We have not gotten any new material from Alice Cooper since 2011’s disappointing Welcome 2 My Nightmare. But the Coop is back in a big way, even though this particular release is not a “conventional” Alice Cooper album (okay, does a conventional Alice Cooper album even exist?)
Hollywood Vampires is a supergroup combining the talents of Cooper with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, and actor/musician Johnny Depp. In addition, the album, mostly covers with a few originals thrown in for good measure, features a plethora of guest stars.
Here is a look at who plays on the record, on each track. You will see your share of familiar faces.
“The Last Vampire”
Narration: Christopher Lee
Keyboards and Sound Design: Johnny Depp, Bob Ezrin and Justin Cortelyou
“Raise the Dead”
(Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen, Alice Cooper, Bob Ezrin, Rob Klonel)
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Background Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin
“My Generation”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Drums: Zak Starkey
Background Vocals: Tommy Henriksen,
“Whole Lotta Love”
Vocals: Brian Johnson, Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp,
Orianthi, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Harmonica: Alice Cooper
Drums: Zak Starkey
Bass: Kip Winger
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Backing Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen
“I Got a Line on You”
Vocals: Alice Cooper, Perry Farrell
Guitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Abe Laboriel Jr.
Bass: Kip Winger
Background Vocals: Perry Farrell, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin
“Five to One / Break On Through”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Robby Krieger, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Drums: Abe Laboriel Jr.
Farfisa: Charlie Judge
Bass: Bruce Witkin
“One / Jump Into The Fire”
Vocals: Alice Cooper, Perry Farrell
Guitars: Robby Krieger, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Dave Grohl
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Keyboard: Bob Ezrin, Bruce Witkin
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
“Come and Get It”
Vocals: Paul McCartney, Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp
Piano: Paul McCartney
Drums: Abe Laboriel Jr.
Bass: Paul McCartney
Background Vocals: Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Abe Laboriel Jr., Bob Ezrin
“Jeepster”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen,
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Background Vocals: Bob Ezrin
“Cold Turkey”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Background Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen
“Manic Depression”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Drums: Zak Starkey
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Piano: Bob Ezrin
“Itchycoo Park”
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Background Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin
“School’s Out / Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2″
Vocals: Alice Cooper, Brian Johnson
Guitar: Slash, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Neal Smith
Bass: Dennis Dunaway
Background Vocals: Kip Winger, Bob Ezrin
“Dead Drunk Friends”
(Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen, Alice Cooper, Bob Ezrin)
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Piano: Bruce Witkin, Bob Ezrin
Background Vocals: Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin, Bob Ezrin
Comprised mostly of covers, it could be easy to write Hollywood Vampires off as yet another in a long line of bland, generic covers albums; it seems like every single rock artist out there has released at least one covers album in the past decade or so. Fortunately, the Coop and company manage to put their own unique spin on the songs here; it definitely comes off as more than a mere “covers” release, like we are used to getting from so many artists.
The album opens with a spoken word monologue from the late, great Christopher Lee, who passed away just prior to the album’s release; in true Alice Cooper tradition this starts things off in fine form and helps to set a mood uniquely the Coop’s own. From there, we get a strong and diverse mix of songs, including a pair of originals bookending things. Most of the songs on here are fairly well known and from legendary artists (Doors, John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, etc.) and many of them have been covered countless times in the past by other artists. Yet this elite class of musicians does not merely provide carbon copies of the original tunes. Infusing them with a feel and an attitude all their own, the all-star ensemble actually manages to create unique and original versions of these songs. Sick and tired of seeing “Itchycoo Park” covered for the umpteenth time? We finally have a version of it that actually sounds different from the original here. Yet, these covers DO stay true to their source material. The pair of originals is no less satisfying, and has this fan curious about further material from this group of artists; will we one day see a release of all original material from these collaborators?
As an Alice Cooper fan I was severely disappointed by Welcome 2 My Nightmare back in 2011, with its inconsistent tone and hit and miss songs. The Hollywood Vampires album is certainly not a new Alice Cooper record proper, but it is far superior to that scattershot disappointment of a record. With Depp and Perry in his corner, Cooper has given us a satisfying collection of covers, a pair of originals, and an album that is sure to satisfy even the most disenfranchised of Alice Cooper and/or classic hard rock fans. The record is not a masterpiece, but it is what it is, and it does that well enough. A highly recommended release all around!