Customer Reviews

Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict

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Alice Cooper, the godfather of shock rock, has been on the music scene for nearly forty years. During that time, he has sold multiplatinum albums, toured the world, battled alcoholism and the rock star lifestyle in general, and become one of America's most respected celebrity golfers. And now, Alice has released Alice Cooper, Golf Monster, his autobiography, which is a most enjoyable read.

Cooper wrote Golf Monster collaborating with Keith and Kent Zimmerman, who also co-authored Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten's memoir. Alice Cooper, Golf Monster is a tell-all memoir that alternates between Cooper's life story and his own "twelve step program" for becoming a golf addict. Alice's sense of humor has been his trademark as a songwriter, and that humor is present throughout this book.

Golf Monster follows Cooper's life (born Vincent Damon Furnier in 1948) from his childhood in Detroit to his teenage years in Phoenix when he formed his first band, the Earwigs, through his forty-plus year musical career and his battle with the alcohol addiction that nearly destroyed his marriage and ended his life. Alice's close friendship with longtime manager Shep Gordon is also covered in this book.

Pop culture buffs will love this book, which is filled with anecdotes of Cooper's exploits with his many celebrity friends and acquaintances, from Frank Sinatra to Groucho Marx, Fred Astaire to Jack Benny, Salvador Dali to Peter Sellers. Many of Alice's colleagues from the rock music industry are here, including Paul McCartney, John Lennon, The Who, Elvis, Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison and Pink Floyd. Alice Cooper, Golf Monster is filled with lots of fascinating tales for readers to enjoy.

Alice writes about his relationship with his father, Ether Moroni Furnier, and the impact his dad has had upon his life. Although the elder Furnier was a minister, he always came out to the VIP Club on Friday nights to watch his son and his band play during their early days in Phoenix. Alice adds that while his father didn't condone his rocker lifestyle, he never had a problem with the music.

Cooper also writes about his conversion to Christianity, and he manages to do so in a manner that is quite interesting without being preachy. While he has talked openly about his faith over the years, he has also managed to avoid the trappings of "celebrity Christianity." Alice describes his walk with Christ as "an on-going, every-single-day kind of existence." Cooper recounts a conversation with his pastor during a time when Alice was struggling to reconcile his old image with his new faith. The minister told Cooper that while he lives in the world of "sex, drugs and rock n' roll," he was also a man who doesn't cheat on his wife, do drugs, or go to strip bars with the boys. The members of Alice's band, and his road crew see him reading his Bible and praying every night on his tour bus, and that quiet example speaks louder than any amount of preaching he could have done from the stage.

The book's title makes reference to Alice's new addiction, and the fact that he has replaced an unhealthy addiction (alcohol) with a healthy one (golf). Between the chapters of Cooper's life story are additional chapters laying out Alice's twelve steps to becoming a golf addict, for those who seriously want to dedicate themselves to the game. Cooper freely admits to having an addictive personality, and in addition to alcohol and golf, some of his other addictions have included horror movies, televisions (at one point, he had twenty-seven sets in his home), TV trivia, watches, shopping, and bad kung fu movies (he watches one before each show as part of his pre-concert ritual). The book's appendix is titled "Alice's Golf Clinic," in which Cooper offers golf tips for improving one's game.

Alice Cooper, Golf Monster is a thoroughly enjoyable read. This is the story of a man who has been to the pinnacle of his profession, conquered addiction and found redemption. I've been an Alice Cooper fan for many years, and I gladly recommend this book not only to other Alice fans, but also for golf enthusiasts.

As much of an Alice Cooper fan as I am, I am somewhat ashamed that it took me so long to read this book. Based on the title, I originally thought it was more of a golf book. Golf tidbits are intermixed with anecdotes of a life in rock'n'roll. So even those like myself that know almost nothing of the sport will still love this book.

In the history of rock, few figures are as misunderstood as Alice Cooper. Often the victim of baseless rumors during the 70's, he still became one of music's most successful acts. "Golf Monster" chronicles the music, booze, golf in a way that is certain to make readers smile. I never really thought Alice had so many friends in the entertainmnet business! My only real complaint is that I would have liked a longer book with more discussion of the music and tours. Some of my favorite albums were hardly discussed.

I also really enjoyed reading about the "new" Alice Cooper. He is more than enough proof that Christians do not need to be boring. And even in his act, he does not compromise his faith in his on-stage "character". As Alice says, if you believe he errors in his faith, show him. Fans of Alice are certain to love this book, even if they don't like golf.

I've been following the Coop ever since my tender ears beheld "School's Out" on the radio in '73. I think it's safe to say it pretty much changed my life. After reading "Golf Monster", I'm convinced that no one will ever know the true story of Alice Cooper. There have been two previous "authorized" attempts: 1) Michael Bruce's "No More Mr. Nice Guy", wherein the original Alice Cooper guitarist/songwriter gives his side of "the story", which is sometimes different from the Coop's and 2) Alice Cooper's own "Me, Alice" (1976), which gives the reader quite the earful about Alice and band's pre-fame exploits, some of them dealing with sex-in-coffins and things-to-do-with-jelly-donuts. "Golf Monster" does very little to clear up the discrepencies in the aforementioned books and actually throws a little more fuel on the fire. However, it does succeed (and this is what makes the book worth reading) most when it picks up where "Me, Alice" left off. That is to describe the trails and tribulations of Alice, post-"Welcome To My Nighmare". But it must be pointed out that the stories have, over time, become sanitized. The tone and feel of "Golf Monster" is nigh on G-rated. It is darn near Sunday night, have the family over, and read around the fire material.

