Music Review: Hollywood Vampires, Hollywood Vampires

By Tyler Hodg

Hollywood Vampires is a “supergroup” consisting of core members Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry, with guest appearances by Brian Johnson, Dave Grohl, Slash, Perry Farrell, and Paul McCartney, to name a few. Yes, this is a real thing.

Borrowing from Alice Cooper’s typical tongue-in-cheek manner, the group got their name from a special drinking club from the 1970s called the Hollywood Vampires, which consisted of musicians with the sole goal of out-drinking each other. The self-titled album pays tribute to fallen rock stars, like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Keith Moon (who was a member of the original Hollywood Vampires), with re-recorded versions of songs from their legendary catalogues.

Some of the tracks featured on the album include The Who’s “My Generation,” T-Rex’s “Jeepster,” John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey,” and the Small Faces’ “Itchycoo Park.” Almost all 11 covers honor the original essence of the songs, just with a harder, modern edge. The most a song varies from its original recording is in Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” which starts with a slowed-down, bluesy intro rather than the famous guitar riff.

Hollywood Vampires is not comprised entirely of cover songs; two new tracks were written for the album. The anthemic sounding “Raise the Dead” kicks the record off, while “My Dead Drunk Friends” closes it out. Both songs incorporate the theme of honoring lost companions, while keeping a sense of humor about it all. One can only hope this group decides to branch out and do a full album of new material, as the two new tracks are undoubtedly fantastic. With that said, it seems unlikely given the hectic schedule of Cooper, Depp, and Perry.

To make things stranger, the album includes what is to believed to be the final recording of late actor/musician Christopher Lee. His voice can be heard in the appropriately named intro song, “The Last Vampire.” Lee passed away three months prior to the album being released, making it likely that this may very well be his final work.

There is so much to love about Hollywood Vampires. Although the album may seem self-indulgent, it’s important to note that all artists’ proceeds go towards the charity MusiCares. The project is clearly near and dear to all that were involved in its creation, but at the same time, it is not meant to be taken incredibly seriously. The album is a perfect symbol of the friendship the original Hollywood Vampires had, and appropriately continues the legacy of the legendary musicians that have passed away.

Hollywood Vampires was released on September 11 from Republic Records.