HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES – Hollywood Vampires (2015)
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The HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, the super-group started by Alice Cooper, actor Johnny Depp and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry will release their self-titled debut album tomorrow, September 11.
Produced by legendary Bob Ezrin, features appearances by Paul McCartney, Brian Johnson, Slash, Duff McKagan and Kip Winger, among others.
Most of the album’s 14 tracks are covers, such as a mashup of Cooper’s “School’s Out” and Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2”, though there are a few originals included. “Raise the Dead” and “Dead Drunk Friends” were co-written by Depp and Cooper alongside producer Bob Ezrin, who also did backing vocals and plays keyboard.
“The Last Vampire”, meanwhile, features narration from the late Christopher Lee, a beloved horror movie actor who also starred in Star Wars Episode II and III.
Work on the album began in 2012 and took two years to finish.
The project is a salute to Cooper’s hard partying L.A. crew in 1973/1974, which included Keith Moon, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Micky Dolenz and others. A plank of wood featuring the legendary musicians’ signature is immortalized at Hollywood’s Rainbow Bar & Grill in the club’s upper level, known as ‘Over The Rainbow’.
Clothing designer John Varvatos created the packaging which resembles an antique book, while the booklet features liner notes from original Hollywood Vampire and Elton John’s writing partner Bernie Taupin.
Other classics covered by the band includes The Who’s “My Generation”, Badfinger’s “Come And Get It”, Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”, John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey”, T. Rex’s “Jeepster”, Small Faces’ “Itchycoo Park” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression”.
It’s all good stuff, cleverly produced by Ezrin combining the classic rock vibe with an updated, vibrant production.
The first Hollywood Vampire concerts will take place at the The Roxy in West Hollywood, California on September 16 and September 17, with the live line-up consisting of Alice Cooper, Joe Perry & Johnny Depp on guitars, and former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum.
Catch them if you are near, these will be some kind of historical concerts, or grab the record to enjoy these very good versions, you won’t be disappointed.
01. The Last Vampire
Narration: Sir Christopher Lee
Keyboards and Sound Design: Johnny Depp, Bob Ezrin and Justin Cortelyou
02. Raise the Dead
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Background Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin
03. My Generation
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Drums: Zak Starkey
Background Vocals: Tommy Henriksen,
04. 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
05. I Got A Line
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
06. 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
07. 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
08. 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
09. Jeepster
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen,
Drums: Glenn Sobel
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Programming: Tommy Henriksen
Background Vocals: Bob Ezrin
10. 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
11. Manic Depression
Vocals: Alice Cooper
Guitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen
Drums: Zak Starkey
Bass: Bruce Witkin
Piano: Bob Ezrin
12. 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
13. 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
14. Dead Drunk Friends
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
Alice Cooper – vocals, harmonica, backing vocals
Tommy Henriksen – guitar, backing vocals, programming
Johnny Depp – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
Dennis Dunaway – bass
Kip Winger – bass
Duff McKagan – bass
Bob Ezrin – piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Charlie Judge – keyboards
Perry Farrell – vocals, backing vocals
Brian Johnson– vocals
Paul McCartney – vocals, piano, bass
Christopher Lee – vocals
Bruce Witkin – guitar, bass, keyboards
Robby Krieger – guitar
Orianthi – guitar
Joe Perry – guitar
Slash – guitar
Joe Walsh – guitar
Neil Smith – drums
Glen Sobel – drums
Dave Grohl – drums
Zak Starkey – drums
Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums, backing vocals
Pre-Order:
www.amazon.de/Hollywood-Vampires/dp/B012GKH0FE
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