Halloween's happy day for Alice Cooper

No rock star of any age is more qualified to talk about all things Halloween than Alice Cooper.

The singer pioneered the use of costumes, makeup and props like guillotines and live snakes in rock shows.

He's penned such chilling tunes as "Welcome to My Nightmare," "The Black Widow," "Sick Things and Killer," and there's a Halloween mask of his mascara-laden likeness sold nationally.

Even shock-rocker Marilyn Manson is intimidated by Cooper. He recently said that meeting Cooper was "like meeting Santa Claus when you're 5."

Question: What were a few of your favorite costumes as a kid?

Answer: I was always one thing — Zorro. I related to Zorro: all black, a little mustache, a mask, a sword, kind of romantic, kind of dangerous. And there's a little bit of Zorro in Alice Cooper if you look onstage. I actually use one of the swords that belonged to Erroll Flynn. Even though he never played Zorro, it was the same era.

Question: So you avoided ghoulish costumes?

Answer: It was funny that it was never scary. You would think that Alice Cooper would have been the scary guy. But I was always more the classic character.

Question: What are the key ingredients for a good costume?

Answer: You have to make one. I don't think you go and buy a costume. You have to be more original than that. My parents never bought costumes for us. It doesn't have to be a scary thing to be original. You could tie an eggbeater to your head and go as a motorboat.

Question: What about makeup?

Answer: Now, you go to these Halloween stores, and we never had makeup kits that are almost like Hollywood makeup kits. Kids can really do it up.

Question: Any costume ideas for trick-or-treaters this year?

Answer: If I were a girl, I would definitely go as one of the divas. I'd go as Lindsay Lohan, but I'd be in jail, have a ball and chain. Britney (Spears) would be great this year. You could shave your head, put a T-shirt on, have a big umbrella and beat cars.

Question: Does it startle you to bump into people on Halloween dressed up like you?