ST.“Bowie Would Be Proud, Johnny” — Hollywood Vampires’ “Heroes” cover led by Depp explodes online, racking up 500,000 views in just 72 hours.
Actor-turned-rocker Johnny Depp proved his musical prowess extends far beyond the silver screen with a powerful live cover of David Bowie’s iconic song “Heroes.” Performed alongside his supergroup, The Hollywood Vampires, the video of the rendition—often featuring Depp on lead vocals—has become a viral phenomenon, amassing a significant digital footprint and confirming Depp’s legitimacy as a rock frontman.
One specific live performance in Bethel Woods, New York, on July 30, 2023, saw the video clip explode online, with fan footage quickly accumulating over 500,000 views in just 72 hours and eventually surpassing 1 million views on select fan-uploaded channels.
Depp Takes the Spotlight with Rock Star Energy
The Hollywood Vampires is a supergroup formed by legends Alice Cooper (vocals), Joe Perry of Aerosmith (guitar), and Johnny Depp (guitar/vocals). The band’s mission is to honor the music of the rock stars who died from excess in the 1970s.
During the performance of “Heroes,” Depp stepped into the spotlight, captivating the audience with his raw, emotive vocals.
- The Vocal Performance: Fans and critics praised Depp’s raw, emotive vocals for breathing new life into the classic track. His interpretation was widely celebrated for honoring Bowie’s legacy while making the song distinctly his own.
- The Persona: Depp channeled a rugged, charismatic rock-star energy that led to inevitable comparisons with his famous film role, Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
- Fan Acclaim: The YouTube comments were flooded with admiration, with one fan’s comment embodying the general sentiment: “Bowie would be proud… Johnny’s voice really works with this song.” Another celebrated him as “smooth, sexy, powerful and talented.”
From Studio to Stage: The Legacy of the Cover
This live rendition wasn’t the band’s first take on the track. The Hollywood Vampires recorded a studio version of “Heroes” for their second album, Rise (2019), with Johnny Depp also taking the lead vocal role on the album track.
The studio recording itself has proven immensely popular, showcasing Depp’s cool intensity and vocal depth, and currently boasts over 7.7 million views on the official earMUSIC YouTube channel. The studio version is a faithful, yet charged, tribute to Bowie’s 1977 masterpiece, the title track from the album of the same name.
Depp’s ability to command a stage alongside rock veterans like Cooper and Perry—and successfully cover an anthem by a legend like Bowie—cements his status as a genuine rock force whose talent is not merely a Hollywood actor “dabbling” in music. His success with “Heroes” is a triumph that resonates equally with film fans and hard-rock purists.
