Ronnie Wood was one of the many classic rock stars to perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 22-23, 2023, for a pair of concerts billed as a tribute to Jeff Beck, who died earlier this year at age 78. One of the other dozens of guest stars was Johnny Depp, who toured with Beck in 2022 in support of their album, 18.
On Sunday night (July 9), Wood joined Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry—the Hollywood Vampires—on stage at London’s O2 Arena for their set’s instrumental tribute to Beck and performance of “The Train Kept A-Rollin’.”
Followers of Wood on social media shouldn’t have been surprised: he had posted a clip on his way to the venue.
🧛🏻♂️🇬🇧Can’t wait to see the @hollywoodvamps tonight at the @o2! pic.twitter.com/RCuObpPApw
— Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) July 9, 2023
The Hollywood Vampires, who also include Tommy Henriksen, are in the midst of their six-week tour of Europe and the U.K. They’ll also play a handful of dates in the U.S. in late July. Their 19-song set in London included their spirited covers of some of their own songs including Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out,” Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” as well as songs by The Who “Baba O’Riley,” David Bowie (“Heroes”) and The Doors (“Break on Through”).
When Ronnie Wood joined them at the end of the main set, a video montage to Beck appeared on the screen behind the stage.
Thanks to Tin Soldier for the videos. Tickets to see the Hollywood Vampires are available here.
Thank you @ronniewood The O2 London #TrainKeptARollin #alicecooper #johnnydepp #joeperry #tommyhenriksen #glensobel #chriswyse #buckjohnson #HollywoodVampires #RonnieWood #RollingStones #theo2
📷: Aaron Perry pic.twitter.com/yjGkkLVSP1
— Hollywood Vampires (@hollywoodvamps) July 10, 2023
In 1969 on the Sunset Strip at a club called the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar. It was a gathering place for the rock stars living in or passing through L.A. “To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members,” says Cooper, a founding member of the original Vampires.
Cooper and his good friend Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking). They were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of both, and the recording began: a tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires. An environment was re-born for great artists to hang, laugh and play together.
