My Dead Drunk Friends

The Zoo Crew is spinning "My Dead Drunk Friends" by The Hollywood Vampires, a track from their self-titled debut album, and this song is packed with raw emotion and wild stories. Written by Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and producer Bob Ezrin, it’s a bar-room anthem dedicated to the rock stars who partied hard and left too soon. Alice Cooper shared in an interview with Digital Spy that the song’s title came from a phrase he loved, reflecting the dark humor of his old drinking buddies like Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson. He noted, “If you told them you were going to do an album called ‘All My Dead Drunk Friends,’ they would have died laughing,” capturing the irreverent spirit of the original Hollywood Vampires drinking club. The song’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of raising glasses in a bar filled with memories of fallen friends, blending nostalgia with a gritty, unpolished rock vibe that avoids heavy studio effects, as critics praised for its raw ensemble sound.

Another layer of trivia comes from Cooper’s chat with Billboard, where he revealed the song’s deeper purpose: raising awareness about addiction and sobriety. He reflected on losing many friends to alcoholism, including members of the 1970s Hollywood Vampires club, and wanted the track to honor them while spotlighting the consequences of excess. Johnny Depp, a core member of the band, added a personal touch to the song’s creation, co-writing it as a tribute to the chaotic, invincible nights of their idols. During live performances, like the one reviewed at SF Bay Area Concerts in 2019, the band paired the song with a video montage of stills featuring Jimi Hendrix and Lemmy, amplifying its emotional weight. Cooper’s comment to Eddie Trunk about the title being “just offensive enough to work” underscores the song’s cheeky yet heartfelt nod to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

The Hollywood Vampires started as a passion project in 2012, born from the friendship of Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry. The trio bonded over their love for 1960s and 1970s rock, particularly the British Invasion and blues, as Cooper and Perry discussed in a Rolling Stone interview. Depp met Cooper on the set of Dark Shadows in 2011, where their shared musical tastes sparked the idea to revive the spirit of Cooper’s 1970s drinking club, The Hollywood Vampires, which included legends like John Lennon and Ringo Starr. The club was infamous for its “last man standing” drinking sessions at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, and the band aimed to honor its legacy by covering songs from fallen rock icons. Their debut album in 2015, featuring guest stars like Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl, was a gritty tribute to those lost to excess, with Depp and Cooper as the driving forces until Perry fully committed for live shows.

The band’s formation wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was a chance to play raw, unfiltered rock, as Cooper explained in Rolling Stone: “We learned the first two Stones albums, the first two Yardbirds albums, the Kinks. That’s how we learned to play.” This DIY ethos shaped their sound, blending covers with originals like “My Dead Drunk Friends.” Their live debut at the Roxy Theatre in 2015, just down the road from the Rainbow, marked the start of global tours, including a legendary show at Rock in Rio. The band’s mission, as stated on their official website, is to celebrate their “dead, drunk friends” through riotous performances, a vibe that resonates with Zoo Freaks tuning in tonight.

Stay connected with The Hollywood Vampires through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for the latest tour updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Fans can dive deeper at Alice Cooper eChive, a treasure trove of band history, or join discussions at the Hollywood Vampires Fans Facebook group. Another great spot is SickthingsUK, an unofficial fan site packed with Alice Cooper and Vampires lore. So, Zoo Freaks, crank up “My Dead Drunk Friends” and toast to the legends who live on through this killer track!