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Alice Cooper says crack cocaine use in the late 1970s and early 1980s nearly killed him and came close to ending his marriage to Sheryl Cooper. His account appears in a new interview with The Telegraph and his memoir, Devil on My Shoulder, scheduled for Oct. 6. Cooper says he has been sober for more than 40 years.
Alice Cooper says crack cocaine use nearly killed him and brought his marriage to Sheryl Cooper close to divorce, recalling the period in a new interview with The Telegraph and an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir. Devil on My Shoulder is scheduled for release on Oct. 6, according to the report by Consequence.
Cooper described using crack around the late 1970s and early 1980s, after spending time in rehabilitation for alcohol abuse. In the interview, he recalled being told that smoking the drug meant it was not addictive. He said he later recognized that claim as false, calling crack “the most addictive drug there is, by far.”
“That was really the thing that almost killed me,” Cooper told The Telegraph, as quoted by Consequence. He also said his drug use nearly destroyed his marriage. Recalling a moment when the couple faced the possibility of divorce, he said: “We were almost in [divorce] court, and I said, ‘This is wrong,’ and she said, ‘Yeah, I know.’”
The memoir excerpt published by The Telegraph recounts Cooper’s introduction to the drug, which he said was then called “base.” He wrote that an acquaintance described it as something to smoke and claimed it was not addictive. Cooper said he “went all in,” despite having little prior experience with cigarettes or marijuana. These are Cooper’s recollections; the reports do not independently document the events.
How Crack Affected Cooper’s Life
Cooper’s account describes the personal costs of his drug use, including a serious threat to his marriage and what he characterizes as a danger to his life. The remarks also add personal history to a memoir being released while the 78-year-old musician remains active as a touring performer.
His recollection of being told the drug was not addictive shows how, in his account, misleading advice shaped his first decision to use it. The interview and excerpt offer readers Cooper’s own description of that experience. They do not provide clinical details about its effects or establish a broader medical account.
From Rehab to the Memoir
The period Cooper discusses followed treatment for alcohol abuse, according to the Consequence report. He places his crack use in an era when the substance was referred to as “base,” as recalled in the memoir excerpt. The material provided does not give a more precise start or end date for his use.
Cooper says he has been sober for more than 40 years. At the time of the report, his schedule included a North American tour set to begin the following month and several Las Vegas shows with magician Criss Angel, billed as “Welcome to Our Nightmare.” The report does not provide specific dates for those performances.
“That was really the thing that almost killed me.”
— Alice Cooper, in an interview with The Telegraph
What Cooper Has Not Detailed
The published material does not specify exactly how long Cooper used crack, how often he used it or when he stopped. It also does not provide medical records or independent corroboration for his description that the drug nearly killed him. His comments are a personal account, and the available report does not explain the circumstances of the couple’s near-divorce in greater detail.
The source says the memoir is scheduled for Oct. 6, but the supplied material does not confirm whether that date has changed or provide further details about the book’s contents.
Memoir Release and Tour Plans
Devil on My Shoulder is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 6, 2026. Cooper’s forthcoming memoir may provide a fuller account of the period, though the source material does not describe what additional details the book will include.
The Consequence report also said Cooper’s North American fall tour was due to begin the following month, with collaborative “Welcome to Our Nightmare” performances alongside Criss Angel planned in Las Vegas. Specific tour dates and any later schedule changes are not included in the supplied report.
Key Questions
What did Alice Cooper say about crack cocaine?
He said his crack cocaine use nearly killed him and recalled being told, incorrectly, that smoking it was not addictive.
When did Cooper say he used crack?
Cooper placed his use in the late 1970s and early 1980s, after he had spent time in rehabilitation for alcohol abuse.
Did Cooper say the drug affected his marriage?
Yes. He said the couple came close to divorce during that period. He and Sheryl Cooper are still married, according to the report.
When is Alice Cooper’s memoir due?
Devil on My Shoulder is scheduled for release on Oct. 6, 2026, according to the Consequence report.
How long has Cooper been sober?
The report says Cooper has been sober for more than 40 years. It does not give a specific date when he stopped using drugs or alcohol.
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