2020s
Johnny Depp
Embedded Files
Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne - July 2025
On July 25, 2025, Johnny suprised the audience at the 02 Arena in London when he joined Alice Cooper on stage at one of his shows. He was not the only special guest; on the occasion of the release and promotion of the new album "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" some members of the old Cooper band came on stage; including Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith.
Together they played a cover vision of the popular Black Sabbath song "Paranoid" and "School's Out" by Alice Cooper. Since it was a co-headliner event, Judas Priest performed afterwards, also to honor Ozzy Osbourne. Johnny and Rob Halford (Judas Priest singer) met backstage and seemed to get along well. Shortly after, Alice wrote his thanks on Instagram:
Gathered a few of my favorite people in the world into London this week to celebrate the release of The Revenge Of Alice Cooper at Union Chapel.
[...]
(Jill - Sep. 2025)
Life after the storm – the Sunday Times interview from June 2025
In the quiet spaces of art and the shadow of past storms, Johnny Depp speaks more softly than ever—but no less powerfully. In his Sunday Times interview, he appears as a man who has lost much, but found even more: family, stillness, art.
“The first time I really felt I had a home,” he says, “was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kids.” No glamour, no red carpets—just fatherhood, authenticity, love. Time has moved on, the children are grown. And somewhere out there, he adds with a sly smile, “Some motherf*er is gonna have to call me Papa.”
Johnny's retreat isn’t disappearance—it’s a choice. His art speaks for him: paintings like the self-portrait Five show him with closed eyes—not blind, but turned inward. “I knew I’d have to semi-eviscerate myself,” he says. And he does—on canvas, not in headlines.
He lives quietly, avoids loud nights, and doesn’t seek the spotlight. When friends invite him out, he replies with a laugh: “I’ll ruin your evening.” But that, too, is a truth: when Johnny Depp shows up, he does so fully—or not at all.
Music remains his refuge. No marketing, no performance. Just chords, strings, and friends like Jeff Beck—those who stay when others vanish.
No, he’s not making a comeback. Because, as he puts it: “I was never gone.”
(Susanne - Sunday Times - Jun 25)
Event for Patti Smith
On March 26, 2025, an extraordinary evening took place at Carnegie Hall in New York City: "People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith". This event honored the legendary poet and musician Patti Smith. Johnny Depp delivered an emotional version of "Dancing Barefoot", a classic from Patti Smith's 1979 album *Wave*, backed by Alison Mosshart, lead singer of the band The Kills. Their performance was intense and full of passion. Depp's connection to Patti Smith goes beyond this evening. The two share a close friendship that began years ago when Smith found solace in Depp after the loss of her brother. This relationship even inspired Smith's song **"Nine "** from her 2012 album *Banga*, and their mutual appreciation was clear on the night. In addition to Johnny Depp, Bruce Springsteen, Flea, Michael Stipe and many others were part of the evening. The event was not only a tribute to Patti Smiths, but also served a charitable purpose. All proceeds went to programs that promote music education for disadvantaged youth.
A magical moment that will live long in the memory.
(Susanne - Mar 2025)
Andrea Bocelli Event July 2024
Andrea Bocelli, one of the most successful Italian singers of our time, celebrated his 30th anniversary in the days from July 15 to 19, 2024. He invited numerous prominent guests, including Ed Sheeran, Shania Twain, Russel Growe, Jose Carreras, Brian May and Johnny Depp, to sing and make music with him at the Teatro del Silencio in Lajatico. Johnny Depp and Andrea Bocelli gave a moving performance in memory of the late Jeff Beck. The two performed the song "En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor", which Johnny Depp had played and recorded with Jeff Beck in 2020 when they visited Bocelli. Johnny said on stage: "We found a way for him to be here." Andrea Bocelli had already announced Johnny Depp's appearance at the beginning of July and described him not only as a charming actor with iconic roles, but also as a "real rock star who is loved and applauded everywhere".
(Nicole - Aug. 2024)
Gathering for Jeff Beck's 80th birthday - 24.06.2024
On the above mentioned date, friends of Jeff came together at the London Gibson Garage to celebrate his 80th birthday. Among those present were Sandra Beck and Johnny, who gave a small guitar performance with others. It was certainly a wonderful and moving evening and Jeff, who loved celebrating birthdays, would certainly have been happy.
