Alice Cooper recalls his wildest gig in Finland - a dramatic event that ruined almost the entire show

SHOCK ROCK PIONEER, Alice Cooper, 74, who has performed in seven different decades, is coming to Finland again. Cooper will perform at the Rock in the City festival on Friday in Kuopio and on Saturday in Vantaa.

A good-natured rock star is looking forward to his visit to Finland. He is particularly pleased to see Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy as warm-up performers. Cooper is a tough fan of Hanoi Rocks. Cooper is also appreciated by Finnish fans.

- I've always thought that bands reflect what kind of country it is. Hanoi Rocks was one of the coolest bands ever. Lots of styles and really good hard rock. I think Finland is a neat country, and here the audience is rock, Cooper says.

Cooper has also had one of the most memorable gig experiences in Finland. In August 2010, when the Sonisphere Festival was held in Pori's Kirurinluoto, a violent downpour caused by the Sylvi storm struck the area, knocking down tents and destroying equipment. 40 people were injured and one later died from injuries caused by the storm.

The Sylvi storm broke Pori's Letter Credit in 2010. It has been vividly remembered by Alice Cooper.

The start of the gig was delayed by a couple of hours as the storm damage was patched. Mötley Crüe had to cancel his own gig after the second stage was completely destroyed and Iggy Pop played an acoustic set of four songs. The equipment of both Alice Cooper and the main performer, Iron Maiden, was harsh, so both played with borrowed goods from Slayer, who had just escaped the storm.

- Of course, we didn't have any stage shows, because everything had spread around. The audience was really awesome, Alice Cooper recalls her gig, which she said was interrupted by a tornado.

- Tornadoes don't seem to be very common in Finland? In the southern parts of America, for example, in Texas or Oklahoma, they can come several times a day during the tornado season (March-July), Cooper says.

Alice Cooper finally got on stage a couple of hours after the scheduled performance time.  The backing sheet of the stage had flown into the winds of the sky and much of the technology had disintegrated.

Alice Cooper finally got on stage a couple of hours after the scheduled performance time. The backing sheet of the stage had flown into the winds of the sky and much of the technology had disintegrated.

ALICE COOPER has been touring the world for 39 years. In 1983, he decided to stop using drugs altogether.

- At that time, all the bands were drunk, busy, and celebrating all the time. Had to either quit or die. All my friends died at the age of 27: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison ... Cooper lists.

- I realized that if I want to continue, I have to be sober. If I hadn’t done it, I would have died within a year.

Cooper says he thought he wouldn’t want or be able to perform outright. The belief turned out to be wrong.

- I noticed that alcohol and drugs were actually holding me back. They were like support, and I never really needed support. After getting sober, I started working harder and better. I wouldn’t have been touring for over 50 years if I hadn’t quit. I would be dead.

- In the old days, it was part of the experience and fun to go on stage and be right on my face, but now I have a lot more energy than when I was 30 years old.

COOPER has been married to his wife Sheryl Goddard, 66, for more than 45 years and has three children and four grandchildren. According to Cooper, the secret of a long union is a complete commitment.

- People often say that marriage is 50/50. My wife always says no, it's 100/100. You give one hundred percent, you get one hundred percent.

Cooper praises his wife, with whom he has been touring the world for a long time. As Cooper himself says, there is no homesickness when you take it home with you. Goddard, who has a dance background, also has his own role in Cooper’s stage show.

- When you look at him on stage, he is thought to be at most 30 years old. He's in incredibly good shape, Cooper glows.

WHEN Cooper is not on tour, he and his wife run a charity called Solid Rock, which aims to attract young people at risk of exclusion to music and save them from substance abuse. He and Goddard are also devout Christians, and their lifestyles are in line with that.

- Stress kills people more than anything. My life is stress-free. We are happily married, our children are happy, our finances are balanced, we are mentally balanced, we go to church on Sundays and I read the Bible every day, Cooper says.