The Alice Cooper Song John Lennon Loved but Thought Paul McCartney Should Sing

Alice Cooper, the shock-rock pioneer known for his theatrical stage performances and dark storytelling, has always credited classic rock and roll as his deepest musical influence. While his horror-inspired stage persona seemed worlds apart from The Beatles’ polished pop-rock image, Cooper himself often pointed to John Lennon and Paul McCartney as two of the finest songwriters in history.

“When you think of great songwriting, nobody was better,” Cooper once wrote for Louder Sound. “McCartney and Lennon just did such great songs. Take any early Beatles song, and it’s the perfect three-minute masterpiece. Anyone in the world would love to have written one of them.”

The Hollywood Vampires Connection

By the early 1970s, Alice Cooper’s fame skyrocketed thanks to hits like School’s Out and Billion Dollar Babies. Around the same time, Cooper became the self-proclaimed “president” of the infamous Los Angeles drinking club known as The Hollywood Vampires.

The club included notorious rock legends like Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, and Micky Dolenz, while Ringo Starr was also a regular. John Lennon—then living in the U.S. during his so-called “Lost Weekend” period—was often considered an honorary member whenever he was in town. For Cooper, befriending Lennon was like a dream come true.

“In the prime of Alice Cooper, we were getting all this publicity,” Cooper recalled. “John really liked that we were controversial, that we were banned in some places, and that we didn’t care what critics like Mary Whitehouse said. He appreciated the rebellion.”

Lennon’s Favorite Alice Cooper Song

During one of their meetings, Lennon singled out a particular Alice Cooper track as a favorite—“Elected”, from the 1972 album Billion Dollar Babies. Released during the Nixon vs. McGovern presidential election, the satirical song mocked the absurdities of political campaigns, with Cooper declaring his own run for office in tongue-in-cheek fashion.

“When Elected came out, John thought it was a brilliant poke at politics,” Cooper remembered. “He even brought people into the record office saying: ‘You’ve gotta hear this record!’”

The song’s biting humor and rebellious energy resonated strongly with Lennon, who was no stranger to political satire himself.

Lennon’s Playful Jab: “Paul Would Have Done It Better”

Despite his enthusiasm for the song, Lennon couldn’t resist teasing Cooper with a typically dry remark. After praising the record, he quipped: “Paul would have done it better.”

Cooper laughed it off, admitting: “Well, of course he would – he’s Paul McCartney! The fact that Lennon loved the record at all was a huge deal for me.”

This playful jab highlighted the eternal Lennon-McCartney dynamic—even in Lennon’s friendships outside The Beatles, Paul’s name often came up as a benchmark for musical perfection.

Legacy of “Elected” and the Beatles Connection

Though Cooper and McCartney never collaborated, Lennon’s appreciation for Elected cemented the song’s legacy as more than just a political parody. It was validation from one of rock’s greatest icons.

The story also reveals how deeply The Beatles influenced even the most rebellious rockers of the 1970s. Behind Alice Cooper’s outrageous stage persona lay a songwriter who still looked up to the timeless craftsmanship of Lennon and McCartney.

Conclusion

The friendship between Alice Cooper and John Lennon remains one of rock’s more unexpected connections. Lennon’s admiration for Elected—and his cheeky suggestion that McCartney would have sung it better—perfectly captures the humor, respect, and competitive spirit that defined the Beatles’ influence on rock music.

Decades later, the anecdote continues to resonate with fans of both Alice Cooper and The Beatles, reminding us how the world of rock and roll was bound together by admiration, rivalry, and unforgettable music.