt to changing musical trends, Alice focused on making music on his own terms, touring relentlessly, and enjoying the stable family life he had fought so hard to preserve.
In 1991, he released Hey Stoopid, a powerful follow-up to the success of Trash. Featuring guest appearances by Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, and members of Bon Jovi, the album demonstrated the enormous respect Alice commanded among fellow musicians. The title track delivered an anti-drug and anti-suicide message, reflecting the perspective of someone who had survived his own battles with addiction and understood how precious yet fragile life could be.
The musical landscape, however, was changing rapidly...
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