It’s not that often when metal creeps its way into mainstream pop culture. So when metal/hard rock acts do actually pop up in beloved sitcoms, dramatic films, cartoons or even reality series, it’s kind of awesome. So in the weekly column Remember When, Metal Insider recalls the most random instances of metal’s elite appearing in front of the camera.

The Muppets have been seen side by side on TV and movie screens with many musicians over the past few decades. Even Dave Grohl appeared on the most recent incarnation of Kermit and the gang’s TV show. After all, The Muppets have always been the type of show that parents could enjoy as much as their kids.

But imagine it’s 1978. You’re about to watch a new episode of The Muppet Show, and suddenly standing next to your favorite Muppet characters is… Alice Cooper! The king of shock rock, the most controversial figure in music at the time, out of nowhere on your TV screen talking to Kermit The Frog about selling his soul to the devil. Well that’s exactly what happened when Alice stopped by the Muppet theater to perform “Welcome To My Nightmare”, “You And Me” and “School’s Out” with his own gang of monsters called the Vile Bunch.

Cooper’s appearance has gone down as one of The Muppet Show’s most memorable music moments of all time. Sure, he’s appeared in many films and TV shows over the past few decades. But this particular episode was a testament to how hip The Muppets actually were, and how willing Alice was to have a little fun with his image (which at the time was very shocking). Plus, Alice’s ghoulish and creepy appearance fit in with the show’s characters so well that it was almost like watching a human Muppet… at least that’s what 6 year old me thought when first seeing him on TV.

Watch a few scenes from Alice Cooper’s appearance on The Muppet Show, as well as video of Cooper talking about how it all came about during the 2014 Edmonton Expo, below.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz0lXNNkqac[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQZooJhBG_E [/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wea5MG7h2V0[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmewc2Uqon4[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utGJi5Fxg2M[/youtube]