The penultimate outdoor summer show in Cardiff Castle last Friday saw Hollywood Vampires take to the stage with support from The Damned.
A sold-out crowd packed out the castle from the start, ready to hear one of gothic rock’s classic bands on their 50th anniversary run of dates as The Damned took to the stage.
The Damned at Cardiff Castle. Credit: Liz Birt
Opening with Street of Dreams, The Damned took us through a range of hits from their five decade long career, including Stranger On The Town, New Rose and both part one and two of Smash It Up.
There were also a range of covers, putting their own spin on Barry Ryan’s Eloise, Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit, Creation’s Making Time, and closing with Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye by Gracie Fields – with the crowd understanding the assignment and waving the band goodbye.
Hollywood Vampires at Cardiff Castle. Picture: Liz Birt
The A-list supergroup of Hollywood Vampires – consisting of frontman Alice Cooper and his guitarist Tommy Henkriksen, as well as Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp on guitar.
After what is probably one of my favourite stage entrances, the quartet – backed by bassist Chris Wyse, drummer Glen Sobel, and keyboardist Buck Johnson – kicked off with I Want My Now, Raise the Dead and My Dead Drunk Friends.
Hollywood Vampires at Cardiff Castle. Picture: Liz Birt
There was a big singalong to Alice Cooper’s I’m Eighteen, and The Boogieman Surprise.
The set was predominately covers, with Depp taking to the mic for Venus in Furs by The Velvet Underground and The Jim Carroll Band’s The People Who Died, a tribute to the many musicians who have died over the years.
Hollywood Vampires at Cardiff Castle. Picture: Liz Birt
Sobel absolutely smashed a drum solo – probably the best part of the night musically.
It was nice to see the vocals shared out amongst the band, as Depp also took to the mic for a cover of Heroes by David Bowie, Perry took the lead on Aerosmith’s Livin’ on the Edge, and Tommy Henriksen took the lead for a standout cover of Highway to Hell by AC/DC.
Hollywood Vampires at Cardiff Castle. Picture: Liz Birt
The main set ended with Walk This Way, School’s Out/Another Brick in the Wall, before an encore of The Train Kept-a Rollin (Tiny Bradshaw cover) and Hi Ho Silver Lining, a cover of the Jeff Beck hit.
Throughout the night, there was tributes to fellow musicians, with a number of tracks dedicated to those who are no longer with us, but it was a celebration.