The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Source: 

Monday, March 26, 2018 12:09 PM

FAITH: Alice Cooper: Jesus Christ Saved Me From Life Of Booze, Drugs And Near Death

"Everything that could go wrong was shutting down inside of me,” Cooper, who is preparing to reprise his role as King Herod in NBC's live version of "Jesus Christ Superstar," told the New York Daily News' Confidential.

The rocker, who saw his good friends and fellow musicians die young, knew he needed to clean up his act.

"I was drinking with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix and trying to keep up with Keith Moon and they all died at 27," Cooper recalled.

The legendary rocker said it was at that moment he knew he either had to give up drinking or he would die too. It was then that Cooper turned to his faith.

"My wife and I are both Christian," the 70-year-old said. "My father was a pastor, my grandfather was an evangelist. I grew up in the church, went as far away as I could from it — almost died — and then came back to the church."

Cooper acknowledges that a lot of people don't understand how he can be a rock musician but still be a Christian.

"There’s nothing in Christianity that says I can’t be a rock star,” he explained. "People have a very warped view of Christianity. They think it’s all very precise and we never do wrong and we’re praying all day and we’re right wing. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with a one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ."

Cooper, who first played the role of King Herod in a 1996 London revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar," spoke about being a part of the upcoming live version starring John Legend.

He revealed that his inspiration for the role comes from Alan Rickman's portrayal of Professor Snape in "Harry Potter."

"When I first heard about it, I thought Alan Rickman — that condescending sort of arrogant character — and I kind of fashioned what I would do after what I thought Alan Rickman would do if he were alive,” he said.

Fox News caught up with the Godfather of Shock Rock last year when he told us he and his wife, Sheryl Goddard, have been faithful to each other over the course of their 41-year marriage.

"You know what, we have never cheated on each other," Cooper told us. "First of all, marry the girl you are in love with. That’s the important thing. Don’t just marry the girl that you love."