Rock legend Alice Cooper, renowned for his shock rock persona, proves that sobriety doesn’t diminish rock ‘n’ roll spirit. At 76, Cooper, 42 years sober, has partnered with WhistlePig Whiskey to launch a non-alcoholic cocktail, the Sex, Drugs, Rock & Dry Cocktail. This maple old fashioned, paired with a rye-infused vinyl record of Cooper’s album Breadcrumbs, benefits Giving Kitchen, a charity supporting food service workers.
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Cooper, once known for his whiskey and Coca-Cola fueled performances, reflects on “outwitting whiskey,” the drink that once held a grip on him. He emphasizes that his sobriety doesn’t equate to weakness, stating that “rock ‘n’ roll is more of an attitude.” He never felt pressured to drink to maintain his rockstar image. He clarifies that while friends who could moderate their drinking avoided alcohol around him initially, he understood their difference. He couldn’t stop at one or two drinks; his drinking was compulsive.
Cooper firmly states he has no desire to return to alcohol or drugs. He hasn’t encountered negativity regarding his sobriety. He highlights that rock ‘n’ roll is about attitude, not substance abuse.
The music industry landscape has shifted significantly since the 1970s when substance use was rampant. Cooper acknowledges that bands like the Rolling Stones and himself wouldn’t have survived if they continued their past habits. He’s embarking on his “Too Close for Comfort” world tour, showcasing his enduring energy and passion for music.
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Cooper, reflecting on the past, remembers partying with iconic musicians like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin, who all tragically died at 27. Now, his current bandmates, including Johnny Depp in the Hollywood Vampires, are also sober. He humorously recounts Depp’s use of non-alcoholic beer and vaping, joking about a “phony heart attack.”
Cooper’s cameo in the 1992 film Wayne’s World satirized the excessive rockstar lifestyle prevalent in the ’80s. He notes that the wild backstage parties are a thing of the past. Today’s rockstar “drugs” are more likely to be pain relievers and remedies found in drugstores.
