Hollywood Vampires

[Malcolm]

This new album sounds great...and Duff n matt round out the band...super cool

In 1972, on the Sunset Strip at a club called the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar. It was a gathering place for the rock stars living in or passing through L.A. "To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members," says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the Vampires. "I would walk in on a typical night," Alice says, "and John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon ? who would usually be in a costume like a maid or a chauffeur ? Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz would be there. The next week might be Bernie Taupin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz."

Three years ago, Alice and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking). An environment for great artists to hang, laugh and play together. The Hollywood Vampires live again with the release of the HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES album. Alice and Johnny were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of both of them, and the recording began: a tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires.

For the next two years, Alice, Joe and Johnny, joined by producer Bob Ezrin and an amazing group of modern day vampires, including Perry Farrell, Dave Grohl, Sir Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Slash, Robbie Krieger, Zak Starkey, Brian Johnson and Kip Winger, recorded tracks by their dead friends and heroes. Also included are two original songs that tell the story of the Vampires, one of which, "Raise The Dead", has an intro by Sir Christopher Lee, recorded just prior to his death.

The album package, an antique book, was created by noted men's fashion designer (and rock fan) John Varvatos in his signature vintage style. Alice and Varvatos, both Detroit natives, have been partners in fashion for several years with Alice lending his classic rock style as a brand ambassador.

A sneak peek at the liner notes, penned by original Hollywood Vampire Bernie Taupin, "I'm not here to defend their vices. Over-indulgence of any sort does not ultimately constitute for a healthy mind and body. And while on the periphery of those involved, wives may have come and gone, career choices may have been deemed dubious, and heartbreak in some cases stalked a dark corridor, but in the lair of the Hollywood Vampires only joy and laughter reigned."

"I'm not completely sure what constituted bad behavior back then, but in this lair it existed in a bubble, a hermetically sealed dome of fun. It may not have been the round table at the Algonquin, but these were witty, intelligent guys who often got raucous and loud, but rest assured there were no bystanders or animals hurt in the making of the Hollywood Vampires."

All artist proceeds will be donated to MusiCares.

"Hollywood Vampires" will be released on September 11.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Last Vampire
02. Raise The Dead
03. My Generation
04. Whole Lotta Love
05. I Got A Line
06. Five To One/Break On Through
07. One/Jump Into The Fire
08. Come And Get It
09. Jeepster
10. Cold Turkey
11. Manic Depression
12. Itchycoo Park
13. School's Out/Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2
14. Dead Drunk Friends

According to RollingStone.com, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, the supergroup featuring Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, will play its first live shows in September. Rounding out the band's lineup will be former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum.

The first HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES concerts will take place at the The Roxy in West Hollywood, California on September 16 and September 17. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday via Ticketfly. HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES will also play in Brazil on September 24 as part of the Rock In Rio festival.

[Malcolm]

HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES To Pay Musical Tribute To LEMMY At GRAMMY AWARDS


According to Rolling Stone, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, the supergroup featuring international film star and musician Johnny Depp alongside Alice Cooper and AEROSMITH's Joe Perry, will pay tribute to late MOT?RHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister by performing a MOT?RHEAD classic at the Grammy Awards next week. The ceremony will air live on CBS on February 15.

"We started this band as a means to toast our 'dead drunk friends' at the Rainbow, all the ghosts in the bar, and now I guess Lemmy is involved in that, too," Cooper tells Rolling Stone.

"He was always funny," he continues. "I'm a 'healed' alcoholic and I haven't had anything to drink in 35 years. A lot of people that drink always feel a little bit like they owe an explanation to me. A couple weeks before his death, Lemmy came up to me and said, 'Alice, I've quit drinking.' And he's got a glass in his hand. And I go, 'Really?' And he says, 'Yeah, I don't drink whiskey anymore. I drink vodka.' And I went, 'Lemmy, do you think your liver has any idea what color the alcohol is?' He said, well it's a step down from whiskey.' And I went, 'OK. Any step's a good step.'"

HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES is planning to perform a new song called "As Bad As I Am" as well as a cover of MOT?RHEAD's "Ace Of Spades". "I might [sing 'Ace'] more 'Alice Cooper style,' but it would still have to have that growl, that guttural voice to make it work," Alice tells Rolling Stone. "I can't picture, like, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER doing that song."

