Alice Cooper finally enters the Rock Hall

Alice Cooper had to wait 16 years since eligibility to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- but to the guillotine-wielding horror-rock star behind teen-angst anthems such as

"Eighteen" and "School's Out," the delay wasn't the greatest injustice. What's really unfair, he insists, is that Burt Bacharach hasn't been inducted. "I'm sitting there going, 'Wait a minute -- Burt Bacharach?' " Cooper says, by phone from Phoenix, referring to the man behind the Carpenters' "Close to You." "I mean, this guy wrote as many hits as Paul McCartney."

With his bloody, snake-filled stage show and doomy hits like "Welcome to My Nightmare" and "Billion Dollar Babies," the over-the-top showman born Vincent Damon Furnier was Parental Headache No. 1 in the early '70s. But despite bad bouts of drinking he kicked in the mid-'80s, Cooper is one of the most humble, regular guys in rock 'n' roll. He's a four-handicap golfer, occasionally teaches Bible study and is a close friend to Christian singer Amy Grant. Of the Hall of Fame, he gushes: "It's an honor for me to be included with the guys I grew up with, especially my idols. I think in my speech I'm going to say, 'Hopefully, we don't embarrass you -- but I can't count on it.'"

A Beatles-loving teen in '60s bands such as the Earwigs and the Spiders, Furnier had an epiphany that rock concerts left room for over-the-top, Broadway-style productions. Soon he was Alice Cooper, in a top hat and dark eye makeup, roaming the stage like a murderous ringmaster. "In those days, we couldn't afford anything, so whatever we found backstage was a prop," he says. "If I found a mop backstage, that mop could be a girl, or a weapon, or something to ride on. We found a couple of feather pillows one day and opened them up and floated them. It was unbelievable how effective that was under a strobe light."

Cooper's visual style influenced Elton John, David Bowie, KISS and, most obviously, Marilyn Manson. Rob Zombie, metal star and horror-film director, will introduce him at the Hall of Fame. "Rob understands the fact that rock and humor and horror all are in bed together. And if you produce it right, if you have the hit songs to go with it, if you can make it come to life visually and make it all make sense, then it's really a good show," Cooper says. "It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it's not boring."

For the induction ceremony, Cooper and his original band will reel out classics such as "Under My Body," "Is It My Wheels" and, of course, "Eighteen" and "School's Out." Cooper doesn't know which stars might jump on stage, but he guarantees one guest. "I would imagine the original snake might make an appearance," he says. "I haven't used a snake on stage for probably 10 years, but we think it's really something we ought to do -- for the Hall of Fame."

MORE MEMBERS FROM 2011'S ROCK HALL CLASS:

NEIL DIAMOND

From: Brooklyn

Known for: His songwriting triumphs as one of the Brill Building writers, followed by his successes as a solo artist and one of the most durable performers in the rock era

Induction-worthy achievement: "Sweet Caroline, bum-bum-bum!"

Must hear: "Sweet Caroline," "Solitary Man," and the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You"

Inducted by: Paul Simon

DR. JOHN

From: New Orleans

Known for: His session work in the New Orleans R&B scene, which brought him to the attention of Van Morrison and Allen Toussaint, and his own distinctive vocal style and genre-spanning piano-playing

Induction-worthy achievement: Creating his own style of "voodoo" music, as well as his stage persona the Night Tripper

Must hear: "Right Place, Wrong Time," "Makin' Whoopee," "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"

Inducted by: John Legend

TOM WAITS

From: Sonoma County, Calif.

Known for: His mix of poetry, rock, blues and vaudeville, all delivered in his unique rasp of a voice, or by an impressive list of fans that include Bruce Springsteen, the Ramones, Johnny Cash and Rod Stewart

Induction-worthy achievement: His classic 1985 album, "Rain Dogs"

Must hear: "Downtown Train," "Time," "Bend Down the Branches"

Inducted by: Neil Young

JAC HOLZMAN (as a nonperformer)

From: Manhattan

Known for: Founding Elektra Records as a folk label and Nonesuch Records for more eclectic acts.

Induction-worthy achievement: Holzman signed a wide array of acts from the Doors to MC5 and the Stooges, from Queen to Judy Collins and Harry Chapin.

Must hear: The Doors' "Light My Fire," Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Harry Chapin's "Taxi"

Inducted by: The Doors' John Densmore

ART RUPE (as a nonperformer)

From: Los Angeles

Known for: Founding Specialty Records, the independent label that introduced the world to Little Richard and the Soul Stirrers, including Sam Cooke. A gospel label initially, Specialty quickly crossed over into blues and what would become rock 'n' roll.

Induction-worthy achievement: "A-womp-bop-a-loo-bomp-a-lop-bomp-bomp!"

Must hear: Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally"; Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

Inducted by: Price

LEON RUSSELL (as a sideman)

From: Los Angeles

Known for: His piano-playing session work with Phil Spector and Jerry Lee Lewis, and touring with the Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker

Induction-worthy achievement: His playing as part of Spector's "Wall of Sound" in hits including "River Deep, Mountain High," and writing "A Song for You"

Must hear: Russell's "A Song for You," Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High," the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man"

Inducted by: Elton John