As a birthday present the guitar shop had a new edition of the guitar that started it all..."Gibson Yardburst 1959 Les Paul". After less than 24 hours, the guitars were sold out.
(Jill - June 2024)
(Right photo above - credit to London Gibson Garage, right photo below - credit to Gina Deuters, others - credit to the owner)
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2 - April 2024
The album Defiance Part 2 by Ian Hunter will be released on 19.04.2024. Once again, Jeff Beck and Johnny are featured on track 3 "The 3rd Rail". So once again we have the opportunity to witness the great collaboration between Jeff and Johnny. Together with Ian Hunter, they give the song a special energy.
Johnny also painted the picture for the album cover.
(Susanne - Apr 2024)
Cover - Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2
Elvis' guitar and the kittens - 2024
Johnny played a Cherry Red Hagstrom Viking II electric guitar at a private charity event (Celia Hammond’s Animal Trust) on February 3, 2024. The same guitar that Elvis Presley played during his legendary comeback show in 1968.
The original guitar actually belonged to Elvis' bandmate Al Casey. Due to its photogenic appearance, the producer of the 1968 comeback show at the time asked Elvis to play it himself. In 2021, the original was auctioned off for 625,000 US dollars.
In the meantime, the guitar was even estimated at a whopping 5 million US dollars in 2023, making it the second most expensive guitar in the world (only the Nirvana acoustic guitar from 1993's MTV Unplugged was even more expensive at auction).
(Susanne - Feb 2024)
JD - Instagram Story
Shane MacGowan's passing- November 2023
Shane MacGowan passed away on 30.11.2023 at the age of 65. Johnny attended the funeral in St. Mary's of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland on 8.12.2024. He paid his last respects to his friend by taking part in carrying the coffin out of the church.
"We pray for a deeper spirit and compassion in the world. May we feel the pain of others, understand their need and reach out to all who suffer in any way with a continuous love that is rooted in faith and peace"
Johnny's last words for Shane.
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 1 – April 2023
One of the last songs Jeff Beck ever played on is a song from Ian Hunter's very listenable album Defiance Part I. Together with Johnny Depp (rhythmus guitar), Jeff plays on "No Hard Feelings". Jeff's guitar reflects the feelings of the lyrics perfectly and knowing that this is one of the last projects Johnny and Jeff did together makes it all the more touching. There was so much potential for more.
Ian Hunter and Johnny also made music together before "No Hard Feelings". On September 12 and 13, 2017, Johnny performed at Ian Hunter's show at the Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles and played guitar on the songs "Bastard" and "Sweet Jane" One year later, Ian then attended a Hollywood Vampires concert in Birmingham and played the song "All The Young Dudes" with the Vampires
Also noteworthy is the fact that Johnny wrote the foreword to the new edition of Ian Hunter's "Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star" in 2018.
(Susanne - Nov 2023)
No Hard Feelings
Excerpt from the foreword
Excerpt from the foreword
Astronaut on MTV - August 2022
With this self-deprecating performance, our Johnny probably amazed, confused and annoyed quite a few people. Anyone who knows him probably had to laugh when he said the following words as an astronaut floating through the hall shortly after his court win:
"I just want you to know that I'm available for birthdays, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, anything you need". "Whatever. Anything you want. Oh, and also, I'm a dentist."
Years earlier, he had performed at the MTV Awards. In 2012, he had performed two songs on stage with the Black Keys. Dan Auerbach had praised him:
"That was completely unproblematic. Johnny is a really good guitarist."
(Susanne - Dec 2023)
Tom Waits - 2022
"The devil doesn't have the best tunes. Tom Waits does", Johnny enthuses about the musician. Thomas Alan Waits is an American musician, composer, songwriter and actor. His lyrics often revolve around the underworld of society.
Johnny views the devil's dark machinations in a more commercial sense and believes that music is created by man himself.
"It's almost impossible to pick out a specific recording of his. Over the years, Waits' consistent quality has never diminished. His highlights are countless. This is just one of many. For moon lovers and junkyard dogs everywhere," Johnny says.
