Hollywood Vampires, or how the supergroup "Hollywood Vampires" (Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry) was formed.

Hollywood Vampires - this is the real deal supergroup! Founded in 2015 Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp. и Joe PerryThe idea behind the project was to revive the spirit and atmosphere of the 70s club of the same name, which included iconic celebrities of the 20th century - from Bernie Topin and Ringo Starr to Keith Moon and John Lennon! The band started by performing covers of their favourite classic hits - but their first album was also a high-profile event because maestros such as Slash, Sir Paul McCartney and others were involved in the recording. In 2019. "Hollywood Vampires." have unveiled their second LP, which this time consisted of just 3 covers and 13 original tracks.

Although there is little information about them on the internet, for still they may not tour or release music as regularly as they would like due to other commitments of the members, there is little information about the Hollywood Vampires have a story to tell! Undoubtedly: this project made a sensation - and fully deservedly so. And let the modest discography not scare you.

The title is inspired by Cooper's "company of starry drinking buddies"

Title "Hollywood Vampires." - is not just a fanciful homage to Dracula or other bloodsuckers. It is deeply rooted in Cooper's past. If some biographers are to be believed, as well as excerpts from interviews with Cooper himself. the king of shock rockin the '70s, he formed a club that was a kind of club that was "a bunch of celebrity drinking buddies."who called themselves "Hollywood vampires.". This club included popular actors and musicians including Keith Moon and John Lennon!

From time to time, friends would gather at the infamous Rainbow Grill on the Sunset Strip and indulge in their favourite alcoholic beverages. To join the gang, you had to outdrink them - an almost impossible feat, but some have succeeded.

After Cooper became friends with Johnny Depp on the set of 2012's Dark Shadows, they decided to form a band called "Hollywood Vampires."to honour their fallen friends of yesteryear.

Full understanding and support

As history shows - eventually every great group has to face the so-called friction momentswhen the battle for creative control begins. But not in the case of the Hollywood Vampires. Despite the egos and reputations of the participants, for them this project is a "a fully co-operative environment". As Joe Perry said:

"Everybody does everything! Everybody can write lyrics, everybody can write riffs, everybody can write it their own way. Everyone has a chance to do the little thing they like to do the most."

Remarkably, it was Cooper who pushed the legendary "Caribbean Pirate" for him to pick up the microphone.

"Johnny said: "I'm not a singer." To which I objected, 'Johnny, you played Sweeney Todd!' And he said: "Oh yeah, I did. I'd forgotten about it."

As a result, Depp dared, and performed a cover of the "Heroes" by David Bowie. To make the event special, the group recorded an interpretation at the Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin - the very place where the legendary rocker recorded the song and the album of the same name in 1977!

Joe Perry thinks The Hollywood Vampires are more complex than Aerosmith

In fact, for many decades, the group Aerosmith was the one constant of the journey Joe Perry with a guitar. It would seem - after wild touring, recording, accidents and so on and so forth, it's hard to get this man off balance? He's already established himself as a guitar guru and a maestro of the rock 'n' roll scene! However... in his own words, "Hollywood Vampires." harder than Aerosmith.

For Perry, the word "supergroup" implies something different, bigger and more responsible. In his interview, the guitarist said:

"Given the way Alice sings, the way he presents the songs, and what a lot of the lyrics say - I knew beforehand that this was going to be a tougher record than the Aerosmith record. It's realistically a lot harder!"

By the way: as part of Hollywood Vampires, every member puts out 1000%, especially Perry. In fact, he once passed out during the band's performance! Luckily, everything was avoided, and the cause was stated to be dehydration. Concerned about the incident, Cooper later said:

"I fear for him. You know - we've been doing 25 to 30 songs without a break. That's a hell of a load. We rehearsed a lot, and Joe was pretty exhausted. He hadn't eaten in two days!"

"Hollywood Vampires" gives Johnny Depp his freedom.

Few actors have had as successful a career as Johnny Depp. While others may suffer from picking a type or finding offerings in only one genre, this has never been a problem for Depp.

He has been fortunate enough to cross borders and explore his acting range in a wide variety of films! However, he still doesn't believe that acting gives him the same freedomas music.

"What am I getting out of this that I can't usually find? I understand myself! When I'm on stage with these guys - it's the feeling I had as a kid... It's freedom!"

In Cooper's opinion, Lemmy would be the perfect addition to their super-band

Since Hollywood Vampires is a tribute to the most rebels in rock 'n' roll history, the band members just couldn't help but take their hats off to the Lemmy Kilmisterthe legend of Motörhead, performing a smashing cover of "Ace of Spades.".

Lemmy was not only a legendary musician, but also a the consummate rebel.! Legends have it that he could safely drink a bottle of whisky a day in the prime of his life. But age and such a wild lifestyle spared no-one, and in the twilight of his days. health problems have made themselves known.

"If he were alive, Lemmy would certainly be a 'vampire'! He would probably be our bass player! We all knew Lemmy on different levels, but we all agree on one thing: he would have been the perfect addition to our super-band!", Cooper once said.