How can a rock and roll legend be ignored for so long? Cooper has sold millions of records, opened the door to theater and staging in rock, and has influenced countless bands from Kiss to Marilyn Manson. He is noted as “universally recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential artists in rock music, inspiring many later musicians and helped shape the sound and look of punk rock and early heavy metal, and is credited as being the first to bring story-lined theatrics to the rock/pop concert stage” (Wikipedia)

Considering some of the early punk and heavy metal acts that are already in the Hall Of Fame, Alice Cooper should clearly be among them. (Johnny Rotten sang Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” when he auditioned for the Sex Pistols)

He had rock hits (Under My Wheels, Billion Dollar Babies, etc… ) and even soft rock hits (Only Women Bleed, You and Me, etc…). Billion Dollar Babies was a #1 album. School’s Out was a #2 album. What other artist had such defining-moment life soundtracks such as “I’m Eighteen” and the one of the greatest teenage anthems of all time: “Schools Out”?

His 1973 U.S. Tour broke box office records previously held by the Rolling Stones. His promotional video for “Elected” was one of the first story line MTV-type videos. His “Welcome To My Nightmare” -album, video, and TV special(!) – was way ahead of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” idea by years.

Also interesting is Alice Cooper being the rock star who opened the door to golf and made it cool for other musicians.

And no less a personage than Bob Dylan publicly proclaimed in a January 26, 1978, Rolling Stone cover story: "I think Alice Cooper is an overlooked songwriter."

Is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame going to wait until Alice is 80 years old and THEN give him an "early influencer" award??? C'mon, hands down Alice is Hall of Fame material.

Why keep Alice out just because his act is rather silly?

He's a real pro and his shows aren't much more contrived and corny than those of many of the other inductees.

And to all you kiddies that think Kiss should be in before Alice Cooper......It's time for a nap.

I think it's time to give Mr. Furnier his due. He's entertaining and hilarious. Also, his songs "Elected" and "School's Out" qualify as great holiday songs (well, Election Day and the beloved Last Day Of School). Let's not forget his hilarious anti-establishment "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and his introspective "I'm Eighteen" (who didn't feel the same way as the hero in that song at 18?). He was also one of the 1st successful American "glam rock" people and inspired Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne (plus, he's a much nicer guy than the Oz, if that qualifies). I want to elect Mr. Alice Cooper as an inductee for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!

inventive, but after KISS imo

I saw about 5 or 6 Cooper shows back in the seventies. Everyone of them were great and extremely entertaining. And guess what? They were all under $10. Great trip for the buck.

Paved the way for theatrics in rock and a huge influence on the entire hard rock scene. Also had some pretty timeless hits in No More Mr. Guy and School's Out.

Only Women Bleed, is that a HoF song?

After Kiss

The creator of the rock opera, the man that made rock and theater come together. ALice paved the way for artists like kiss, twisted sister, motely crue , maralyn manson.

The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame pretty much sucks so that's not relevant, but I'll just rate Cooper a 3 because i do enjoy some of his songs.  Side story: my friend's sister used to be a manager at a rental car place, and Alice Cooper once rented a car there....she said he was one of the ugliest people she has ever met.

Alice Cooper was a BAND! There were five members of the BAND! Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Vince Furnier. They wrote songs and created shows for the stage. It was a cohesive unit of writing and creating. It was NOT just one person.

Alice Cooper  brought a level of showmanship that nobody had yet achieved. The songs are good, solid Detroit guitar-based rock. His body of work is incredible and he is still giving it to us with his radio show. Hall of Fame? Yes!

Alice Cooper has written some of the greatest teen and angst anthems of all-time. He has a ton of quality songs and albums and remains a great live act. His influence on music was and remains strong. Anyone who influenced an entire genre of music like Alice has definitely belongs.

This guy definitely belongs. Yes some of  his act is not to be taken seriously but Alice himself has always said that it was intended to be vauldeville. It is all in good fun and I find his act and music very fun. He is a great performer, with a classic rock voice and I love a ton of his work.

Just about everything in hard rock and metal was influenced by Alice. A great live perfomer, with a ton of great albums. You have to put this guy in.

Cooper has an impressive body of work throughout his career. I know people especially love his work with the original band and his early solo years, but he still is putting out some good stuff in 2008. His theatrical shows are legendary and his influence is strong in hard rock, metal, punk, and other others. Whether you are a personal fan or not, you can't deny what this guy has done. He has had a terrific career going into his fifth decade in music and still puts on a high energy show. I respect that and him.

I actually like his newer stuff more than the 70's stuff. My husband got me into hard rock and metal music a few years ago, and recently I have gotten into some Alice. I can see his influence all over music especially hard rock, he definitely belongs. In my view they ought to put him in with Nugent, my favorite band AC/DC and one or two other hard rockers.

