Overview
- Cooper has spoken publicly about a period of crack cocaine use that he says nearly killed him as part of interviews tied to his new memoir Devil on My Shoulder.
- He first entered rehab for alcoholism in 1976, relapsed after about a year, and says a 1983 ultimatum from his wife prompted the sustained recovery he says has lasted more than four decades.
- Cooper says a psychiatrist helped him see that his onstage character 'Alice' was not the root cause of his problems, and that separating persona from self was key to his recovery.
- He is using the book release to promote a UK and international book tour plus new live dates and a Las Vegas residency that were added to his schedule.
- Cooper contrasts the permissive, drug-heavy touring culture of the 1970s with today’s health-focused approach on the road, saying modern tours generally avoid substance use for professional and safety reasons.