Summary
- Alice Cooper jokingly pitched the idea of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard doing a remake of “The War of the Roses.”
- Depp and Cooper are friends and bandmates in the Hollywood Vampires, where Depp plays guitar.
- Cooper dispelled the myth that he once killed a chicken on stage, explaining it was a misunderstanding that led to his reputation as a rock villain.
Alice Cooper: Hollywood pitchman? It’s clear the musician whose multiple hits include Poison, No More Mr. Nice Guy and Welcome to My Nightmare, didn’t miss his true calling. The musician indelible career landed him a net worth of $50 million. However, Cooper did have an interesting idea for a movie that he facetiously pitched to his good friend, Johnny Depp. Cooper recounted the story to The Times British newspaper (per Deadline):
“’I have a great idea. You and Amber do a remake of ‘The War of the Roses.’ Who wouldn’t go and see that?’”
Depp laughed at his friend’s sense of humor. Cooper was poking a bit of fun at the nasty courtroom drama between Depp and actress Amber Heard, which unfolded publicly for all to see. The actors’ marriage lasted from 2015 until 2017. In the film, The War of the Roses, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner’s characters were a married couple whose bickering turned into an all-out war — hence the title.
In addition to being friends, Depp and Cooper both play music together in the band known as the Hollywood Vampires. The group also features the talents of Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen. Cooper said in the same interview:
“Johnny is a good guitarist and in a way he would have been happiest doing that, playing side of stage in a band and not having to deal with the level of attention he gets. He just happens to be a really good actor. He has never seen a single one of his movies.”
Related: Alice Cooper Defends Johnny Depp: He Is the Most Harmless Human Being I’ve Ever Met
Celebrities in Arms: Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp.
In addition to both being celebrities and members of the Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp share some horror history together when it comes to the motion pictures. Depp’s first role came in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Cooper also has the distinction of playing a pivotal role in the same franchise. In Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, Cooper portrayed the part of Fred Krueger’s abusive father.
Cooper also famously collaborated with director Tom McLoughlin and his creative team on Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Cooper did several songs for the sequel’s score and soundtrack, including He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask). But as far as his reputation goes, it all boiled down to a night at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival back in 1969. Cooper allegedly killed a chicken? That’s right, a chicken.
Cooper said in the same interview with The Times:
“The great thing is that it never happened. I’m up there on stage, and I look down to see a chicken. I have no idea where it came from. Being from Detroit I had never been on a farm in my life, so I was not used to something that had feathers and wings and could fly.
I picked it up and threw it into the audience, thinking someone would take it home, call it Alice and make it their pet. Instead, the audience — actually, the people in the front row, who were all in wheelchairs — tore it to pieces before throwing it back on the stage. The next day it was, ‘Alice Cooper Kills Chicken.’ Frank Zappa called up and said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t deny it.’ That’s when I knew: Rock needed a villain.”
Today, Cooper is legend, but that night in Toronto his band was just an up-and-coming act performing alongside The Beatles’ own John Lennon and The Doors. And Depp is an A-list Hollywood talent whose incredible acting range has allowed him the opportunity to shine in every genre of film known to man. Together, though, Cooper and Depp are two good friends making music together as members of the Hollywood Vampires.
You can view the original article HERE.
