Hollywood Vampires At Montreux Jazz Festival Review
Hollywood Vampires
At Montreux Jazz Festival
Ear Music
2026
Finally, the Hollywood Vampires' raucous performance from the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018 is getting the treatment it deserves with an official release on CD and vinyl.
For those of you scratching your head wondering who or what the Hollywood Vampires are, here's the short version: They're probably the greatest dive bar band on the planet. The scary part? They don't even have to try. The core lineup is Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Glenn Sobel, and Tommy Henriksen. Sure, they've written some original material, and a few of those songs make the set, but let's be honest, the covers are why we're here. And they absolutely steal the show.
This is everything I hope to hear when I wander into a local bar on a Friday night looking for loud guitars, cold beer, and musicians playing because they genuinely love Rock 'n' Roll. Unfortunately, those nights are becoming harder and harder to find. I say that as someone who's spent plenty of nights standing on those same stages myself. We all hope to capture this kind of magic. Very few bands actually do.
Spread across nineteen songs, this set is a heartfelt tribute to some of Rock's greatest legends. Every cover feels less like a band going through the motions and more like a group of lifelong fans paying respect to the artists who shaped them.
Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" comes flying out of the speakers with all the attitude you'd expect. "Baba O'Riley" by The Who completely caught me off guard. I'll be honest, I was never much of a fan of the original, but this version absolutely rips. It has more bite, more swagger, and a whole lot more fun.
The medley of "Five to One/Break On Through" is another standout. Around my house, Jim Morrison is a deity and the rest of The Doors are saints, so I'm naturally protective of anyone covering their music. Thankfully, the Hollywood Vampires don't cheapen it. They attack those songs with genuine admiration, and you can hear the respect in every note.
If I had to pick one performance that sums up this entire project, though, it'd be "People Who Died." Unless you're a Punk Rock fan, or just plain cool, you may not even know the song. That's your loss. Johnny Depp and Joe Perry absolutely own it. It's raw, reckless, loud, and dripping with hero worship. It's one of those performances where you can tell everyone onstage is having the time of their lives, and that energy jumps straight through the speakers.
Depp also turns in a surprisingly heartfelt performance on David Bowie's "Heroes," a version that really got under my skin in the best possible way. Then there's Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion." Taking on Steven Tyler's vocals is no small task, but Alice Cooper throws himself into it without hesitation. Does he sound like Tyler? Of course not. He sounds like Alice Fuckin' Cooper, and that's exactly why it works. Having Joe Perry standing a few feet away certainly doesn't hurt, either.
Yes, the set includes several Hollywood Vampires originals, and they're solid. But the old dive-bar musician in me keeps coming back to the covers. That's where this band truly comes alive.
If you're the type who appreciates live albums, this one belongs on your shelf. Pour yourself a couple of drinks on a Friday night, drop the needle, turn the volume up, and let one of the best bar bands in the world remind you why Rock 'n' Roll was never meant to be played quietly.