Alice Cooper has spent six decades giving rock fans something to talk about, and apparently there are plenty of people ready to read his side of the story. His new memoir, Devil On My Shoulder, has climbed from No. 7 to No. 1 on the UK’s Sunday Times nonfiction bestseller list, adding another accomplishment to an already remarkable career.

Alice Cooper sings with a gloved fist raised beneath yellow stage lights.
Photo: Craig Noce / OhioRockPics

The book is finding an audience on this side of the Atlantic as well, entering the New York Times nonfiction list at No. 4, Publishers Weekly’s nonfiction list at No. 3 and Canada’s Globe and Mail nonfiction list at No. 9, according to the release announcement.

For longtime fans, there is certainly no shortage of history to explore. But one of the more interesting parts of this memoir is the relationship between the man and the character he created. Vincent Furnier tells his story while his sinister stage counterpart, Alice, occasionally interrupts with commentary of his own, printed in a different font. Which, when you think about it, seems like a pretty appropriate way for Alice Cooper to write a book.

The memoir follows his early love of comic books, horror movies, baseball and music through the development of a band that would help change what audiences expected from a rock show. Along the way, Cooper explores the records, the tours, his struggles with addiction and the work that went into bringing his theatrical ideas to the stage.

And yes, he addresses the infamous chicken incident. For anyone still passing that story around, Cooper makes it clear that he never bit the head off a chicken.

Reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly point to the humor and personality behind the stage image, with attention given to his songwriting and stagecraft as well as his personal history. There is a lot more to this story than the makeup and the headlines.

Two guitarists perform with their instruments crossed beneath purple stage lights.
Photo: Craig Noce / OhioRockPics

Back on the Road

A guitarist performs with flying hair beneath blue and orange stage lights.
Photo: Craig Noce / OhioRockPics

Of course, Alice isn’t spending the rest of the year sitting around watching the book charts. His “Alice’s Attic” tour resumes October 27 in Clearwater, Florida, with North American dates running through November 21 in Reno, Nevada. Midwest stops include Windsor, Ontario, on November 6; Kalamazoo, Michigan, on November 7; and Waukegan, Illinois, on November 8.

He then returns to Las Vegas for “Welcome To Our Nightmare,” his production with magician Criss Angel, November 27–29 and December 4–6.

Somewhere between the books and the stage, Cooper also continues his syndicated weeknight radio show Alice’s Attic and his weekend SiriusXM show Alice in Underland on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, channel 21.

For those who have followed his career, Devil On My Shoulder offers a chance to hear the stories behind the spectacle. And if you are just getting acquainted with Alice Cooper, there is certainly plenty of catching up to do.

A drummer performs behind a large kit and theatrical stage props.
Photo: Craig Noce / OhioRockPics

Devil On My Shoulder is available now wherever books are sold.