During the 1970s in the upstairs bar of the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, the Hollywood Vampires were born. It was a gathering place where celebrated artists such as John Lennon, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Alice Cooper, Harry Nilsson and countless others would meet and drink into the early morning hours, and the club became legendary.

Four years ago, Hollywood Vampires founding member Alice Cooper and his good friend Johnny Depp decided the time was right to revive the camaraderie and spirit that defined Hollywood Vampires (minus the drinking), creating an environment for great artists to hang, laugh and play together. Cooper and Depp were joined by Perry, along with producer Bob Ezrin, and soon the recording began. The new album, "Hollywood Vampires", was released on September 11, 2015, followed by two live performances at The Roxy in Hollywood and an international appearance at Rock In Rio in Brazil.

[Eeebs]

I need to check out their stuff... would love to see them perform live in Toronto. Especially with regards to Matt and Duff... and seeing Johnny on stage would be kind of cool too!

[Falcon]

I need to check out their stuff... would love to see them perform live in Toronto. Especially with regards to Matt and Duff... and seeing Johnny on stage would be kind of cool too!

I think Duff's out for now, Robert Deleo (STP) is handling bass for the time being.

[Malcolm]

I need to check out their stuff... would love to see them perform live in Toronto. Especially with regards to Matt and Duff... and seeing Johnny on stage would be kind of cool too!

The album is awesome, especially hearing Brian Johnson and Alice Cooper trade lines on School's Out/Another Brick In The Wall, with Slash and Joe Perry on guitar is amazing, Whole Lotta Love with Brian Johnson, Joe Walsh is amazing and Alice and Robby Krieger on Five to One/Break On Through is too cool....

And I fully agree they need to come to Toronto

[rebelhipi]

I need to check out their stuff... would love to see them perform live in Toronto. Especially with regards to Matt and Duff... and seeing Johnny on stage would be kind of cool too!

I think Duff's out for now, Robert Deleo (STP) is handling bass for the time being.

Small world

[Malcolm]

Hollywood Vampires Detail 18-Date North American Summer Tour


Hollywood Vampires, the supergroup whose core members are Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, will set out on their first comprehensive North American tour this summer. Beginning with a gig in Verona, New York in late May, the band will visit the northern part of the U.S. and into Canada before wrapping in Paso Robles, California in late July. Other than an appearance at the Grammys in February, the band's only North American gigs have been club shows in Hollywood.

The musicians supporting the core for the trek include drummer Matt Sorum (the Cult, Guns N' Roses), guitarist Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper's band) and pianist, percussionist and guitarist Bruce Witkin (Johnny Depp's group the Kids). Since Duff McKagan, who had played bass at all of the band's previous gigs, has reunited with Guns N' Roses and will be touring with them this summer, the Vampires are welcoming Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo to the fold to handle four-string duties.

Hollywood Vampires Tour Dates

May 24 - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Casino
July 1 - Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center
July 2 - Mashantucket, CT @ The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Casino
July 3 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Resort Spas and Casino Event Center
July 5 - Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest BMO Harris Pavilion
July 7 - Aurora, IL @ River Edge Park,
July 8 - Orillia, ONT @ Casino Rama Entertainment Center
July 9 - Niagara Falls, ONT @ Stage at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
July 10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater
July 12 - Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
July 13 - Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort         
July 14 - Cadott, WI @ Rock Fest
July 16 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 18 - Fargo, North Dakota @ Scheels Arena
July 22 - Rohnert Park, CA @ Weill Hall
July 23 - Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion
July 24 - Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
July 25 - Paso Robles, CA @ Mid State Fair

Close enough to Toronto, I'll be there

[Eeebs]

Thanks for the heads up! I will be seeing them on July 8th as well. I hope to get a selfie with Matt! They also have VIP packages available... at other concerts, the Meet and Greet cost $1500 (!!). Hope to be in the floor section for this one, LOL. Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster on April 20th, but there are a few pre sales available as well.

[WAR41]

I got tickets for the Brooklyn show.  Anyone else going?

[Eeebs]

I got tickets for Orillia, Ontario... Pre sale tickets sold out in seconds... even the VIP packages. Crazy! Looking forward to a great summer of rock n' roll

[WAR41]

Honestly I am not a huge fan of the album they put out, but I think the show will be interesting and I doubt this band will ever tour again after this.  To get all of these schedules to match up seems almost impossible to do.