Rock music has never been interested in sensible decisions. So when a supergroup is formed, you know you are in for a ride. And what do you get when you put Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp into a band? Well, this is exactly what Hollywood Vampires is here to tell us.
Cardiff Castle has been the host of big artists and summer festivals for years; but on a Friday night, hosting Hollywood Vampires is a brave move. It is like assembling one of the strongest bills of the summer and accidentally summoning every rock cliche from the last fifty years on the same stage, but in a good way. Hollywood Vampires have always been a slightly peculiar proposition. They were formed in 2012 taking their name from Cooper’s infamous 1970s drinking club, originally populated by the likes of John Lennon, Keith Moon and Mickey Dolenz. But as a band they celebrate everything rock is meant to be: fun, unapologetic, enthusiastic and absolutely ridiculous.
Before the Vampires arrived, The Damned had the unenviable task of warming up a castle full of people who had primarily come to see Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp. Under the blistering heat of the British summer, they not only scorched the stage, but also the people around it. Fifty years into their career, they still remain one of British punk’s great survivors, having spent five decades blending different genres in a way that feels both rock and classy. Dave Vanian remains an extraordinary frontman, and even though he does not attack the audience, his sinister voice still does all the work.
The band still carried the unmistakable DNA of their early punk phase, all mixed with gothic theatricality and the confidence that their 50-year spanning career still hits as hard as it used to do. Their setlist consisted of songs such as “Stranger on the Town,” “Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Is It a Dream” and “New Rose,” as well as a few covers from Barry Ryan, Jefferson Airplane and Gracie Flowers. Half a century later, it is evident why The Damned are still a band that looks capable of starting a fight in a carpark, but in a classy manner.
As a set of pointy fangs emerged at the top of the stage, and a video of four skeletons being resurrected from their coffins lit up the audience, Hollywood Vampires entered the game. Despite being a supergroup, their art of subtlety was very evident from the start as they slowly arose inside thick fog to perform on their first outdoor Welsh stop in 2026. Their return to the UK was very much celebrated in Cardiff, not only by the fans, but also by the members: they brought original materials, enormous rock classics and a celebration of artists whose music has shaped generations.
Starting off the set with “I Want My Now” and “Raise the Dead,” it is evident why Hollywood Vampires can still bring danger into the mix. They have original materials with big guitar riffs and goth theatrics, and yet their set moves through decades of music history, drawing on The Velvet Underground, Aerosmith, The Who, The Doors, David Bowie, AC/DC, and Alice Cooper covers. Yet, they are not a tribute band that just performs these songs with mastery, they actually bring their own spirit and history into the music.
Alice Cooper remains a ringmaster who brings makeup, costumes, theatricality and sensuality into the mix, creating characters, atmosphere and spectacle around him. And fifty years later, he is still the master of all. Joe Perry provides Hollywood Vampires with his signature playing which has defined rock music, without making the performance sound old-fashioned.
And then, there is the star of the night, Johnny Depp. Whilst Cooper and Perry bring swagger, Johnny Depp’s presence in the group remains humble yet surreal. Whilst his guitar playing is not as elaborate as Perry’s, and his stage presence is much more reserved that Cooper’s, he is still dedicated to his art as a musician and looks incredibly happy to be on stage. Lending his vocals to a few songs, he is the glue that makes the band work so well.
This is ultimately exactly what makes Hollywood Vampires different from the average nostalgia tribute; they are celebrating the entire history of music against a historic and surreal setting, combining rock legends from all eras to bring together people who grew up in rebellion, excess and swagger. They are not skeletons coming out of coffins, they are a rock supergroup that still performs with passion, theatricality and genuine love for what they do. With that in mind, I would pretty much say that rock n roll is absolutely not dead. It is here to stay.
GALLERY: Hollywood Vampires with The Damned at Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales, UK
Hollywood Vampires
The Damned