Definitely got add Alice. He brought theatrics to the mainstream, has some great songs, and there is something to like about every single Alice album. Not to mention he is a real ambassador for hard rock. Definitely got to be there.

When you consider if a band or performer should be in the Hall of Fame, it largely should be based on what they bring to music. Alice Cooper is a pioneer in every way. His original band produced some of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. His solo career has provided a mix of a variety of styles and some of those albums are downright compelling like WTMN and The Last Temptation. He brought theatrics into music, was the first to wear makeup on stage,  and today he is still a great live act and still puts out quality albums. All of the 80's bands owe him a debt of gratitude. Even new bands like My Chemical Romance cite him as an influence.

Welcome to my RATE-mare.


After DEEP PURPLE (but before Miles Davis)

All hype, but a very thoughtful, decent guy behind all that b.s. I like him, but not his music.

I think that Alice Cooper is one of the first American Heavy Metal Singers that used makeup and snakes.

Pros: Some pre-punk era classics, influential image. Cons: Relies a lot on production and razzamatazz over substance and when Alice Cooper went solo and ditched the band, it was over artistically.

The fact Alice isn't in is more proof that the R&R hall of fame is a joke.

one of the best

An originator of a genre! Certainly deserves to be in

How can he not be there?? He must have pissed on someone's tulips, or as he says "maybe I am over qualified"

Long overdue! one of the first and by far best
of Shock/theatrical rockers. Made it fun by not
taking themselves "serious". Fathers of shock?
maybe unless you can remember Lord Buckley or
the Crazy World of Arthur Brown!

First there was Alice Cooper. Then, there was everyone else. PERIOD!

who are the dorks that elect people to the hall of fame. must be the democrats, the losers

He was definately the man back in the seventies.Not sure about him being in the hall of fame im on the fence a little with that one.I did see him inconcert about 4 years ago and hes not as good as i remember him.So,id have to say a maybe on this one.

Welcome to my nightmare

The original band's first 7 albums are some of the best music ever comitted to vinyl.Their show's were the only one's worth seeing in the BIG arena's.Their not in but Blondie is? What a joke this hall thing is turning out to be!

The Legendary Alice Cooper. The Absolute Greatest!

He's not worthy

He invented "Shock Rock."  Another classic rock artist still getting snubbed.

I'm not a personal fan of his music, but he's not in yet??

Alice Cooper is the greatest showman of all time.!!!
Brilliant music combined with a awsome stage show.He invented shock rock and have influenced a huge amount of artist and metal bands.A true original and a living legend.He definately belong in the rock and roll hall of fame.If he doesn`t deserve it who does???If Kiss get inducted before Alice it will be the biggest shame of all time...

Invented theatrical rock even before Bowie. Like Marc Bolan and T. Rex, it is a crime that Alice is never even nominated. Also like Bolan, a true innovator and rocker. Get him in now. Alas, he has few friends among RS and that clique so it will be tough. They like sensitive singer/songwriters a little too much. A true innovator, also like Marc Bolan. What the hall of fame should be about, IMO.

Yeah, I don't think so. He is nothing more than the original Marilyn Manson. He is nothing more than an attention getter with very mediocre music...

yeah yeah yeh

Music was very, very heavy but good. Mr. Cooper was a genius at it, all the kids in the 70's and the 80's love him. It's never been trash music, but Shock music.The nightmare has been too long, please let him in.

Alice Cooper - father of shock rock? Come on.. he shoulda been there a long time ago.

land snakes alive. put him in.

For showmanship and dedication to the Rock and Roll cause Alice Cooper should be there right next to James Brown.

All you young ones who are giving out low star ratings for Alice should hang your heads in shame.If it hadn't been for Alice you would all be listening to flowery love drivel.And the hugh shows that you like to attend were all down to him blazing a path.The Rock and Roll hall of fame is an American ceremony that has yet to recognise the greatest contribution to American rock music after Elvis Presley.Here is just a short list of his achievements. First to use large thearetical shows, first ever video with Elected, first themed horror album including Vincent Price (10 years before Michael Jackson, 27 original albums all written by himself and 40 years since his first record as the Nazz. W e British love him and would gladly swap Rod Stewart or David Bowie for such a legend.

Cooper was the king of shock rock. Anyone who has as much influence over a genre of music deserves the hall of fame. He is still doing it today and now it includes two generations...his daughter calico (so he needs help in naming children) is a back up singer for him now.

The whole big-rock-show-from-the-70's can be attributed to him, but there are more acts with more talent. . .Cooper is a 'perhaps' but not a sure thing for me. . .

Alice was before sabbath and influenced almost every rock band to some degree since.