Guilty (Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, 1976)

Alice’s 2nd solo album, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, was released in 1976. It was a concept album much like the Welcome to My Nightmare LP. The record is a continuation of Steven’s story.

Alice Cooper Goes To Hell is considered ‘A Bedtime Story.’ It is a realistic account of all the things we don’t want to know, believe, or think about, yet at some point, we must.

While told from Alice’s perspective, the album forces the listener to think about all the “criminal acts, violence, and brat-like moments” they have committed as well. It makes a person reflect on the consequences of such deeds and behavior. Overall, the album is a unique, engaging follow-up to Alice’s first solo album.

“Guilty” might be the most notorious track off the album (next to or on par with the title track). It stands out for multiple reasons – one of those being it is the heaviest tune on the album.

The song felt the most like an original Alice Cooper track. Raw, harsh, nasty, gruff. All the qualities we’d expect from Alice, the singer, and Alice, the band. But what makes it even more terrific is the cognitive element. Intended or not, the song is personal. It may feel as if it’s only linked to Alice, but it’s a song about humanity.

Just tried to have fun
Raise hell and then some
I’m a dirt-talkin’, beer drinkin’, woman chasin’ minister’s son
Slap on the make-up
and blast out the music
Wake up the neighbors with a roar like a teenage heavy metal elephant gun

If you call that guilty, then that’s what I am
I’m guilty
I’m guilty

Like driving too fast
Love going too far
It seems the Law’s on my ass every time I stick it out of the door
If you call that guilty, then that’s what I am
I’m guilty
I’m guilty

“Guilty” strikes a nerve. It cuts you to the bone. Some may listen and say, “that’s horrible; at least I’m not that bad.” Others may listen and think, “That’s nothing compared to my life and crimes.” The truth is, it doesn’t matter what you think, feel, or how offended you are – we’re all guilty (James 2:10).

We are guilty of defying His two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). There’s no one alive on this earth that hasn’t at some point replaced Him with ‘something’ nor has any one person ‘unconditionally’ loved every one of their neighbors as they do themselves. It’s impossible.

Therefore, as Alice sings his confessional tune, it’s the song of every man, woman, and child. The admission and concession of ALL humanity – we’re guilty, but it’s even more than that. It’s an epiphany.

25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I gave an account of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law. – Psalm 119:25-29

Whether we’ve dealt with it, suppressed it, or denied it, we know that we are guilty. Guilty of NOT living according to His standards. His methods. His will. His Commandments. It seems grim and inescapable, BUT there’s very Good News.

As stated in the above-listed verses, declaring our guilt requires us to deal with it. It requires us to search for the solution. It entails that we place ourselves on trial. It mandates that we wrestle with our conscience (that internal struggle between right and wrong).

It requires us to search for an intercessor. Someone to defend us. Someone to save us (from our sins, from our transgressions, and from ourselves). Someone for us to model our lives after. Someone to show us a better way than our own.

Stop and ask yourself some questions:

• Are you guilty?
• Do you hold on to that guilt?
• Does it weigh on you?
• Have you dealt with it?

These are some of the most challenging questions any person must ask and answer for themselves. It requires the brutal truth and one of those mirrors that magnifies all your blemishes. It’s NOT an easy or fun process.

It’s probably one of the most significant obstacles in the way of a person finding Christ and His Love – the unwillingness to examine the state of one’s heart. An unwilling heart remains lost. Reluctant to see its fault. Reluctant to see the need. Reluctant to embrace a better path – a loving and genuine course (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The concept of Christianity and the notion of God is often riddled with “religious” judgment, hypocrisy, and falsities. Somehow, the world and those trapped by religiosity have led many to believe that God is enraged, full of vengeance and hatred – hatred for and towards humanity.

Is our Creator not the God of Love and Redemption?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because, through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:1-4

Scripture paints a very different narrative than what the world does about our Creator. In the above-listed verses, we find a God willing to embrace His creation by becoming a man. Ready to show us a better way through His teachings. Willing to stand in our place for our sins. Willing to defeat our eternal demise, and the enemy, through His death and Resurrection.

The notion that God is angry and enraged is debunked as we read further in Romans 8. In verse 7, it is explained that God is NOT hostile towards humanity. Instead, the human mind “governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.“

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

In contrast, God is willing to love us even though we are ‘guilty.’ He simply asks that we declare Jesus Christ as Lord and believe in our hearts that He is the risen Lord (Romans 8:10, 10:9-10). That decision and choice are held above all others and cannot be separated by any other power.

Pay close and careful attention to Romans 8. Take some time to read over that chapter 1-2 times. Digest what it says. Life is based on our mindset towards God and His Word. He is NOT our enemy, ever. However, our thoughts and actions can be hostile towards Him. We must remain guarded and not allow others to come between us, Him, and His Word.

A good portion of Alice’s tongue and cheek approach to good, evil, Heaven, and Hell is most likely based on the interactions he had with other people – churchgoers, preachers, the press, other bands, fans, etc. However, the only relationship, opinion, communication, etc., that truly matters is between him and his Lord, Jesus Christ.

A relationship with Christ through His Holy Spirit washes away our sin, allowing our conscience to be cleansed (Hebrews 9:14). Only we can honestly know whether or not that relationship is genuine and sincere. For it’s not the Law nor the deeds that save us but He that lives within us (Romans 8:3, Galatians 2:16).

Wrapping up this week’s post, we are all “guilty” (Romans 3:23). Accepting that guilt doesn’t require us to live in misery and despair. However, what it does require is that we examine our hearts. Is there a better way? Are we living the best life we can live? Is there anything better?

Maybe this still doesn’t add up. Perhaps some refuse to believe they’ve done anything wrong. Do they honestly believe there’s nothing worth changing? Does humanity inherently have a moral compass? Or is that something attained from a higher power?

It would seem that, by design, all humanity knows some form of right from wrong. If we didn’t, there would be no laws. The saying, “laws were made to be broken,” is often humanity’s motto, yet who will stand in our defense as we face atonement for those rights and wrongs?

Have we fully sought out retribution for the things that haunt and torment our past and present? We shouldn’t carry those any further. Now is the time to shed the guilt and shame we may currently walk in. Replace that with His Love, His Grace, and His Righteousness.

When we declare Him as Lord with our lips and worship Him as Lord with our hearts, we will forever walk with Him (John 10:27). Forever in peace (Romans 5:1). Forever innocent through Him and His blood (Romans 8:1). “Guilty” no more.

In conclusion, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell is an incredible LP. Any album that speculates about the afterlife demands your attention. Bob Ezrin and Alice masterfully created both this LP and the Welcome To My Nightmare LP – two classic albums. With these records, the character Steven, an integral part of the Alice Cooper experience was introduced as well.

It’s difficult to say why some albums are more successful than others. Alice Cooper Goes To Hell was an underrated album from a ratings standpoint, but in a time when the music world was shifting into a disco-based nightmare, Alice found a way to poke some fun at that without morphing into something he wasn’t.

Thankfully, Hard Rock found its way back to the forefront in the mid-to-late ’80s, and Alice would return to prominence after the Disco, Punk, and New Wave genres passed through.

That’s it for this week. Be well, and we’ll catch you next Friday.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice.