Alice Cooper (Wikimedia Commons)
Alice Cooper, of “School’s Out for Summer” and “I’m 18” fame, was told that his show can’t go on in Finland.
Cooper and his band were booked to perform at Tampere Areena Oy, an arena in Tampere, Finland Dec. 11.
However, the owners of the arena cancelled the event when the supposedly dark nature of Cooper’s “Theatre of Death” show came to light.
Harri Wiherkoski, managing director of the arena said that "artists who express suspicious values from Christianity's point of view cannot be allowed to perform at the venue."
He also told reporters that his venue doesn’t “arrange concerts where Satanism or non-god-worshipping occurs."
Concert promoter Kalle Keskinen, said “We never imagined that a rock veteran who has performed in Finland in four separate decades without any problems and who has spoken in public of his own religious convictions would not be allowed to perform at Tampere Areena in 2009."
Keskinen said the concert will probably be moved to nearby Espoo, however this is contingent on Alice Cooper’s approval, he said.
Cooper, who is a practicing Christian, told Cross Rhythms magazine last year that he reconciles his stage persona with his personal faith without problem.
“As a Christian, I don't declare myself as a 'Christian rock star.' I'm a rock performer who's a Christian. Alice Cooper is the guy who wants to entertain the audience - it happens that he's a Christian. Alice (the character I play on stage) began life as a villain and he remains one. There's a villain and a hero in every Shakespeare play," he said.
" Alice is no more dangerous than a villain in a cartoon or a Disney film. We have fun with him. He snarls and wears make up. He's punished for his crime and he comes back on the stage in white top and tails. We put on a good show. I've always put limits on Alice because I believe there's a certain amount of Alice that's a gentleman. He'd slit your throat, but he'd never swear at you. And there's always a punchline; he may kill you, but he'll slip on a banana peel. I get right-wing Christians down on me and I always ask them the question: 'If I was doing Macbeth, would it be OK?' And they always say that's Shakespeare so of course. I say that's about four times more violent than anything I do on stage."
Comments
Ha Ha! "Practicing Christian", eh? Keep practicing, Alice. You've got a long way to go...
When people claim to be Christians, they have to honour God and His ways...not aim to please the world or partake in worldly things. Anything that glorifies the idea of Satan, including these theme shows does not come from God. Alice, hate to break it to you...but you are not a practicing Christian. You claim to be one, but your far from it when you want to do what you want, not what God wants.
Artists have been persecuted as long as time itself both for their controversy and for their art. People see the art and the artist as one, rather than art being the expression of the soul. I would rather be in the company of an Alice who is real, than in the company of any self righteous "Christian" who claims to love as Christ but judges with all the harshness of a cold heart. Try a life on the streets where the term Jesus loves you is as empty as His tomb...Christians are so quick to judge and play God, and they are unwitting allies to satan helping him empty pews...I gave up on the church because all I got was judgment without understanding or compassion...this is a reality check the church is bouncing. Working out my salvation with fear and trembling knowing GOD ALONE IS JUDGE, JURY, AND MOST OF ALL THE ONE WHO KNOWS THE HEART WITHOUT JUDGING THE SUPERFICIAL EXTERNAL...OK Christians start attacking me, and judging me...I've heard it all by now.
Oh right, Tammy. Being a Christian means you have to tolerate anything done in the name of Jesus, even if He expressly forbade it in Scripture. Child molesting? Who are we to judge?! Eating bats on stage, hey, it's just art! Black magic glorifying Satan? No problem. We can't judge. Sodomy, adultery, fornication that the Bible forbids? Jesus never judged anybody right? Wrong. He spoke and warned of hell more times than he mentioned heaven. Being a Christian doesn't mean you are required to check your mind at the door and embrace everyone, including those who are in gross sin as defined by the Bible. It means we know that repentance from sin and turning from it is essential, and that only Jesus can forgive and heal. Alice needs the real Christ, not the American counterfeit that says everything and everybody is OK.
you guys are more scary than Alice
I've been in the company of Vincent/Alice...in my estimation he is very sincere in his faith...and if you take the time to look up his (and his family's) philatrophic work you'll also find evidence of that fruit. As a Christian, I hate this type of zealotry...it is NOT the zealotry of Jesus. In my estimation, it pushes the lost further away from being exposed to the truth and sometimes innoculates them from ever wanting to be a part of the "christian club" when they see some of the assine things we do to one another as believers. Always looking for the "boogie man"...and in some cases...they/we become the real "boogie man"....just my .02,
jb
KANSAS...is a band....
