Rockstar Alice Cooper says becoming Christian saved him from alcohol addiction

Shock rocker Alice Cooper has recounted how he had almost died because of his alcohol addiction, and how he eventually overcame his desire to drink through his faith in God.

In an interview with New York Daily News' Confidential, Cooper recalled the time he awoke throwing up blood 37 years ago.

"Everything that could go wrong was shutting down inside of me," he said. "I was drinking with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix and trying to keep up with Keith Moon and they all died at 27," he continued.

The rock star said that he eventually realized that he must either stop drinking or die. After being diagnosed by doctors as a "classic alcoholic," Cooper said he never had the desire to drink again and he credits his recovery to God.

"My wife and I are both Christian. My father was a pastor, my grandfather was an evangelist. I grew up in the church, went as far away as I could from it — almost died — and then came back to the church," he said.

Cooper is known in his early days for his "shock rock" theatrics, which included simulating suicide and decapitation of baby dolls. However, he said that he has since changed after coming back to the faith.

"I always refer to myself as the real Prodigal Son, because I went out and the Lord let me do everything. Maybe didn't let me but allowed it, and then just started reeling me back in. You know, you've seen enough. Let's bring you back to where you belong," he said.

After he stopped drinking, Cooper went back to church, where he encountered a pastor he described as "hell fire." He narrated that he felt like the pastor was addressing him each Sunday even though there were 6,000 people in attendance.

The singer said that he would come out to church feeling like he was tortured but soon realized that he had to make a choice — for or against Christ.

Cooper said that he felt really convicted by God and soon joined a church called Camelback Bible, which he says is a "strong Bible-teaching church."

The rock star, who has been married to wife Sheryl Goddard since 1976, said that he has never been unfaithful and goes to church every Sunday. He added that his three kids have never had any problem with alcohol or drugs.

Cooper had insisted that his rocker lifestyle is not incompatible with his Christian faith. The singer will be reprising his role as King Herod in the classic "Jesus Christ Superstar," which will air on NBC this Sunday.

He first tackled the role in 2000 when writers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice asked him to record "King Herod's Song" as part of a London cast recording.