49 years ago, today (August 28) there was a hit song on the radio about the joy of school being out for the summer. And I remember listening to it that summer. It definitely struck a chord with a lot of people. In fact, it was #1 on the UK singles chart, 49 years ago, today, for Alice Cooper.
Alice was a different guy when that song was on the radio.
Sounds odd to say that. “Alice was a different guy.” But that’s what Vincent Furnier legally changed his name to when he started gaining momentum in the rock world back in the 70’s.
By the way, that hit song on the radio was “School’s Out.” And I read a blurb that explained how he came up with the idea for the song. Cooper was asked what the greatest three minutes of his life were. And he answered, “There’s two times during the year. One is Christmas morning, the next one is the last three minutes of the last day of school.”
And I know a lot of people, me included, could relate to that.
Alice Cooper was known for his dark stage persona. And that’s putting it mildly. His band was considered the original shock rock act. Stories and rumors were everywhere about how Alice bit off the head of a chicken on stage. (something he didn’t actually do) And there were snakes, ghoulish makeup, and plenty of other dark image paraphernalia.
So, it’s no surprise Alice Cooper is a devil worshipper. Right?
Wrong.
After years of living and working “on the dark side” Mr. Cooper gave his heart back over to his Creator. And I like this other quote, from him, I just read today. He thanks God for taking away his addiction to alcohol. And he said “I mean if He [God] can part the Red Sea and create the universe, He can certainly take alcoholism away from somebody.”
So True.
But I like, even more, something else I heard Mr. Cooper say, in a video I found on YouTube. Because I constantly hear even Christian pastors say “It’s all part of God’s plan.” Or “Remember, God is in control.” But Alice Cooper, a shock rock musician “gets it” better than so many “church leaders.” Because in the video he says, “The world doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to Satan.”
Wow. That’s similar to what I’ve been saying for a long time. And it’s what the Bible has taught even way longer than that. Jesus told us He’s not the ruler of this world. At least three times. And it totally makes sense He’s not the ruler of this world. Because this world is a bad place full of lies and evil.
Yeah, this world belongs to the original shock rocker.
But he’s gonna be removed from the stage. And there might be one reunion tour, which will be a miserable failure and flop. But then the curtains will close on shock rock forever.
And it’ll be like school’s out, Christmas, and a glorious re-birth-day party all rolled into one.
Hey, maybe there’s a hit song in there somewhere.
Stay tuned,
Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.
My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books
Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt
Or how about some music for kids