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Sep. 8, 2021

Alice Cooper joins Fiesta Bowl founders as parade grand marshals. Here’s what to expect

For the first time in the history of the game, a rock ‘n’ roller has been chosen to serve as the Fiesta Bowl Parade Grand Marshal.

Alice Cooper and nine Fiesta Bowl Founders will share the honor when the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe hits Central Phoenix Saturday, Dec. 18.

The theme of the parade, which honors the organization’s 50th Anniversary, is “Gold Standard: A Commitment to CommUNITY.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was chosen, as were the founders, because his actions align with the organization’s commitment to driving economic growth, championing charitable causes and executing innovative experiences.

Patrick Barkley, the chairman of the board for Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, says, “I think Alice was a natural fit because he’s been such an asset to the community and he’s recognized worldwide.”

Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy says many esteemed individuals have served as the parade’s grand marshal through the years.

“We’ve had astronauts, teachers, sports stars, a lot of categories,” he says. “What we haven’t had is a rock ‘n’ roll legend. And this year, we’re gonna have a rock ‘n’ roll legend to add to the list.”

Cooper was thrilled to be chosen
“It’s really funny when you start getting honored by all these different people, you start going, ‘They only do this with really old guys,'” Cooper says, with a laugh. “‘Here’s the key to the city. You OK?'”

This isn’t Cooper’s first experience acting as grand marshal for a big event. In 1976, while riding high on the previous year’s “Welcome to My Nightmare” album, he did the honors for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

“It was insane,” Cooper says. “When I’m the voice of reason out of 3 million people? I had never seen anything that insane in my life.”

The singer had just gotten married and invited his wife, Sheryl Cooper, to join him on the float.

“There had never been a woman on the float before,” he says. “So I picked up Sheryl and they said, ‘Oh, we can’t have any women on the float.’ I said, ‘Who’s the grand marshal?'”

As to what his duties may entail at the Fiesta Bowl Parade, Cooper says, “I would imagine that I’m going to be standing on a float and waving.”

He hasn’t heard about the design of the float.

“It might be funny to have an Alice Cooper-themed float, though,” he says, with a smile. “Giant guillotine. And flowers.”

Cooper says he appreciates the generosity of Fiesta Bowl Charities in helping Phoenix-area teenagers, including Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center, which received a donation of $10,000 from the organization.

Continue Reading at AZ Central