Alice Cooper recently heaped admiration on Johnny Depp, commenting, “When Johnny’s jamming with Hollywood Vampires, he’s not the star of the silver screen; he’s a rocker with a guitar in hand.”
The name Hollywood Vampires traces its origin to a famous celebrity drinking circle Alice Cooper initiated in 1970 at Rainbow Bar & Grill, situated on Sunset Boulevard. This bond later culminated in 2012 when Alice, Johnny, and Aerosmith’s renowned guitarist Joe Perry joined forces to create the band. Their debut album, filled with celebrity collaborations, dropped in 2015.
In the past month, the trio rocked their six-date UK tour, and the Birmingham leg even witnessed a special performance alongside Tony Iommi. After this successful stint, Alice flew to the US to join Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard for a series of concerts.
In a light-hearted chat with QFM96’s Torg & Elliott Show, when quizzed about performing alongside Johnny Depp, Alice remarked with a chuckle, “It’s quite the sight. With Joe to my left, me center stage, and Johnny to my right, all eyes, especially those of the ladies, are invariably glued to the right. I sometimes sneak over to Johnny’s side just to bask in that attention!”
He further extolled Johnny’s musical prowess, stating, “With us, Johnny leaves his actor persona in the trailers. He’s an incredible guitarist, and one doesn’t just pair with Jeff Beck without some serious skills. We’ve played together for nearly a decade, and it’s always been harmonious.”
On a side note, Johnny teamed up with guitar maestro Jeff Beck for select gigs in 2022, which culminated in their joint album ’18’ the following summer.
Coming back to Alice, fans are eagerly awaiting his 29th studio offering titled ‘Road,’ scheduled for release on 25th August 2023 through earMUSIC.
Produced by Bob Ezrin, a familiar face in Alice’s circle, the album is a result of collaboration with trusted band members including Ryan Roxie, Chuck Garric, Tommy Henrikson, Glen Sobel, and Nita Strauss.
Additionally, Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine has pitched in on ‘White Line Frankenstein,’ providing his songwriting, musical, and vocal expertise.