Speaking exclusively to Rock Candy magazine as part of an in-depth 16-page cover story, legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper told writer Andrew Daly that he’s determined to buck the current trend of rock stars retiring.
“A farewell tour hasn’t crossed my mind at all,” said Alice, who turned 75 this year. “And it’s weird, because all my friends are retiring. Gene Simmons [of KISS] said to me recently, ‘Look, I’m done. Come December, it’s over.’ And I go, ‘Well, you know, these farewell tours go on for years and years now, right?’ But Gene was very serious and said, ‘Not this time. I promise you that come December, KISS as we know it is absolutely done.’ The guys in AEROSMITH are saying the same thing, as are many other bands from my era. But none of that occurs to me. It’s never been a thought that I’d retire. I feel great, and the band sounds great. I’m 75, but I’ll be up there at 90 if I’m still in good enough shape.”
Alice went on to cite THE ROLLING STONES, who are still active and as relevant today as ever they have been, as his inspiration. “I’m looking at Mick Jagger as the prototype,” he says. “Mick still does three-hour shows and the soundcheck. So if Mick can do it, so can I.”
Alice previously discussed the possibility of retirement during a September 7 appearance on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”. Asked how long he thinks he can keep touring before it will be time for him to retire, the legendary rocker responded: “It’s all in your head. I really think so. And also if you’re physically well. I would not wanna play Alice Cooper if I didn’t look like Alice, the same way I looked like Alice in the ’70s. I still look like that Alice. If I couldn’t sing like Alice, if I lost my interest in it, if I didn’t really love doing it. And the main thing is if nobody shows up. You can go out on tour and if nobody buys tickets, you’re done. That’s not happened; in fact, it’s kind of doubled for us,despite all I still consider my health first…!
It depends how long I can be Alice cooper, as long as I can perform what I love to do most,I don’t consider retirement now. Speaking to a radio station last night about his upcoming tour.
