After 60 years on the hard rock scene, you’d have thought Alice Cooper would have heard it all. His band is like a revolving door of rock and metal’s top guitarists, Alice joining forces with some of the biggest names in the genre for decades. But when Johnny Depp played this guitar solo backstage at a Hollywood Vampires gig, shock-rock legend Alice just HAD to stop and take it all in.
This clip has been hovering around on YouTube for just over ten years, amassing more than six million views to date and still keeping listeners stunned to this day. Music Man readers can watch the moment Johnny Depp transforms into a rock god in the video below…
After a quick backing track intro, Johnny dives into a smoky, bluesy rock solo, letting his rich distortions ring out like he’s an ’80s glam metal superstar, his guitar tone instantly spellbinding. All the while, viewers can hear Alice Cooper shouting “Yeah!” from the background, just as smitten by Johnny’s solo as the internet would soon become.
Before long, Alice is stopped in his tracks behind Johnny to watch the magic unfold for himself. He’s a haunting silhouette blacked out by Johnny’s limelight, but as he stands still, one arm folded, another raised to his mouth, it’s clear the shock rock superstar has finally met his match.
Alice admits, “That’s pretty cool” and shoots even more praise Johnny’s way, muffled by the blinding sound of feedback. Then, Johnny gives the solo a second shot, this time with even more passion, leading Alice to spill an anecdote about watching Canadian guitar legend Devin Townsend play.
While Johnny Depp shot to fame as a Hollywood actor, renowned for his work with Tim Burton and the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, his roots in entertainment might come as a surprise to unacquainted Music Man readers.
Johnny didn’t actually come to LA as an actor, but as a guitarist seeking a music career and a record deal. But, according to Hollywood legend, the budding celebrity landed his first film role with absolutely no acting experience—starring in “A Nightmare On Elm Street”—after Nicholas Cage helped him get an audition with filmmaker Wes Craven.
Soon scoring roles in “Platoon” and the original “21 Jump Street” in the ‘80s, Johnny soon landed his first major role in “Cry-Baby” in 1990, shortly followed by his first Tim Burton film, “Edward Scissorhands,” where he soared to international fame.
But, after his controversial court trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, it appears that Johnny has somewhat turned his back on his acting career to finally live out his original rock star dream. The last decade has seen Johnny play in Alice Cooper’s supergroup, Hollywood Vampires, collab with Jeff Beck, and even star in Andrea Bocelli’s 30th anniversary concert!