Alice Cooper

Kirsty Young's castaway is the rock musician Alice Cooper.

As a teenager he says it was British music that he tuned in to - listening to The Beatles, The Yardbirds and The Who. He realised that while rock music had many heroes, there were few villains - that was the territory he marked out for himself. He developed his trademark look - blackened eyes, straggly hair and glamorous clothes - and set about designing live shows that were gleefully gory and macabre.

While critics have described him as 'the world's most beloved heavy metal entertainer', it took him a while to untangle himself from his creation. "For a long time I honestly didn't know where I began and Alice ended. My friends at the time were Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and I was trying to keep up with them. And I realised when they all died that you didn't have to be your character off stage."

Choices

1.

The Yardbirds

Happenings Ten Years Time Ago

Composer: Keith Relf, Jim McCarty

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2.

The Beach Boys

I Get Around

Composer: Wilson

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3.

The Who

I’m a Boy

Composer: Pete Townshend

Others who chose this artist

4.

Laura Nyro

Timer

Composer: Laura Nyro

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5.

King Crimson

21st Century Schizoid Man

Composer: Fripp-McDonald-Lake-Giles-Sinfield

Others who chose this artist

6.

Jane’s Addiction

Been Caught Stealing

Composer: Perry Farrell/ Eric Avery/Dave Navarro/Stephen Perkins

Others who chose this artist

7.

Castaway's favourite

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Work Song

Composer: Adderley/Brown

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8.

Bob Dylan

Ballad of a Thin Man

Composer: Bob Dylan

Others who chose this artist

Book

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

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Luxury item

An indoor golf driving range

Others who chose a similar luxury