When Hollywood Vampires dropped their cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes” in 2019, they weren’t just paying tribute to a fallen legend. They were making a statement about the enduring power of rock solidarity. This supergroup, featuring Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry, transformed Bowie’s 1977 synth-driven anthem into a guitar-heavy rock monster that hit fans right in the chest.
The timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Recorded after Bowie’s death in 2016, the track appeared on their second studio album “Rise,” serving as both a memorial and a celebration. While purists might question anyone touching Bowie’s masterpiece, the Vampires approached it with the reverence it deserved while adding their own gritty swagger.
What makes this version stand out? Cooper’s theatrical vocals bring a different emotional weight compared to Bowie’s ethereal delivery. Perry’s guitar work cranks up the aggression, while Depp’s rhythm guitar adds layers that the original’s sparse arrangement intentionally avoided. They didn’t try to replicate perfection. They reimagined it through a harder rock lens.
For fans across Northern and Central BC who grew up with both classic Bowie and the raw energy of Cooper’s shock rock, this cover bridges generations. It’s proof that great songs can wear different clothes and still move you. Want to hear how your favorite classics get the supergroup treatment? Tune in to Pure Rock Radio, and hey, keep your ears open for our next contest where you could win tickets to see legendary rock acts live.
The Supergroup Behind the Magic
When Alice Cooper first floated the idea of forming a supergroup dedicated to honoring rock’s fallen legends, it sounded like something dreamed up during one of the legendary drinking sessions at the Rainbow Bar & Grill that gave the band its name. But Hollywood Vampires became real in 2015, bringing together three rock icons on a mission that’s equal parts tribute and therapy.
The core lineup reads like a rock and roll fantasy camp come to life:
- Alice Cooper: The godfather of shock rock and theatrical performance, bringing decades of stagecraft and vocal power
- Johnny Depp: Yes, that Johnny Depp, a legitimately skilled guitarist who’s played alongside legends since the 1980s
- Joe Perry: Aerosmith’s legendary axeman, delivering the riffs that defined American rock for generations
The band’s origin story is rooted in the Hollywood Vampires’ drunk history a 1970s drinking club where Cooper, John Lennon, Keith Moon, and other rock royalty would gather upstairs at the Rainbow. Cooper has said the group was formed to celebrate the friends who didn’t make it out of that era alive.
This background transforms their ‘Heroes’ cover from simple tribute into something more personal. They’re not just covering a Bowie classic for kicks. They’re carrying forward the torch for a friend who belonged to that same pantheon of rock legends they were created to honor. When Cooper, Depp, and Perry tackle ‘Heroes’, they’re doing exactly what they set out to do: keeping the spirit of rock’s greatest voices alive for a new generation.
The band doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but they take their mission seriously. That’s the sweet spot where their version of ‘Heroes’ lives.
Why ‘Heroes’ Was the Perfect Choice
When David Bowie released in September 1977 what would become one of his most iconic anthems, he created something that transcended typical rock song boundaries. Recorded at Hansa Studios by the Berlin Wall, the track captured a moment of hope against a backdrop of division and despair. That raw emotional power is exactly what makes it perfect for Hollywood Vampires’ tribute mission.
The supergroup has always focused on honoring fallen rock legends, giving new life to songs from artists who left us too soon. Bowie’s passing in January 2016 shook the music world to its core. Here was a chameleon who constantly reinvented himself, who refused to be boxed in, who shaped modern pop music in ways we’re still discovering today.
Heroes fits the band’s wheelhouse perfectly. It’s a song about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, about finding courage in the face of impossible odds. The original features Robert Fripp’s searing guitar work and Bowie’s increasingly desperate vocal delivery across three verses. You can hear him pushing harder, reaching higher, as if the emotion itself demands more from him physically.
For Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp, three musicians who’ve walked their own paths through rock history, tackling Heroes wasn’t just about covering a classic. It was about connecting with a peer who understood what it meant to take risks, to push boundaries, to create art that matters beyond the charts.
The song’s influence on rock music can’t be overstated. Everyone from The Wallflowers to Oasis has taken a swing at it, but few have the combined rock credibility to pull it off with genuine reverence. The Hollywood Vampires brought decades of experience and personal connection to Bowie’s legacy. They knew him, played with him, respected him.
