The Unlikely Bond Between Rock Icon Alice Cooper and Hollywood Star Johnny Depp

While they come from different generations and backgrounds, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper have developed an unlikely but deep friendship over the past decade based on their shared passions for music and entertainment.

Depp, known primarily for his film career spanning blockbuster franchises and indie dramas, and Cooper, the original shock rocker who helped define the 1970s hard rock sound, may seem like unlikely companions on the surface. However, a closer look reveals their bond is built on mutual respect, collaborative artistry, and a bit of humor along the way.

The Hollywood Vampires Supergroup

The Hollywood Vampires is a rock supergroup formed in 2015 featuring Depp on guitar, Cooper on vocals, and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry. The band takes its name from a celebrity drinking club of the same name that was frequented by Cooper, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, and others in the 1970s. Depp has long been a fan of classic rock and wanted to pay homage to the original Hollywood Vampires club through music.

“Johnny had this vision to get a band together and do rock songs that we all grew up with and put our own spin on them,” Cooper told Rolling Stone in a 2015 interview. “When Johnny calls you up and says, ‘Hey, I’ve got this idea for a band,’ you don’t say no.”

The supergroup released their self-titled debut album in 2015 featuring covers of songs by artists like The Who, The Kinks, and Motörhead, as well as two original tracks. They have toured extensively together in the years since, with Depp displaying impressive guitar skills while Cooper delivers his signature vocal prowess. The band gave both Depp and Cooper an opportunity to reconnect with their musical roots and collaborate creatively in the studio and on stage.

“I don’t know how many other actors you know who can actually play guitar and sing and write songs, but Johnny can do all of those things,” Cooper said in an interview with Billboard. The respect is clearly mutual, as Depp values Cooper’s musical talents and experience in the industry. Their work in the Hollywood Vampires allowed their friendship to blossom through the shared passion of music.

Public Support During Legal Troubles

As Depp’s highly-publicized legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard unfolded starting in 2016, Cooper emerged as one of Depp’s most outspoken supporters. In interviews, Cooper rejected negative portrayals of Depp, insisting the actor is “one of the sweetest people” he knows and defending his character.

“I’ve never seen him lose his temper. I’ve never seen him be physical with anybody,” Cooper told People in a 2022 interview. “I’ve seen him drunk, I’ve seen him high, but I’ve never seen him abusive.”

Cooper’s public backing of Depp during a tumultuous time in his personal life demonstrated the trust and loyalty within their friendship. While others were quick to condemn Depp based on allegations alone, Cooper knew Depp’s true character and used his platform to speak up for his friend. Their musical collaboration allowed Cooper unique insight beyond just working together, cementing the bond between them.

“I know Johnny and I know his heart. He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met,” Cooper told Entertainment Tonight in another interview. “I’ve never seen him be anything but a gentleman.”

Lighthearted Jabs and Mutual Understanding

Despite the serious nature of Depp’s legal battles, Cooper has also shown their friendship includes an ability to find humor even in difficult situations. After Depp’s highly-publicized defamation trial against Heard concluded in June 2022, Cooper jokingly suggested to Entertainment Weekly that Depp and Heard should remake a film about a bitter divorce to capitalize on their real-life drama.

“They should do a remake of ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’” Cooper quipped, referencing the classic 1966 film starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as a warring couple. “I think that would be a huge movie.”

The lighthearted jab demonstrated Cooper understood the value in maintaining perspective and not taking oneself too seriously, even amid controversy. Their bond allowed for this type of playful ribbing between friends. Both Depp and Cooper seem to share a self-deprecating sense of humor, an appreciation for absurdity, and an understanding that outward drama often says little about one’s true character.

Their Friendship Today

Over a decade since first collaborating in the Hollywood Vampires, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper’s friendship remains strong based on mutual respect for one another as artists and as people. While their lives and careers moved in different directions initially, music served as the conduit to bring them together and forge an unlikely but deep bond.

Through high-profile legal battles and personal challenges, Cooper has been a consistent supporter and defender of Depp’s character. Their collaboration in the Hollywood Vampires supergroup, which continues to record and tour, only strengthened the foundation of trust and good-natured camaraderie between them. Both recognize and appreciate the other’s talents and work ethic, while maintaining the ability to gently poke fun along the way.

For Depp and Cooper, two iconic figures who have each paved their own path in entertainment across generations, their friendship shows that shared interests and an ability to find humor can transcend surface differences. As they continue putting their stamp on the music world together, their bond will surely stand the test of time.