HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES // OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
The undead have risen to rock… As Hollywood Vampires take over Glasgow’s OVO Hydro
★★★★★ (5/5)
HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO
PHOTOCREDIT: STUART WESTWOOD
The notion of a modern supergroup is quickly associated with a gimmicky grab at catching the spotlight. Hanging around for an album and vanishing as if the scene of hyped-up egos battling against the fickleness of fanbases makes for potentially limited results. Flashes of greatness seem to be up against a ticking time bomb where a project becomes a ghostly, nostalgic, echo. However, every so often, one group proves that the perfect recipe is worth the experimentation. Hollywood Vampires are a group that define the word iconic and trigger a primal rock geyser within us all.
Formed in 2012, with Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp, the group took their name from Cooper's old 1970s West Hollywood drinking club. Members of the club included Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Micky Dolenz and Harry Nilsson. The bar was the Rainbow Bar and Grill, a gold dripping, red leathered, Aladdin's Cave hangout that is still open to this day.
Like true musicians should be, Hollywood Vampires are known for their tours and for their performance on stage. With Alice Cooper's historically jaw-dropping stage shows, it begs the question as to whether he would accept anything less than blood, sweat and tears from his stage companions. Of course, Cooper himself is as devoted as any to the art of performance. Alongside his heavy rock career, he was also a horror illusionist and created macabre magic shows that held crowds captive in his act of severing heads and splitting torsos - all to be rejuvenated back to gory glory. It's evident that Cooper has a mastery of entertainment, and it seems that Hollywood Vampires is another way for him to create awe.
Support for the Glasgow night of the tour came from Californian art rockers, The Tubes. An entirely seated arena didn't quite fit the vibe of their set, but it did not stop lead vocalist Fee Waybill and his crew delivering a bright, punchy performance, which was quite literally filled with guts. Starting off shaky, but building. Waybill casually strips between songs and by track four, Mr. Hate, he stood shirtless and busted with confidence. Redressed, the rest of their set fell into its swing with excellent displays of their classic tracks, including White Punks on Dope and Talk to Ya Later. They covered The Beatles I Saw Her Standing There to finish, and the initially lukewarm crowd was riled up to a bubbling enjoyment.
When the lights dropped again for the night's main event, the crowd instantly leapt to their feet. As the dark outlines of shadowy musicians appear on stage, the crowd roars with excitement. Opener I Want My Now quickly begins and Cooper stands front and centre like the chairman of
the dark.
A simple setup sees a video background and the stage inhabited by only the musicians. Cooper commands the early numbers. His voice stuns with deep gravel and power as he delivers brilliance with I'm Eighteen and his theatrical performance of The Boogieman Suprise. At 75 years old, he sings with youthful clarity and strength.
Joe Perry takes led for a few numbers throughout the night. The first is a cover of Johnny Thunders track You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory, and later on Aerosmith's Bright Light Fright. By the latter, his vocals smooth their way through like a drizzle of honey. The man is renowned as one of the world's greatest guitarists, and he proved himself true to it. Playing melting solos while looking as at ease as the spreading of hot butter, Perry’s guitar is an extension of his arm.
Though Perry and Cooper have had their day as heart-throbs, guitarist and actor Johnny Depp takes the prize as the group's swooner-maker. Mixing in the subtlest hint of nerves, he appears humble and focused on his playing throughout the night. Every time his eyes glance up from his guitar and scan the room there is a guttural shirk from someone in the crowd. Like Perry, Depp also takes on lead vocals for a few tracks. As Depp sings for the group's cover of David Bowie's Heroes, the crowd listens with the silent intensity of those witnessing something historic.
Throughout the evening, past legends are commemorated continuously. Jeff Beck's guitar is held up in a tender tribute to him. A fiery tribute to many other passed men is in The Jim Carroll Band cover People Who Died. Cooper also ensures to give credit to the other hardworking musicians he shares the stage with, including the multifaceted Tommy Henriksen and powerhouse drummer Glen Soble.
The group is relaxed and in sync as a series of classic covers are played to run the night’s runs to a close. School's Out is the encore, completed with a new look from the gravely stylish Cooper.
A night seeing Hollywood Vampires had left the arena with a sense of stunned merriment as fans file out. From the profound to the humorous, there was so much to take away. The spotlight travels effortlessly between members, and the talent on the stage feels unmatched by all other musical options around. The night stands to show that Hollywood Vampires are one of the best acts around.
