The Hollywood Vampires is an all star music group featuring Alice Cooper on vocals, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, actor/musician Johnny Depp on guitar, bassist Duff McKagan (Loaded/Velvet Revolver/Guns n Roses), drummer Matt Sorum ( Velvet Revolver/The Cult/Guns n Roses), & touring guitarist Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper).
The band released their debut album yesterday (September 11th) which is thirteen music tracks including an opening intro by the late Christopher Lee who recorded it for the album shortly before his death. Some of the songs segue into other tracks but are still counted as a single track.
What you get is a sinister album mixed with rockin’ original and cover tracks done in a way that works in every way. When is comes to cover songs, you are blessed with a shredding cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” with vocal duties handled by both Alice Cooper and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. Sir Paul McCartney does vocals and bass on the Goldfinger song “Come and Get It” which he originally road. If that’s not enough, you also have Slash, Dave Grohl, Perry Farrell, Bob Ezrin, Robby Krieger, Orianthi, Joe Walsh, and many more guest musicians.
What you get is great straight forward rock n roll that covers some memorable classics and originals that stand on their own. As I bask in what is the “Hollywood Vampires” debut album. I hope this is a project that have many more years ahead of them to continue the rock they laid down on this enjoyable first album.
The album track listing:
The Last Vampire (Christopher Lee Intro)
Raise The Dead
My Generation
Whole Lotta Love
I Got A Line On You
Five To One/Break On Through (To The Other Side)
One/ Jump Into The Fire
Come and Get It
Jeepster
Cold Turkey
Manic Depression
Itchycoo Park
School’s Out/ Another Brink In The Wall
My Dead Drunk Friends
For those who know Johnny Depp only as an actor, He originally moved to Los Angeles to be a musician with his band “The Kids” before hitting fame as an actor. He also played in a band with Butthole Surfers Gibby Haynes called “P”. He also played slide guitar on the Oasis song “Fade In-Out”. Here is Johnny laying down the solo for the Hollywood Vampires track “My Dead Drunk Friends
This is from the wall upstairs at the Rainbow Bar & Grill located in the heart of Sunset Strip. Still visible is the roster for the original version of the 70’s club members. President Alice Cooper, V.P. Kieth Moon, as well as faintly see John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, & Mickey Dolenz.
The first HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES performances will take place at the world famous The Roxy (next door to the originals 70’s club hot spot The Rainbow Bar & Grill) in West Hollywood, California on September 16 and September 17. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday via Ticketfly.
HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES are scheduled to play in Brazil on September 24 as part of the Rock In Rio festival.
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