And more curious, in what is either a brilliant or lose-rock-n-roll-credibility move, Alice has decided to throw golf and religion in to the mix.

So, reader, read at your own peril. This is Alice's "story" as he sees fit to tell in the year 2007. It is rumoured that original Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunnaway (a nice guy if ever there were one) is going to present his memoirs. Maybe that will set the record straight. Maybe...

Wow. What a great read by the man who saw it all in the music industry from the 60's to now. Who would have thought that the master of shock rock, a loud and in your face rocker on the stage and in the studio, could be such an insightful,thoughtful and just plain fun individual. When the excess of the rock world started to destroy his personal life, he took up the game of golf and it saved his life and balanced out his world. He became a better person, a better rocker and a better golfer. The best part of this book is that you don't have to be a rocker or a golfer to enjoy this book. Just sit back and enjoy the ride with a guy named Alice on his journey in life.

This combo autobiography and golf tips book was really fun to read. There are so many amazing, funny, and quirky stories about various rock stars, golfers, and others! Alice has crossed paths with nearly everyone of any fame or infamy on the planet. Characters like Zappa, Moon, and other rockers/musicians are, of course, mentioned. But there are interesting tidbits about Groucho Marx, Liberace, Salvadore Dali, Rachel Welsh, and President Ford. Lots of great photos are sprinkled throughout the book. The book is written in a very easy to read manner, with the golfing related information presented in a different font. Alice is a great golfer and acknowledged by many of the great pros in the game. It's a wonderful life lesson that he has replaced his bad addictions with this golf addiction. It's equally fascinating that the man offstage is kind, normal, and good, while the Alice onstage today is still as wacky and evil as he ever was. Great showman, wonderful golfer, and just a darned nice "Mr. Nice Guy".

Alice Cooper is perhaps as good of an author as he is a musician. I use the qualifier "perhaps" because he had plenty of help with this book with not one but TWO co-authors credited.

Nevertheless it's an interesting read. Cooper is nothing if not deep, for a rocker, and he bares almost all in this book, with a heavy emphasis on his new passion - golf.

I hope Alice continues writing. Now if we can just get him back in the recording studio. The Secret to a Great Golf Swing

Well first I am a fan of Alice's music, I am also in recovery, and I like to play golf, if it keeps me clean, than I'm game for 18 holes.

Great stories about dealing with his demon's

and golf.

Rock on Alice

This is a review of the audio CD edition.

I was not an Alice Cooper fan; if I thought of him at all, I was probably appalled. Back in my teens or 20s, (actually anytime before last year) I'd never have believed I would voluntarily listen to, much less enjoy, anything by Alice Cooper. His music might still be a bit much for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his book.

Not being a fan begs the question: why did I decide to listen to his book? I heard him on Letterman and he was funny. He talked about how golf helped him beat his alcohol addiction. I do enjoy golf, so when I saw his book, I decided to give it a chance. I'm very glad I did.

The book is more autobiography than golf book. He ties golf into various aspects of his life so there is a lot about golf but if you'd rather watch paint dry than hear or read about golf, most of the golf stuff is in concentrated parts you can skip. The book starts with his childhood back in Detroit and continues to the present. It is about Alice Cooper the person, Alice Cooper the crazy rocker and a bit about the music culture. Oh yeah, and about golf.

Alice Cooper was born at the right time to have interacted with musical and cultural legends of the 60s, 70s and beyond. As a member of a struggling band in LA, he met Frank Zappa, Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and others. As a golfer, he met musicians and comedians of the Rat Pack generation. As he and the band became more famous, he met more famous entertainers. There is a fascinating story about his meeting with Elvis and his feelings about the sheltered life Elvis had to lead because of his fame. Salvadore Dali did an art work of him.

The chapters on the band, how they got their name and look, the development of the albums and how they went from struggling to get gigs in bars and clubs to playing in stadiums is interesting even if you never liked their music. On a personal note, he talks about the toll constant recording and touring took on him, his alcoholism and what it took for him to finally get sober. He talks about his faith simply and without being preachy. (This was a big shock to me -- wild Alice Cooper is a Christian?!?!)

Alice Cooper narrates the book himself and does an excellent job. The listener feels as though he is sitting and telling you these stories. When he is relating conversations with famous people, he does imitations of their voices for their ends of the conversations.

My only complaint is that I wished this was an unabridged recording; I could definitely have listened to more. I would definitely listen to it again.

I admit that I picked this book up because of nostalgia. In a rural community back in the early '70's, I was considered somewhat freakish because I was such a fan of this new shock-rocker, Alice Cooper. Now, as a 52-year-old, I thought it might be amusing to read it, even though I'm not a golfer. And I was delighted enough to write this review, even though I rarely do such a thing.

If you are a fan of the famous, there are many amusing stories about those who "Coop" has befriended over the years, including 2 of my favorites, Groucho Marx and Fred Astaire. If you are a golfer, you would probably enjoy the book on that level. If you are a Christian, you will be most pleased with his story of how he rediscovered his faith after overcoming alcoholism. It's really worth a read.

Cannot be so successful without being brilliant. Alice has a lot to say after leading such a full life. Even putting so many thoughts and memoirs together is an epic deed. Once again ahead of his times: an autobiographic golf manual? Respect! I was thrilled to be able to read a text written by Alice. Even if it were a phone book. Takes some time to appreciate the virtues of this book and not everyone will succeed in that. Clarity of thought, honesty, humor. Alice knows better than anyone else that nothing is more surrealistic than reality itself...if you can handle it. If u r looking for tabloid-like gossips this is not the book. The author is still a source of inspiration and I hope he has a long and happy life. Originality...needs guts.