Veteran performer Alice Cooper and actor Johnny Depp have collaborated with some close friends, forming new outfit known as Hollywood Vampires. The unlikely team have just released the first official streaming track from the self-titled EP, a cover of The Who’s My Generation.
The song is a husky mixture of Cooper’s gravelly vocals alongside Depp and fellow guitarist Tommy Henriksen’s raw riff, bringing a harder feel to the sound. Bassist Bruce Witkin, who was in Depp’s previous band The Kids, and drummer Zak Starkey (a.k.a Ringo Starr’s child) have toured with The Who in the past, and are able to bring a bit of that authentic Who touch.
EP Hollywood Vampires, out September 11, will include the trio of Depp, Cooper and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry playing mostly covers of songs. If you’re wondering where the very funkadelic, glam-rock name comes from, it was the name of Cooper’s old drinking club, which also included Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon.
Some of the covers appearing on the record will be Led Zeppelin‘s Whole Lotta Love, The Doors‘ Break on Through and Pink Floyd‘s Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).
Cooper’s gruff vocals and Depp and second guitarist Tommy Henriksen’s chunky riffing give the classic tune a harder edge. Anchoring the cover are bassist Bruce Witkin, who played in Depp’s old band the Kids, and drummer Zak Starkey, who, in addition to being Ringo Starr’s son, also tours with The Who.
Other special guests featuring on the record are Paul Mccartney, Dave Grohl, Slash, Joe Walsh, AC/DC’c Brian Johnson, late horror movie legend Christopher Lee and The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. As well as the string of cover tunes, the album will also feature two originals: Raise the Dead and Dead Drunk Friends.
Hollywood Vampires will debut with a set of gigs at the Sunset Strip outpost the Roxy on September 16 and 17. They’re the only US shows before the band heads on to Brazil’s Rock in Rio festival on September 24.
Unfortunately the Vevo video for My Generation is geo-locked, so until it becomes available to view in Australia, enjoy this other performance of Hollywood Vampire. Note Alice Cooper’s generation batshit crazy attitude.