Hollywood Vampires Deliver at Bethel Woods

The Hollywood Vampires played their long awaited show in NY on Sunday night after a postponement earlier this year due to band member Johnny Depp’s ankle injury. The Vampires began the summer with a successful and massive European run that just recently wrapped up in Germany. With only five days rest, the group, featuring Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp, headed straight to Boston to play the first of of only three special shows in the United States. The final of those three gigs was held at none other than the home of the original Woodstock festival, Bethel, NY.

Cars lined up early Sunday afternoon eagerly awaiting the lots to open to get the party started. With gorgeous weather all day, the thousands of fans that came out were in nothing but high spirits. While waiting to enter the venue, the line of people to get in kept growing, eventually reaching back to the parking lots. Fans came from both near and far to see fan favorite Johnny Depp perform with the Vampires. One group of fans waiting to get in drove all the way from Chicago for the show. It was clear that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts was more than ready to finally welcome the supergroup.

The show kicked off shortly after 9PM with a video of animated versions of vocalist Alice Cooper, guitarist Johnny Depp, guitarist Joe Perry, and guitarist Tommy Henriksen. As the videos transitioned from the animated versions to actual photos of the band, smoke rose from the bottom of the stage risers, creating a complete wall of fog. As the smoke cleared, drummer Glen Sobel and Henriksen appeared, both who are also part of Cooper’s solo band. Rounding out the Vampires lineup was Buck Johnson on keyboards and Chris Wyse on bass. With the Vampire’s lineup being consistent since 2018, it was quite obvious the band has had plenty of time to mesh and give audiences the best shows possible.

The setlist at Bethel Woods was a fun mix of Vampires originals, Alice Cooper songs, Aerosmith songs, as well as covers of other iconic rock tracks. Cooper and his crew kicked off the night with the first track off their 2019 release Rise, “I Want My Now” then went straight into “Raise the Dead” off their debut self-titled album, Hollywood Vampires. Mixed in throughout the night were classic’s such as David Bowie’s “Heroes,” AC/DC’s “The Jack,” and The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” Everyone who came out to see the show knew these songs and helped sing them along with the band.

Watching the Vampires perform on stage, it’s easily noticed how much fun they have and how much they truly enjoy paying tributes to other musicians they love. It’s no secret how much respect Johnny Depp had for the legendary Jeff Beck and how strong their friendship was. Having recently toured together before Beck’s passing, Johnny had one of Jeff Beck’s guitars on the drum riser throughout the night. The Vampires also performed one of Beck’s songs, “Beck’s Bolero.” The Alice Cooper fans at the show got to hear the classics, “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out,” which was the show’s encore.

With the Bethel Woods show being the last date scheduled for now, it’s uncertain when fans will get the next opportunity to see the Vampires again. For fans of Alice Cooper, he’s going to be back in New York this weekend opening for Motley Crue in Syracuse. Aerosmith fans have their chance to see Joe Perry next January in Buffalo as well.