Cooper

Initially forming as the Earwigs when still in college, then playing as the Spiders through the sixties, Vincent Furnier, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and John Speer became The Nazz in 1967. Speer was quickly replaced by Neal Smith and the band soon changed their name to Alice Cooper to prevent confusion with Todd Rundgren's group.

Lead singer Furnier took on the identity of Alice Cooper onstage and the band went on to become one of the most popular rock bands of the early seventies. Their overblown stage presence basically created shock rock and was hugely influential on the rock scene that followed.

The band split in 1974 as Furnier wanted to focus on the theatrical side of the band, while the other members wanted to concentrate on the music. Vincent went solo and officially changed his name to Alice Cooper in 1975. Bruce, Dunaway and Smith went on to form Billion Dollar Babies, named after the most popular Alice Cooper album.

Note - Solo releases by Alice Cooper post-1974 should be entered under Alice Cooper (2), as should all pre-1974 credits for Alice Cooper on the band's releases.