TL;DR
Get audio and creator gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Alice Cooper says crack cocaine use in the late 1970s or early 1980s nearly killed him and brought his marriage to the brink of divorce. He discussed that period in an interview with The Telegraph and in his forthcoming memoir, Devil on My Shoulder, due October 6, 2026.
Alice Cooper says crack cocaine use nearly killed him during a period around the late 1970s and early 1980s, and nearly ended his marriage to Sheryl Cooper. The 78-year-old musician discussed the experience in a new interview with The Telegraph and in an excerpt from his memoir, Devil on My Shoulder, scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.
Cooper recalled being introduced to crack not long after spending time in rehabilitation for alcohol abuse. He told The Telegraph that someone assured him smoking the drug was not addictive. Cooper said he later recognized that advice as false, describing crack as “the most addictive drug there is” and saying it was the substance that “almost killed” him. These are Cooper’s recollections; the source report does not provide independent details about the duration or medical consequences of his use.
In the memoir passage excerpted by The Telegraph, Cooper recalls being told about a substance called “base.” He writes that the person who introduced it said it was smoked rather than sniffed and was not addictive. Cooper says he had rarely smoked marijuana and had never smoked cigarettes before he “went all in.” The account describes how he understood the risks at the time, rather than establishing when or how often he used the drug.
Cooper also said the period nearly destroyed his marriage. He recalled that he and Sheryl were close to divorce court before both recognized that the situation was wrong. The couple remain married. According to the source report, Cooper has been sober for more than 40 years and continues to perform; a North American tour is scheduled to begin in the fall, alongside Las Vegas shows with magician Criss Angel.
How Drug Use Strained His Marriage
Cooper’s account connects his drug use to both a serious personal risk and a near-breakdown in his marriage. The story matters to readers because it offers the musician’s own description of how misleading reassurance about addiction shaped his decision to try crack, and how the consequences reached beyond his health.
His comments also arrive as he prepares to publish a memoir centered on his life and experiences. The interview and excerpt provide a preview of what he has chosen to recount, while the available reporting does not independently verify each detail of the autobiographical account.
From Rehabilitation to Crack Use
Cooper places his introduction to crack shortly after rehabilitation for alcohol abuse, in the late 1970s or early 1980s. In his telling, the drug was initially presented to him as “base,” with the claim that smoking it avoided addiction. He says he accepted that claim despite having little prior experience smoking other substances.
Devil on My Shoulder is scheduled to arrive October 6, 2026. The source report says Cooper remains active as a touring performer, with North American dates expected to start the following month and a series of “Welcome to Our Nightmare” shows with Criss Angel planned for Las Vegas.
““That was really the thing that almost killed me.””
— Alice Cooper, in an interview with The Telegraph
Details Cooper Has Not Specified
The source account does not give a precise timeline for Cooper’s crack use, how long it lasted, or specific medical effects that led him to describe it as nearly fatal. It also does not detail the steps that ended his use or the exact point at which he became sober. The statements about his experience and marriage are attributed to Cooper and have not been independently corroborated in the material provided.
Memoir and Tour Dates Ahead
Devil on My Shoulder is due October 6, 2026, and may provide further detail about the period Cooper discussed. The source report also points to a fall North American tour beginning next month and planned Las Vegas performances with Criss Angel. The report does not specify dates for those shows in the material provided.
Key Questions
What did Alice Cooper say about crack cocaine?
He said crack use around the late 1970s and early 1980s “almost killed” him and described the drug as highly addictive.
How did Cooper say he was introduced to crack?
He recalled someone introducing him to a substance called “base” and telling him that smoking it was not addictive. Cooper said he later recognized that claim as false.
Did Cooper say his drug use affected his marriage?
Yes. He said he and his wife, Sheryl, came close to divorce during that period. They remain married.
When is Alice Cooper’s memoir coming out?
Devil on My Shoulder is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.
What remains unknown about Cooper’s account?
The source report does not specify the length of his crack use, its particular medical effects, or the details of how he stopped. The account is based on Cooper’s interview and memoir passage.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
