Neil's blog

Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper), who turns 64 on the 4th February, is one of the most famous & enduring rock stars of all time and still tours with his high-energy act. He & his band are better known as ‘Alice Cooper’ and have wowed rock fans & disgusted onlookers for over four decades. His autobiography, “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster” reminded me that I shouldn’t ‘judge a book by its cover’ or write someone off by their face.

Alice Cooper is a ‘Vaudeville Villain’ high on 'shocking showbiz', his concerts present a series of acts in which he becomes the type of character you love to hate, his aim to shock and entertain. The trouble comes when you take his act at ‘face value’ and view it as real life rather than the fantasy it really is. He claims that the play ‘Macbeth’ has the same sort of murder & mayhem you find in his acts, but that people don’t bat an eyelid because it’s ‘Shakespeare’!

Cooper speaks of his wrestle with the demon drink and alcoholism, which would’ve killed him had he not checked into rehab’ and, at the second attempt, been ‘healed’ (his word) of his destructive dependency. He now attends weekly church services, is a substitute Bible Class teacher and a mad keen golfer (a new healthier addiction?).

On Sunday we had the pleasure of welcoming staff & past residents of Victoria House (neighbouring Homeless Hostel) into our annual ‘Homelessness Sunday’ Service. Andrea (10 year staff member), spoke of her own homelessness in London and long journey (with the help of others) to where she is now, passionate about helping people find their way from fear & insecurity into a place called home. Looking at Andrea now you would never imagine she has such a story to tell, but there is always more to people than meets the eye.

After the service someone, wrestling with addiction and waiting to enter rehab’, quietly spoke of his past failure to make rehab’ work. He now saw that he was taking steps closer to Jesus and growing in determination to change, with God’s help.

It reminds me of Alice Cooper’s comment, “Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's rebellion.”