Music review: Hollywood Vampires
Alice Cooper is back and better than ever. With the assistance of Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and actor-guitarist Johnny Depp, Cooper assembles a supergroup of the coolest kind to pay tribute to some close musical companions.
With special guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Zak Starkey, Brian Johnson of AC/DC, Perry Farrell, Robby Krieger, Slash, Kip Winger and Dave Grohl, the self-titled debut from the Hollywood Vampires is a must-listen album for any rock fan.
The band鈥檚 name affectionately refers to an exclusive drinking club housed at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip in the mid-1970s. As one of the founding members, Cooper would be regularly joined by legendary artists like Keith Moon, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Jimi Hendrix, Micky Dolenz and Ringo Starr for never-ending evenings of drink and over indulgences.
Because of their nightly prowess and perceived invincibility, the club was dubbed the Hollywood Vampires. As a tribute to his former drinking buddies, Cooper and an all-star cast deliver a set of covers in honor of all the members who once pledged to the drinking fraternity.
Two original tracks by Cooper and friends anchor the beginning and ending of the album with the showman鈥檚 classic sinister zeal and theatrical flair. Just like the chilling introduction on Cooper鈥檚 1975 classic album 鈥淲elcome to My Nightmare鈥� delivered by Vincent Price on 鈥淭he Black Widow,鈥� 鈥淗ollywood Vampires鈥� opens with the late Christopher Lee passionately professing his love of the darkness by narrating 鈥淭he Last Vampire,鈥� before eerily making way for Cooper to summon the rock 鈥榥鈥� roll ghosts from the world beyond with 鈥淩aise the Dead.鈥�
Producer Bob Ezrin partners with Cooper once again to oversee a stellar set of classic tracks such as Spirit鈥檚 鈥淚 Got a Line on You,鈥� Led Zeppelin鈥檚 鈥淲hole Lotta Love,鈥� Hendrix鈥檚 鈥淢anic Depression,鈥� Lennon鈥檚 鈥淐old Turkey鈥� and T. Rex鈥檚 鈥淛eepster.鈥� Other standout tracks include a spirited and nostalgic version of Badfinger鈥檚 鈥淐ome and Get It鈥� performed by McCartney and Cooper鈥檚 own signature rebellion tune 鈥淪chool鈥檚 Out.鈥�
Fashion designer and rock music aficionado John Varvatos designed the album鈥檚 haunting cover, while liner notes were thoughtfully penned by Bernie Taupin. Instead of being dead and buried, the antics of Cooper are alive and well with 鈥淗ollywood Vampires.鈥�
It鈥檚 a fitting toast to those lost but not forgotten.
All artist proceeds will be donated to MusiCares.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer.
He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.