#17: Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper turned outrage into an art form during the 1970s. His theatrical concerts featured guillotines, electric chairs, fake executions, snakes, and enough horror effects to send parents and religious groups into a panic. The infamous 1969 “Chicken Incident,” fueled by wildly exaggerated media reports, strengthened him as rock’s ultimate villain. Conservative critics also condemned his makeup, dark imagery, and gender-bending style, leading to censorship campaigns and calls to ban his performances. Ironically, every protest only made Alice Cooper more popular with rebellious teenagers.