Kindra, I'll keep this simple so you understand:
You are a total 'bubblehead".
Kindra and Juliet,
It is beyond obvious that you know nothing about the relationship between being a Christian and making art. I would even go so far as to say that neither one of you know much about either, even by themselves. I will also say that it is obvious that you know next to nothing about Alice Cooper's music, much less his faith. Alice has never glorified Satan in his music, nor has he ever engaged in black magic or (ha) eaten at bat on stage. That was Ozzy, Kindra. In addition, Alice and his family do more for "the least of these" in a single day through his Solid Rock Ministries in Phoenix than most of us will do in a life time. Also, what exactly are "worldly things," Juliet? The spirit of the world is at its heart a mirror of its lord Lucifer, whose original sin was pride. Based on what I have read here, there is more than enough worldliness going on, and it isn't coming from Alice either. It's coming from some who forget their own need for grace and redemptio
Where are you to lady's now? Consider yourself schooled!
I was shocked to hear that Alice Cooper professes to be a Christian. I NEVER would have guessed it. The two most important things a true Christian should be doing:
1) Glorifying God
2) Sharing the true biblical gospel with the world.
How does Alice Cooper glorify God? Does his music, his dress, his manner glorify God? (Good deeds are not evidence of a true Christian. You cannot bribe the Judge of the Universe)
Does Alice Cooper preach the true biblical gospel on stage at his concerts? When I say the true biblical gospel, I mean telling people about the character of God, presenting the Law and then sharing the Good News?)
I've never been to a concert of his, but I do have some of his music (And no, I don't listen to it anymore. I have old vinyl recordings on a shelf in my basement and no turntable to play them...So I REALLY couldn't listen to them - if I even wanted to) Does he share the gospel with his fans at concerts? I've never been, so it's an honest quest
Christian is everyone who believes in, loves and follows Jesus Christ and his commandments.When you accept Jesus in your life and become a TRUE christian, you put him on the center of your life in order for him to modify every area: work, relationships, daily life, health, and so on. Christ is a lifestyle. I don't want to judge him, but you have to include Christ in every area of your life,including your work, that's what a TRUE practicing christian does. If he wants to continue doing secular music, fine. But he should stop including anti-christian values on his shows.
PS: I just looove how he uses "Macbeth" to justify himself. JUST STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!
PS 2: Tammy, read John 7,24. You're completely mistaken.
You 2 are a perfect example of what is wrong with any religion, not just christianity You have closed minds and think that your view is correct and anythong outside that is wrong. Being a christian is about the way you live your own life and the way that you treat other people, not about telling other people that they're wrong because you don't like what they do. It is Alice the real person who is a christian, the stage persona is just that, a persona, a character. If his Father, who was a pastor, can understand that,I can see which family here has the true christian values.It is attitudes like yours that have turned me away from any form of organised religion over the years even though I was baptized and confirmed as a christian.If there is a God then I will speak to him by myself, without interference from controlling, narrow minded people such as you. I will also carry on going to Alice in concert as it is an amazing theatrical show, with great music. Get your facts right!
Mbd I challenge you then if ALL our jobs work must glorify God then what of a criminal lawyer who is defending a repeat offender, knowing that the defendant is guilty but is doing his job to keep one who hurts others out in the streets. He is doing his job but to defend a guilty man is not glorifying God when the man he is trying to release has a high risk to harm others again.
The Bible is a book of relationships how do we treat and interact with others reflects how we interact and treat God.
The Bible also says that GOD ALONE is judge and if we judge others the same mercy or ruthlessness we judge others will fall back upon us...Basic rule STOP JUDGING START LOVING AND UNDERSTANDING.
I also make a point of getting to know a person before I form an opinion. That way I give the person the same chance I wish to have.
I left the Catholic church because of all the judging, self righteousness, and the Pope is God mentality, as well as they refuse to let Christ come down from t
con't
the cross.
I have spent my time in the streets, prisons, and even had my life threatened all while serving Christ. I have been on the front lines where your faith had better be genuine or you are not going to last. I also had to give up my family including my parents to follow Christ. This said I know that I have paid the price and will continue to do so.