That’s the real magic here. This isn’t a cash-grab cover or a nostalgia trip. It’s three rock veterans honoring a friend and musical giant by taking one of his most powerful songs and filtering it through their own hard-rock sensibility. The result speaks to both longtime Bowie devotees and a new generation discovering why this Berlin-era masterpiece still resonates nearly five decades later.
How They Made It Their Own
When the Hollywood Vampires stepped into the studio to tackle “Heroes,” they knew they weren’t dealing with just any song. This was Bowie. This was sacred ground. But here’s the thing about this supergroup: subtlety was never their calling card, and that’s exactly what makes their version work.
Right from the opening bars, you can hear the transformation. Where Bowie’s 1977 original shimmered with synth-driven art-rock tension and Robert Fripp’s angular guitar work, the Vampires strip it down to muscle and bone. Alice Cooper’s gritty vocal delivery replaces Bowie’s desperate yearning with something rawer, almost defiant. There’s less theatricality in the traditional sense and more pure rock conviction. Cooper doesn’t try to out-Bowie Bowie. Smart move.
Joe Perry’s guitar work deserves special attention here. Instead of replicating Fripp’s experimental approach, Perry leans into classic rock territory with chunky power chords and a meatier tone that practically growls. The production, handled by the band with Tommy Henriksen and Bob Ezrin, cranks up the distortion and pushes everything forward in the mix. It’s dirtier, louder, more aggressive.
The arrangement choices tell you everything about their philosophy. They’ve taken Bowie’s slow-burning anthem and given it a shot of adrenaline. The tempo pushes slightly harder. The dynamics hit with more force. Johnny Depp’s rhythm guitar adds layers of crunch that fill out the bottom end, creating a wall of sound that feels more arena rock than art rock.
But here’s what separates this from a typical cover: they never lose sight of the song’s emotional core. That desperate hope in the chorus, that feeling of standing against impossible odds, it’s all still there. They just chose to express it through distorted amps and rock and roll grit instead of synthesizers and experimental production.
The result? A version that feels like it could’ve come straight out of a sweaty rock club rather than a Berlin studio. Different era, different approach, same spirit. That’s how you honor a legend.
The Fan Response and Live Performances
When Hollywood Vampires unleashed their version of “Heroes” on stages across North America, audiences went absolutely wild. The supergroup’s live renditions have become setlist highlights, with Johnny Depp’s scorching guitar work and Alice Cooper’s commanding stage presence breathing new fire into Bowie’s anthem. Rock fans from Prince George to Kamloops have been cranking this cover on our airways, and the calls haven’t stopped coming in since we added it to rotation.
The track resonates particularly strong with our BC crowd because it bridges generations perfectly. You’ve got longtime Bowie devotees appreciating the respectful homage, while younger listeners discover the song through these rock legends’ harder-edged interpretation. Local musician feedback has been overwhelmingly positive too. Several bands playing the Prince George and Williams Lake circuits have started incorporating their own takes on the song, inspired by the Hollywood Vampires’ powerful approach.
Concert footage from the band’s tours shows crowds singing every word, arms raised, completely locked into the emotional core of the performance. That communal energy mirrors what we see right here in Central BC when classic rock brings people together, whether at local venues or backyard gatherings.
Speaking of community connection, we’re planning something special for our listeners. Keep your ears tuned because we’ll be launching a contest soon where you could win Hollywood Vampires vinyl and exclusive merch. We want to hear your stories about what “Heroes” means to you, how Bowie’s music shaped your life, or your favorite memories tied to this iconic song. Stay locked to our frequency for contest details dropping next week. This is your chance to celebrate the music that defines us.
The Hollywood Vampires’ take on “Heroes” proves that great music never loses its power to connect generations. This cover stands as more than just a tribute to David Bowie. It’s a bridge between classic rock’s golden era and the vibrant scene we’re keeping alive here in Northern and Central BC. When rock legends join forces to honor another legend, we all win.
These supergroup moments remind us why we fell in love with this music in the first place. The raw energy, the camaraderie, the refusal to let timeless songs fade into history. Cooper, Depp, and Perry understood the assignment, delivering a version that respects Bowie’s vision while adding their own firepower.
We want to hear from you. Did this version hit the mark? Does it rank among your favorite Bowie covers? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let’s get the conversation rolling. The best part about being a rock fan is sharing these moments with fellow believers who get it.
Don’t forget to enter our latest contest for your chance to score some killer prizes. Keep those entries coming, and keep the rock spirit alive. What’s your go-to supergroup collaboration? Let us know, and we’ll feature the best responses in our next community spotlight.