Review By: Janel Spiegel – Photography by: Kimberly Kanuck
Hollywood Vampires
Sands Bethlehem Event Center, Bethlehem, PA
May 21, 2018
Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry
LEGENDS! Three legends rolled into town tonight! The Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry (Aerosmith) performed tonight at Sands Bethlehem Event Center.
The legend goes, “In 1972, on the Sunset Strip at a club called the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar. It was a gathering place for the rock stars living in or passing through L.A. “To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members,” says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the Vampires. “I would walk in on a typical night,” Alice says, “and John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon- who would usually be in costume like a maid or a chauffeur- Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz would be there. The next week might be Bernie Taupin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz.” Three years ago, Alice and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking). An environment for great artists to hang, laugh and play together. The Hollywood Vampires live again with the release of the Hollywood Vampires new album. Alice and Johnny were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of both of them, and the recording began: a tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires.”
If there was ever such an epic concert! This would be the one! Sands Bethlehem Event Center was packed. Alice Cooper declared he is “the last living vampire.” People were in good spirits and ready to rock and listen to songs by an incredible band. Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen, Buck Johnson, Chris Wyse and Glen Sobel took the stage and rocked the building. They paid tribute on the screen behind them with an homage to everyone from Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead to the Founding Fathers of Horror, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, George Harrison, River Phoenix, The Ramones and more. The opening of the show was Bela Lugosi’s infamous, “Children of the night, what beautiful music they make” speech from “Dracula.” It was beautiful. Seeing Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry merge as a band is incredible. They are three of the most talented humans ever.
Alice Cooper started singing and they performed everything from “Ace of Spades” (Motorhead), “The Jack” (AC/DC) in which Alice Cooper just absolutely killed this. He is such an incredible performer. The man could sing anything. The Hollywood Vampires also performed an Aerosmith song. You instantly know it is “Sweet Emotion” as Joe Perry went into the legendary song. Johnny Depp seemed to be having fun and he was rocking. He is such a legend in the film world that to see him rock out with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, it’s pretty amazing. He also got to sing. Alice Cooper handed the microphone over to his “brother” as Johnny sang a beautiful, touching rendition of David Bowie’s song “Heroes.” The audience sang along, danced and seemed thrilled. I don’t think there one person who was not having fun, screaming at the top of their lungs or singing at the top of their lungs (me included). As Johnny sang they showed beautiful photos of the late great David Bowie. Johnny Depp is known for countless films but this man is a rock star! He just exudes the emotions of what music is.
The crowd was so into the show and as usual, the Sands staff was amazing. They were making sure everyone was safe and where they needed to be. They also sang, “People Who Died” (The Jim Carroll Band) and you got the feeling these guys put a lot more feeling into this song.
Could we talk about JOE PERRY for a moment! This man is just incredible. Hands down, one of the greatest guitar players of all-time. One of the greatest musicians of all-time. Watching him just play guitar you are mesmerized and he just is the epitome of cool.
The Hollywood Vampires also performed, “My Dead Drunk Friends” and man it was good. “Standing all alone here, in a tavern full of ghosts. It’s three AM, we’re back again, here’s my toast. The limousines, the screaming teens that yell our name. I came here to get wasted, but it just ain’t the same.” “My Dead Drunk Friends” you genuinely felt this one.
The Hollywood Vampires also did an amazing cover of “Teenage Wasteland” by The Who. The lights flashed and Alice Cooper did this song justice as the word “Wasted” flashed on-screen at the end. It seems poignant in so many ways that some rock stars may have lived different lives but no matter what…. The music touches so many people and means different things to each one of us. People were so thrilled when this song was performed. The Hollywood Vampires also performed a few songs from their new album. It was a fun, honest Rock N Roll concert. They paid tribute to everything from Metal to Old School Blues.
Alice Cooper had the entire audience singing along. This show was beyond epic. Sands is amazing as always. The piece de resistance and probably the most ROCK N ROLL encore ever has to be “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper. They also thanked the audience and seemed so happy to be performing. The audience stayed put as they left the stage but returned for an encore after chanting started! The Hollywood Vampires returned and Alice Cooper rocked out one of most legendary songs ever. “School’s Out” and he had the audience singing along. The crowd was hyped. I think they could have performed all night and everyone would have just kept on rocking out with them.
There is a genuine love for music, the fans and what they do. Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry are forever legends.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hollywood-vampires-deluxe/id1080504532?app=itunes
http://www.hollywoodvampires.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodvampires/
GET TICKETS TO SEE AN INCREDIBLE SHOW AT SANDS BETHLEHEM EVENT CENTER http://www.sandseventcenter.com/