Sure Alice does not preach the Gospel in his shows, but at least he is not hiding his darkness. Does anyone here remember Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, Oral Roberts? All devout Gospel spewing men who were guilty of adultery or trying to fleece the flock of money all to further their pursuits all while appearing to be men of faith and virtue. Their sins that were hidden God revealed true to HIS word...How many judging Christians are hiding the sins that Alice at least lets out for all to see.
At least Alice is being real than Christian's ideal...
Kindra, none of those things you reference as sinful happen at an Alice Cooper show (the bat thing was Ozzy Osbourne). Second, Jesus did speak of hell but you forgot to whom He spoke - the religious folks. Being a Christian DOES mean you embrace everyone regardless of what they do because that what Jesus does.
Kat, yes, Alice does glorify God in his music. Read the lyrics to 'Cleansed By Fire'. You do not know him in real life so you cannot judge his character or actions. The fruit of the Spirit are demonstrated by deeds so they are evidence of following Jesus. The Pharisees are alive and well and they populate today's North American churches. Jesus must weep at our ignorance and hatred for each other.
Bart agreed...
Christians are the biggest threat to Christianity not satan...he is just sitting back laughing saying thank you so much followers of Christ for making my job that much easier and hardening the hearts of those who do not know Christ.
I'm a Christian and have been a dedicated Christian for the past 7 years,...I think who ever banned him is an idiot. I would understand if this was a Christian event maybe they would not want thir youth watching "Alice" but he has talked about his faith before - so what he is not living with the dang "Christian image" ? People love to label other people and some Christians are the same way - if you saw me you would probably be intimidated and would not think I'm a Christian but number one in my life is Christ. Some have even had the nerve to question me and say I may not be one of them, the only problem those run into is that I have studied the word of God and have better knowledge than most pastors :) Anyhow, Alice is an awesome guy and lives a moral life with one wife and has a family - he not a liberal - a moderate (same as me) so you know what, he probably lives 10 times more holy lives than most so called Christians and is probably a better Christian compared to most Americans wh
I cannot you Christians are critizing a man about his devotion to God, when you probably haven't even seen the show. If he is constructing it as a life base play from where he was till his change through God and his relationship with Jesus Christ, then Rock On Alice and God Bless and shame on you who are acting as the mans judge. Let God be the judge, not you...
Tammy:
"I challenge you then if ALL our jobs work must glorify God then what of a criminal lawyer who is defending a repeat offender, knowing that the defendant is guilty but is doing his job to keep one who hurts others out in the streets.": The lawyer must do EVERYTHING he can to convince the jury not to send him to LIFE prison. THAT'S HIS JOB
The Bible also says that GOD ALONE is judge and if we judge others the same mercy or ruthlessness we judge others will fall back upon us...Basic rule STOP JUDGING START LOVING AND UNDERSTANDING.: yes... AND NO. GOD ALONE is judge, but look at the Gospel of John 7,24. God doesn't want us NOT TO JUDGE, BUT NOT TO JUDGE BY MERE APEARANCES. If we do it in a rightous way, then there's nothing wrong with it. A human being CAN NOT spend his life without judging.
continue
I also make a point of getting to know a person before I form an opinion. That way I give the person the same chance I wish to have.: I in no way am judging this person by mere appearances. I am judging by what i know. He may continue to work as a secular musician, but he, as well as others, MUST include CHRIST in EVERYTHING HE DOES. One thing is to expose violence denouncing it. But when you expose it in a morbid way(like he has done throughout his career) it's anti-christian and contrary to the teachings of whom he claims to follow: JESUS CHRIST
I left the Catholic church because of all the judging, self righteousness, and the Pope is God mentality, as well as they refuse to let Christ come down from t : no, my friend. YOU LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU BELIEVED THE CATHOLIC TEACHING WAS, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS NEVER, I REPEAT, N-E-V-E-R SAID ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY LIKE THAT. sorry to break it to:you're TERRIBLY WRONG
PS: i love how alice cooper's fans, and the rest of the world i add, hide behind "Stop judging, that you may not be judged" Mt 7,1; these people, or at least the great majority, have probably NEVER read the Bible, but this is the ONLY verse they've memorized... pathetic
PS 2: christianity, and the catholic church, is an ALL OR NOTHING teaching. Jesus Christ said "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" Luke 11,23. I'm not perfect, but if a person is not WITH Christ, if his life is not centred around Christ, then it's contradictory, AND THAT'S PRECISELY THE REASON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVE, BECAUSE CHRIST DEMANDS ALL OF YOU AND YOUR LIFE, NOT JUST A BIT.