Johnny has forever held Waits in his heart, among other things, because he has a special understanding of both the musician's mindset and creativity.
In 2022, Johnny Depp performed in LA with Tom Waits at a benefit concert.
(Clara - Nov. 2024)
Credit to the owner
Crock of Gold - 2020
The documentary Crock of Gold was released in 2020. It is a portrait of his long-time friend Shane MacGowan. Although Johnny himself says that he is not sure whether Shane is his friend, or even whether he likes him at all.
However, the result is a wonderful homage, probably not least because Shane wanted a documentary, but announced shortly before the start that he would not give an interview for it. So original footage was combined with conversations with various people from Shane's life. In this way, the viewer witnesses the "real" Shane and also the connection between Johnny and Shane.
(Susanne - Nov 2023)
The Times they are A-Changin - Bob Dylan - June 2020
On June 7, 2020, Johnny posted a 5-minute cover of the Bob Dylan song "The Times they an A-Changin" on his Instagram account. He wrote the following about it:
"Two months before the world was subjected to the shocking live coverage of the merciless, bloodthirsty and public daylight murder of JFK in Nov. 1963, Bob Dylan sat down to write a song… He had a particular idea in mind, which he recorded mere weeks before Kennedy’s tragic Assassination. Dylan had already achieved stratospheric acclaim from his treasure-producing workmanship and poetic abilities. He had already jacked up the bar of songwriting to an untouchable level. He also became a reluctant prophet, which can be quite an occupational hazard…Yet he remained himself while dodging all manner of con artists, bloodsuckers, angles, arrows, ignorance, injustices, and scrutinization of his life. His intentions remained pure.
So he sat down and wrote the gold standard of protest songs, the seminal and most significant, mind boggling and staggeringly poetic, prophetic protest song the world will ever know: “The Times They Are A-Changin’”. Dylan’s song applies to Covid-19, it also, very strongly applies to the life altering image of George Floyd, forever seared to our brains… For me, it applies to the moment we are in, it applies to the moment they were in in 1963, it applies to everything before and everything since and everything that will be.I chose to perform this song live, for my friend @drbarbarasturm Covid benefit several weeks ago… I didn’t really know how to play it, but I figured I’d give it a shot, as it seemed to apply so well. And it applies now, more than ever. It was performed a couple of weeks before our collective paralysis was rendered complete by the images of our fellow human George Floyd being cruelly and brutally tortured to death on live TV.
Let us take a moment to remember the sacrificial hero George Floyd and look with hope towards the changes that his tragic death will cause. And let’s salute the reluctant prophet Bob Dylan and the dream of change he inspired then, now, and onwards… His impact is that of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Hunter Thompson, Marlon Brando, Woody Guthrie, William Blake, Picasso, Bach and Mozart.Dylan’s song is to be kept near you, AT ALL TIMES!!! All love and respect,JD"
So he sat down and wrote the gold standard of protest songs, the seminal and most significant, mind boggling and staggeringly poetic, prophetic protest song the world will ever know: “The Times They Are A-Changin’”. Dylan’s song applies to Covid-19, it also, very strongly applies to the life altering image of George Floyd, forever seared to our brains… For me, it applies to the moment we are in, it applies to the moment they were in in 1963, it applies to everything before and everything since and everything that will be.I chose to perform this song live, for my friend @drbarbarasturm Covid benefit several weeks ago… I didn’t really know how to play it, but I figured I’d give it a shot, as it seemed to apply so well. And it applies now, more than ever. It was performed a couple of weeks before our collective paralysis was rendered complete by the images of our fellow human George Floyd being cruelly and brutally tortured to death on live TV.
Let us take a moment to remember the sacrificial hero George Floyd and look with hope towards the changes that his tragic death will cause. And let’s salute the reluctant prophet Bob Dylan and the dream of change he inspired then, now, and onwards… His impact is that of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Hunter Thompson, Marlon Brando, Woody Guthrie, William Blake, Picasso, Bach and Mozart.Dylan’s song is to be kept near you, AT ALL TIMES!!! All love and respect,JD"
Banner photo: Kyler Clark
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