19 Dec 1st–Dec 7th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | about $450,000 to $500,000, much of it brought in by the silent auction during the event. Alice Cooper performs at the show with backing band Sixwire, but Sheryl has a different role, he says: The Enforcer, tasked with keeping a bunch of dirty rock ’n’ rollers family-friendly. “Before each show, Sheryl goes in and she says, ‘This is a family show, isn’t it? It’s a Christmas show, it’s a family show, so we’re not going to drop the F-bomb at all, are we?’ And they look at her and go, ‘No, Mrs. Cooper.’ And it’s really kind of cute. They’re all these tough guys, but they’re like 6-year- old kids because The Enforcer is there.” One year, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was on the bill. “After the concert was over, Vince came running to find me and said, ‘I didn’t swear once!’” Sheryl says. “It just shows you that they want to be a part of it and they understand that it’s not a normal rock concert where you can say anything you want,” Alice says. “For one night, you don’t have to drop the F-bomb 400 times.” And when the money comes in from the show (and other events such as charity golf tournaments), it allows the Coopers to keep pursuing their passion of making a difference in the lives of teens — even if those youngsters aren’t familiar with their benefactor, the Godfather of Shock Rock. “Every once in a while, I’ll come in there on a Wednesday night [for the weekly open mic],” Cooper says. “And the funny thing is, most of these kids have never heard of me. Most of them are sitting there going, ‘Who is this guy?’ And then they find out, they Google it, and they’re like, ‘oh cool.’ “They’re not coming in because of my name. They’re coming in because they’ve never had an opportunity like this.” From left: Alice Cooper and Glen Campbell; Cooper at a previous Christmas Pudding show; joined onstage by fellow Hollywood Vampire Johnny Depp. Anniversary from p 16 Jim Louvau Jim Louvau Jim Louvau