Alice Cooper is a great man,who became religious in the early 90`s.In the 70`s and early 80`s he was an alcoholic and a none beliver.His lyrics was provocative,but he was never satanistic.
I am not religious at all,and I personally didn`t like to hear that he had become religious.
But fortunately Alice doesn`t preach of play gospel on stage.If he did I would never go to his shows anymore.His stage persone is a characther he plays on stage,and Alice is evil.But at the end of the show he get executed,and comes out again in white.So there is some kind of moral in it.
Alice is a great showman and his stage shows are neither satanistic or religius.It is a show for everybody.It`s like watching a horrormovie,with a great soundtrack.I personally do not understand conservative,"hysterical"christians.Who are you to judge if Alice is a christian or not?Do you walk around preaching and talking about God all the time?If you are I feel very sorry for you!
I am a strong believer in Jesus and have no problems with ALice Cooper. In fact I think Alice Cooper demonstrates that its ok to be a believer and still live a life. Jesus just wants us to love him freely. We don't have to sacrifice our happiness to become a believer. Its ok for a believer to ride a motorcycle, its ok for a believer to work in a regular job they don't have to work for a church or be a missionary. Its ok for Alice Cooper to do his job just like its ok for me to go to work everyday. Its whats in our hearts that matter not what is exterior. We as believers have no right to judge as we do not know what is in anyone's hearts only Jesus does. What Alice Cooper does is a stage show nothing more and nothing less. I am very happy to know that he is a believer and am looking to spend eternity with a great musician whom I grew up with in the 70,80's, 90's and current. God Bless you Alice.
It's ridiculous to make it such a big deal. We are all sinners and guilty. We all have a dark side, Alice Cooper just showcases it. The whole reason for the 10 commandments was so that God could show us just how really bad humans are capable of being. There is nothing wrong with Alice Cooper's theater.
Mbd why is it that you spew scripture like an internet random name generator, rather than listen to the comments? I would also like to know who you think you are, that you know my inner most thoughts and desires, and motivation for leaving the Catholic Church...are you even a Catholic to be such an authority on me and telling me why I have done things...I feel so much pity for someone such as yourself who throws out scripture without understanding. Perhaps you need less time in your Bible and more time with humanity. Then you would have the compassion and love of Christ. He spent his time with the sick and the sinful, and saved his harshness for the religious leaders of the day...I cast my lot there...Paradise is on the lower east side not the inside of a church. Your words come across as laced with anger and that is not a fruit of the Spirit. I pray God will not judge you as harshly as you have judged me...
Wow...I asked a couple of sincere questions and look at the people jump all over me with their judgment. God's word tells us that a Christians, we must live apart from worldly values.
@ Tammy, Yes, God alone is the Judge and God alone will judge each one of us on that day. But we use judgment every day. Which books we read, which movies we watch, which route we travel to work or school, which car we buy and we are to make judgments about what we see and hear and read, etc. I just took a look at some AC's lyrics: How did you see my face, When could you feel the knife Was it your final thought , The moment I took your life, And just when your heartbeat failed, Were you just filled with fright, Were you in dark despair, Did you see the holy light?
Lyrics like these, pretty much cancel out any credibility that he is walking with the Lord. (Don't bother pointing me to other songs that portray the gospel [loosely]...they are cancelled out by the dark lyrics). (...cont)
@ Tammy (cont.). I think you and I are on the same page in many ways. I too left the RC church and have made similar sacrifices along the way. There are False Converts in most churches today, and the blame goes mostly to false teachers who are preaching a soft or false gospel. How do I know this? Because I was one of those false converts for 24 years! They sit among God's people and hear His words, but don't obey them. God will separate the sheep from the goats and the tares from the wheat. Matthew 7, v 21-23 come to mind.
