Alice Cooper Photography

No matter who follows in his footsteps, Alice Cooper will always be the “Godfather of Shock Rock.” Not only was his blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and glam unconventional in 1969, but a theatrical stage show stocked with guillotines, electric chairs, snakes, and fake blood seems ahead of its time even today.

Alice Cooper—the band—first rose to fame in the early 1970s, riding up the charts with a succession of hits like “I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” In 1974, lead singer Vincent Furnier left the band and adopted the name as his own. His success continued as a solo act, including platinum-plus projects like 1975’s conceptual Welcome to My Nightmare and 1989’s comeback Trash.

Even in the current century, Cooper maintains a tireless touring and recording schedule, including 2011’s acclaimed sequel Welcome 2 My Nightmare. That same year, the original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His influence stretches into the modern day, inspiring bands from Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie to the Flaming Lips.