hennemusic

A lot of rockers have been compared to Alice Cooper, but the legend himself can only think of one musician who he would say is most like him: Lady Gaga.

"Lady Gaga is the female Alice Cooper," the Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer told the AP, reports the Washington Post. "She created a character named Lady Gaga, she wrote songs for Lady Gaga - not for herself – for Lady Gaga. I write for Alice, I don’t write for me.”

Cooper and Gaga have real lives outside of music and are real people: Alice was born Vincent Furnier while Gaga was born Stefani Germanotta.

“If you meet her offstage, she's nothing like that person onstage,” says Alice. “It’s like me: I’m nothing like Alice. But we created a character that belonged to rock n’ roll.”

Cooper says there is one key to longevity in the music business. “Get classic songs,” he says. “Write classic songs - that’s what’s going to keep you around.”

Alice new album, “Welcome 2 My Nightmare,” the sequel to his classic 1975 concept album, is due September 13.

Cooper debuts his new guitarist, Orianthi, this Friday on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Alice Cooper – interview
AP/Washington Post – September 1, 2011