Johnny Depp Rocks!

The comprehensive site regarding Johnny Depp and his music!

rehearsing for David Letterman
NYC, 2/21/2013

Breaking News:

May 25, 2013: Bill Carter has taped a new interview with Austin's KOKE radio station. It will air on Monday, May 27, at 6:15 p.m. Central time. If you don't live in the Austin area, you will be able to tune in online, at http://kokefm.com/. Check it out!

May 24, 2013: There are only 6 days left to fund the Kickstarter campaign for a new documentary about The Viper Room, which Johnny co-owned from its opening in 1993 through 2004. Called Friends Of The Viper Room, it is being directed by Repo Man and Fame actress Olivia Barash, who was a promoter and VIP liaison at The Viper Room back in the day. Johnny is among the celebrities that the filmmakers plan to interview, and former club co-owner Chuck E. Weiss has already participated. The campaign runs through the end of May. If you're interested in seeing this film become a reality, consider becoming a Kickstarter supporter. The minimum pledge is only $1 ($10 or more will get you a reward!) and you will only be charged if the project is funded.

May 16, 2013: The potential cast for Into The Woods is really starting to shape up now, as several announcements have been made in the past few days regarding actors being in talks to play various roles. While most of these aren't iron-clad just yet, here is a list of actors that are in talks to be in the film:

Meryl Streep: The Witch (October 3, 2012 Filmofilia article and January 31, 2013 Broadway World confirmation)
James Corden: The Baker (May 2, 2013 Broadway World article and May 4, 2013 Showbiz411 confirmation)
Emily Blunt: The Baker's Wife (May 16, 2013 Variety article)
Jake Gyllenhaal: Cinderella's Prince (May 14, 2013 Hollywood Reporter article and May 15, 2013 Indie Wire article)
Chris Pine: Rapunzel's Prince (May 14, 2013 Hollywood Reporter article and May 15, 2013 Indie Wire article)
Christine Baranski: Cinderella's Stepmother (May 16, 2013 The Wrap article)
and of course, Johnny Depp: The Wolf (April 26, 2013 Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles)

Recent News:

May 2013: Vanessa Paradis' new album, Love Songs was released on May 13. Johnny, along with Vanessa, daughter Lily-Rose, and Lily-Rose's godmother Ruth Ellsworth Carter, co-wrote a song called New Year. In a recent interview with the French Elle magazine, Vanessa describes how the song was written: "This is a song that Lily Rose found the melody and the first sentence when she was 6 years old. I found it sublime. We finished the song with family seven years later." Asked if she considers Lily Rose to have a talent for music, Vanessa Paradis answers: "Yes, she has a natural gift for it." Similar information comes from an article in Les Inrockuptibles (thanks to lostsoul). The British OK Magazine has also published a similar quote from Johnny from an interview conducted at last month's CinemaCon).

May 2013: According to the Irish Daily Star, Johnny and Shane MacGowan have been collaborating on a song for Johnny's upcoming film The Lone Ranger. Johnny is said to be playing guitar on the track. Hopefully, we'll soon know more!

March-May 2013: There was a terrific article about Bill Carter in the Austin Chronicle on May 3. It discusses Bill's long and prolific career, his album Unknown, and his decades-long friendship with Johnny. There is also a hint about some upcoming plans for Unknown. In April, Bill welcomed a new manager, Charlie Gouveia, and a new official site webmistress, Lisa Gouveia. On March 13, Bill and Ruth Carter were inducted into the Austin Music Hall Of Fame, as part of the Austin Music Awards at SXSW. Bill and The Blame, with special guest Gary Clark Jr., played a blistering 8 song set to close out the awards. Congrats to Bill and Ruth on their induction!

April-May 2013: On April 26, Variety and Hollywood Reporter reported that Johnny is in talks to join a Disney film version of Stephen Sondheim's classic fairy tale musical, Into The Woods! Variety first broke this story (with erroneous information that Johnny would play The Baker). The Hollywood Reporter reported that Johnny would play "a hungry and sexy variation of the fairy tale wolf character." Meryl Streep is confirmed to play the Witch, while James Corden will play The Baker. Johnny's involvement now appears to be very solid, as he is mentioned in a Disney casting call for the film. The film will be directed by Rob Marshall, who previously directed Johnny in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. And as we know, Johnny was previously nominated for an Oscar as the title character in the film of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

April 2013: Steve Hunter's new album, The Manhattan Blues Project was officially released on April 30, 2013. Johnny plays guitar on the track, The Brooklyn Shuffle. Steve Hunter's Facebook fan page reported that they have started sending out copies of the CD to Kickstarter supporter and preorder customers. The album is available for purchase from CDBaby.com as well as iTunes. Watch Steve describe the album and the various guest artists on this YouTube electronic press kit. Many thanks to Lou Lou and humiliated grapes for the initial announcement!

