Alice Cooper Says Johnny Depp Is As Good A Guitarist As Jeff Beck and Joe Perry
Alice Cooper for Loudwire - Youtube
Johnny Depp, primarily known for his captivating performances on the silver screen, harbors a talent in music that might surprise many – his proficiency on the guitar. This is a facet of Depp that Alice Cooper, a rock legend himself, enthusiastically brings to light. According to Cooper, Depp’s musical talent positions him on par with guitar virtuosos such as Joe Perry and the late Jeff Beck. This claim, bold as it may seem, underscores a perspective often obscured by Depp’s cinematic fame.
Unveiling the Musical Mettle of Johnny Depp
In an illuminating dialogue with Classic Rock, Alice Cooper opened up on the general underestimation of Johnny Depp’s musical capabilities. The Hollywood Vampires, a band uniting Depp with iconic musicians, serves as an emblem of Depp’s musical journey. Cooper, addressing prevalent doubts about Depp’s guitar skills, highlighted the actor’s affiliations with renowned artists. “People had no idea that Johnny Depp was a great guitar player. They think he’s a movie star trying to be a guitar player. Well, he’s playing with Jeff Beck, playing with the Stones. You don’t play with those guys unless you know what you’re doing. You get in that room and you’ve got Duff McKagan on bass and Joe Perry on guitar and Joe Walsh on guitar.” This setting, featuring Depp amidst giants of rock, amplifies Cooper’s assertion.
Curiosity around Depp’s guitar skills isn’t devoid of skepticism, as evidenced in a discussion on the ‘X5 Podcast’ with Tom Zutaut, an A&R executive. Zutaut reminisced about Depp’s auditions, providing an anecdote that mirrored doubt rather than assurance. “Johnny Depp auditioned for me twice. This is a funny story. I go to a rehearsal, the manager’s a friend of mine, and he goes, ‘I got this band from Jacksonville, they’re great.’ I go see ’em, and they were terrible. Johnny Depp was the worst guitarist I’d ever seen — but his charisma was insane.” Despite Zutaut’s reservations, it’s Depp’s magnetic presence that often sways audience perception, painting a complex view of the actor as a musician.
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Alice Cooper On Johnny Depp’s Musicianship
Yet, Alice Cooper’s conviction in Depp’s guitar prowess remains undeterred, providing a counter-narrative to the skepticism. Cooper’s subsequent statements reinforce the idea of Depp as more than just a cinematic figure when he’s armed with a guitar. “Johnny’s great. When he’s with us he’s not a movie star – he’s a guitar player. And he’s a great guitar player. You don’t go out with Jeff Beck unless you can play guitar, and he really is a player.” This emphatic endorsement underscores Depp’s legitimate contribution to the band and the music world at large.
Depp’s association with music and the guitar isn’t a recent exploration. It’s a passion that traces back to his youth, a significant aspect of his identity preserved over decades. Engaging with the guitar since he was 12, Depp’s involvement in The Hollywood Vampires since 2012 alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry narrates a tale of enduring devotion to music. This journey is essential to understanding Depp beyond his screen roles, framing him as a multifaceted artist.