When someone professes to be a Christian, but is involved in things that are un-Christian-like, we need to exercise discernment and judgment. I believe in the biblical gospel of TRUE repentance and faith alone in Jesus Christ. If you're interested in reading a fascinating viewpoint may I suggest Googling "The Lawman" blog. Also, Living Waters has some great resources/free audio etc. about True/False conversion.
Be blessed.
@ Gill. Being baptized and confirmed does not make one a Christian. If you are a non-believer now (which I have to assume you are because of your statement "If there is a God...") then you were never His to begin with. If God is perfect, He doesn't make mistakes. If HE hasn't saved you yet, then you are not His.
If you believe your opinion to be true and I believe my opinion to be true, does that make my opinion wrong? Just curious about that.
Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Alice Cooper Banned in Finland? Not really!
Finland is known for it's rock and metal scene, and we have made a TV documentary feature film about the hard rocking Finns called "Promised Land of Heavy Metal" (already aired and co-produced by Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE).
The Finnish main Lutheran church has heavy metal masses! The film has an interview from the heavy metal priest, a psychiatrist, a doctor of theology... and finally with Madam president of Finland, Tarja Halonen, who is proud of the great Finnish metal.
Our film includes the first -74 interview from Alice Cooper visiting Finland, Eurovision song contest winner Lordi, all the major Finnish metal stars (HIM, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica...) and many international metal celebrities (such as Dimmu Borgir Killswitch Engage, Entombed...)
Finland really is the only country in the world where metal is mainstream.
The documentary is in English, and aimed at the international mainstream audience.
www.promisedlando
The missing link :) www.promisedlandofmetal.com
I never knew he claimed to be a Christian! That's good news, but I believe Christian musicians should use their skills in Christian music.
@Kat
Your answer defies logic. "If you are a non-believer now...then you were never His to begin with. If God is perfect, He doesn't make mistakes. If HE hasn't saved you yet, then you are not His."
Do you really mean this? So if somebody is not a believer right now they can never become one? That kinda shoots a giant hole in that whole "preach the Gospel to the world" thing, eh?
Christianity is not some elitist club that you're either in or you're out (with no chance to get in). It's a realtionship with Jesus. That's it. A personal relationship between you and Him, that you can have at ANY time by just asking Him. It's so easy when it's just you and God, when all us people get involved it gets all screwed up.
If anybody reading this thinks it's some difficult ordeal to be a Christian, with rules and dress codes, etc., it's not. Alice Cooper proves that one. It's a relationship. You should sit down and have a talk with God, invite Him in. It'll change your life
Bob...I think you've misinterpreted what I said. I was responding to Gil's comment which was:
"It is attitudes like yours that have turned me away from any form of organised religion over the years even though I was baptized and confirmed as a christian.If there is a God then I will speak to him by myself, without interference from controlling, narrow minded people such as you."
His comment is quite clear that he doesn't believe that God exists when he says "If there is a God". If someone KNOWS God, then he KNOWS He exists. If Gil is not sure that God exists, then he has never known the God of the bible. My apologies if I didn't make myself clear.
I am not one of those who keeps God to herself. I am a street evangelist, out in the trenches. If Gil doesn't know IF God exists, then he has never known the one true God. Baptism and confirmation doesn't make one a Christian. Being born from above makes one a Christian. Repent/Believe...it's simple. Not everyone responds.
remember the theif on the cross beside jesus? seems to me jesus told him he would be in heaven that day with him. i think if alice had been on that cross instead of the theif jesus would have made the same judgement call.that's what christianity is all about. seems some people have forgotten that. you don't know alice, you"ll never know alice, so "give a guy a break". jesus did. and you"ll never see "a classier act" than that.
yes i know to spell thief-it's 4:45am-don't judge me, i don't want it to come between me and my music career! God bless Alice, here's to a long and healthy nightmare!!
I figure that the Lord placed it on his heart to return to him. When the Lord wishes to place it on his heart to turn away from his show, if he truly has a personal relationship with Jesus, then he will listen.
He is in an industry that is filled with all sorts of addictions, such as drugs, alcohol, etc. Maybe the Lord wants him there to be a conduit to teach them (rock musicians) about him, because I have serious doubts that Megadeth would be interested in hearing about Jesus from the people who are out in front of their concerts telling them that they are all going to hell. Frankly, in my own humble opinion, that is something the Pharisies would do, not Paul or any of the other Deciples.
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