ALICE COOPER: Why Rock Stars Getting Involved In Politics Is 'Worst Idea Ever'

Alice Cooper says that rock stars offering their political opinions is "the worst idea ever."

The legendary shock rocker recently launched a spoof outsider campaign for public office, complete with the creation of the so-called Wild Party, a hilarious ten-point manifesto and a brand new version of his song "Elected".

But when asked what he really feels about rock stars getting involved in politics, Cooper tells the new "Metal Hammer: In Residence On Spotify" (listen at this location): "I absolutely hate it. It's the worst idea ever.

"First of all, why do people think rock stars know more than they do? That is the biggest fallacy in the world — if anything, we're dumber. We're not smarter than anybody else. I mean, why do you think we're rock stars?

"Trust me, we don't read magazines you don't read. Nobody calls us up and gives us as inside information on politics. We know less than you do. If I watch TV, it's 'Family Guy'.

"Rock 'n' roll was built to go as far away from politics as you could get. When my mom and dad talked about who to vote for, I'd go in the other room and put on THE BEATLES or ROLLING STONES — and I'm still like that."

Cooper, who considers himself a humanitarian, says he has no problem with artists using their platform to highlight global issues if it benefits others.

He says: "I think what Bono does and what [Bruce] Springsteen does, Sting and all the people that raise money for others — that's humanitarian, and I'm all for that. But I don't think that's political."

Cooper previously said that he would even go so far as to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing just to make a point. During the 2004 election season, he said: "When I read the list of people who are supporting Kerry, if I wasn't already a Bush supporter, I would have immediately switched. Linda Ronstadt? Don Henley? Geez, that's a good reason right there to vote for Bush."

He also mused about sitting between such political rocker icons as John Lennon and Harry Nilsson while they argued politics and thinking, "I don't care."