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Recent Live performances:

February 21, 2013: David Letterman taping, Ed Sullivan Theater, NYC with Bill Carter And The Blame
December 8, 2012: Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding show, Comerica Theatre, Phoenix AZ
December 7, 2012: The Mint, LA with Bill Carter
December 3, 2012: Staples Center, LA with Aerosmith
November 29, 2012: Orpheum Theatre, LA with Alice Cooper
November 14-15, 2012: El Rey Theatre, LA, Petty Fest
October 12, 2012: Wiltern Theatre, LA with Patti Smith

Recent and upcoming releases:

(2013?) Untitled Keith Richards Documentary. Johnny announced plans to direct this documentary in a Serbian interview while attending the Kustendorf Film Festival on January 14, 2010, and it was later reported in Variety. Johnny, Keith, Patti Smith and others were on set in LA on January 30, 2010, and Johnny says that they shot for about 5 days. More filming or performance may have taken place in March of 2013. In a recent interview printed in the Britsh OK magazine, Johnny described the filming portion of the production as being comleted. See more details at EW Music Mix and Inquirer.net, and stay tuned.
(2013?) Untitled song for upcoming Alice Cooper album. Alice reports that Johnny wrote the music for what might be the title track of Alice's next album. Stay tuned!
(2013) That's What I'm Doing Here (Documentary). This upcoming documentary will focus on the lives and careers of Bill Carter, Alejandro Escovedo, and Charlie Sexton, and is expected to include footage of Johnny playing with Bill. Hopes are for release of this film in 2013. Stay tuned!
(2012/2013) For No Good Reason (Documentary). Johnny participates in this documentary about artist Ralph Steadman. The film features Ralph giving ukulele lessons to Johnny, according to director Charlie Paul in this YouTube. North American rights to the film have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics.
(2012/2013) Sunset Strip (Documentary). Johnny participates in this documentary about the famed section of West Hollywood, which includes The Viper Room, formerly owned by Johnny. The NY Times reports that the documentary was acquired by Showtime. Visit the official site.
(June 2013) The Lone Ranger Soundtrack (tentative). According to the Irish Daily Star, Johnny and Shane MacGowan will contribute a song to the film The Lone Ranger.
(May 2013) Vanessa Paradis: Love Songs (CD set). Johnny co-composed the song New Year.
(Apr 2013) Steve Hunter: The Manhattan Blues Project (CD). Johnny contributes guitar.
(Feb 2013) Son Of Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys (CD). Johnny is a performer and executive producer.
(Feb 2013) Woody Guthrie: House of Earth (novel). Johnny edited this once lost novel along with Douglas Brinkley, and published it via his new imprint, Infinitum Nihil.
(Jan 2013) Bill Carter: State Trooper (song). Johnny performs on this Bruce Springsteen cover that debuted on E Street Radio on January 22, 2013.
(Jan 2013) Bill Carter: Unknown (CD). Johnny contributes to Bill's first album on the Unison label.
(Jan 2013) West Of Memphis: Voices For Justice (Soundtrack). Johnny participates on several tracks.
(Dec 2012) West Of Memphis (Documentary). Johnny is featured in this Peter Jackson documentary about the West Memphis Three.
(Nov 2012) Paul McCartney: Live Kisses (DVD). Johnny is a performer and musician on the song My Valentine and in the Making My Valentine featurette.
(Nov 2012) Aerosmith: Music From Another Dimension! (CD). Johnny provides backing vocals on Freedom Fighter. On the deluxe edition DVD, he performs on Train Kept A Rollin'.

Check out these areas!

AS OF AUGUST 12, 2011, ALL SUBSECTIONS OF JOHNNY DEPP ROCKS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO johnnydepprocks.com. UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARKS!
The old Verizon URLs are still online for now but are no longer being updated. They will eventually be deleted.

May '13 updates (cont'd):

minor update to Videography
updates to Before The Kids
update to Vanessa Paradis page
new Into The Woods section (under construction!)
minor updates to Documentaries
corrections to Live On Stage 70s & 80s

May '13 updates:

minor additions to Bill Carter/Ruth Ellsworth page
additions to several Guitars sections
additions to Band Poses & Candids, Friends 1 and 3 galleries
additions to Credits
additions to Musician and Songwriter discographies
additions to Timeline

April '13 updates:

additions to Friends 2 and T-shirt galleries
additions to Bruce Witkin page

March '13 updates:

restructuring and link fixes to Guitars section
additions to Fun Stuff

is updated often, so please check back!

Five years ago, I published my first few pages of Johnny Depp Rocks! As a huge fan of Johnny Depp and also a longtime music enthusiast and collector, I had been investigating Johnny's musical background and pursuits, but I grew frustrated when I saw so much false information on the web and in print. I created this site as an attempt to compile accurate information about Johnny's musical side: his bands, live performances, recordings, and videos, as well as his friends in the world of music, and share it freely with all his fans. While the design may be plain, I hope that the information presented here is as accurate and reliable as it can possibly be. Many thanks to all those who have offered feedback or contributed information to help this site to thrive. I always welcome any corrections, additions, or suggestions, and hope that this site will continue to grow whenever there may be more to add! Hope you enjoy! -Cathy aka MadScntst, July 23, 2011

Addendum: another year has come and gone, with lots of musical activity from Johnny within the past year! Here's hoping that Johnny will continue to pursue his musical interests in the coming year, and for many years to come! -Cathy aka MadScntst, July 23, 2012

I am always grateful for corrections or additions to any of the content on this site! I would particularly love any photos or other memorabilia from any of Johnny's live performances, past or present. Please contact me if you can help!

info@johnnydepprocks.com

Johnny Depp Rocks!

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Created July 23, 2006

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