Review HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES “Live at Montreux Jazz Festival “

The collective is back.

With Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen leading the charge, Hollywood Vampires return in great fashion. Recorded at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018, Hollywood Vampires – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival captures the band at the height of its powers and stands as an impressive live document celebrating classic rock and its enduring legacy.

The show kicks off with two original songs, “I Want My Now” and “Raise the Dead,” immediately reminding listeners that Hollywood Vampires are far more than just a covers band. In total, the set features six original compositions, all of which fit seamlessly alongside the carefully chosen classics that make up the bulk of the performance.

The first cover, “I Got a Line on You,” arrives early in the set. After a brief welcome from Alice Cooper, the band wastes no time proving that rock ‘n’ roll has nothing to do with age. Their energy is infectious, their chemistry undeniable, and every performance is delivered with passion and conviction.

The blues-soaked “My Dead Drunk Friends” leads into a powerful version of “Five to One / Break On Through,”introduced by one of Alice Cooper’s entertaining anecdotes about meeting the The Doors. From there, the band pays tribute to AC/DC and its deceased band members with a thunderous rendition of “The Jack,” continuing the album’s heartfelt celebration of the artists who helped shape hard rock.

A fiery version of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” is one of the album’s remarkable highlights, while Johnny Depp takes over lead vocals for an emotional performance of David Bowie’s “Heroes.” Together with the band’s original material and the remaining covers, the album becomes a thrilling journey through the history of classic hard rock.

Naturally, there is also room for Aerosmith classics “Combination” and “Sweet Emotion,” as well as a selection of Alice Cooper favorites. It comes as no surprise that the show closes with one of the greatest rock anthems of all time. “School’s Out”, including an “Another Brick in the Wall” reference, provides the perfect finale to an outstanding live album.

Hollywood Vampires – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival is an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. While there are moments of melancholy – particularly during the tributes to the late heroes of rock – they never overshadow the album’s driving force: pure, high-voltage hard rock performed by musicians who clearly still love every second they spend on stage. This is both a celebration of rock history and a reminder that great songs, outstanding musicianship, and genuine passion never grow old.