The "Real" Alice Cooper
by Sammi Bjelland - KELO TV - July 12, 2013
SIOUX FALLS, SD - A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer comes to Sioux Falls, but not for a concert. Alice Cooper came to inspire kids to play music.
Rock icon Cooper was all high fives and smiles today as he greeted kids at the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy.
"I tell kids that if you want to be in a gang, be in a band. It's a gang, except that you won't get shot," Cooper said.
The Rock and Roll Academy teaches kids to play music for free. Cooper started a similar program in Phoenix, Arizona in 1995, called the Solid Rock Foundation.
"Affect kids that are going to be affected in a bad way, affect them in a good way. Give them an alternative to guns, gangs and drugs. The alternative is music," Cooper said.
Cooper was one of the rockers who donated his time back in April to raise $1.3 Million to run the Academy. It's ironic because back in the 1970's, many parents were convinced Alice was satanic. But Cooper says he now leads Bible studies.
"The way I show my Christianity is this. I'm not beating you over the head with a Bible, but I'm doing what I think the Lord said for me to do, help those kids. So I'm in a position to do it and I'm going to do it," Cooper said.
Cooper says people need to separate his on stage character with the real life person.
"I was a prodigal son. I went as far away and came back to Christianity. But I'm still playing Alice Cooper. I don't see any difference between me playing Alice Cooper or playing McBeth," Cooper said.
Today Chuck Brennan dedicated the Academy's recording studio to Alice. Cooper also offered some advice for kids looking to form a band.
"If you want to be in Alice Cooper. If you want to be in any major band, we don't hire druggies. We don't hire alchies. When you get to this level, it's a business, be professional," Cooper said.
Cooper says the academy will help kids, even if they never take to the stage like Alice.
"Everybody has to start somewhere and this is the place where it starts. I wish we had this when I was a kid," Cooper said.