Depp rocks up to Alice’s band

CLUNES ON FANS’ ELEMENTARY ERROR

JOHNNY DEPP is set to make his mark on rock ’ n’ roll history after becoming a member of Alice Cooper’s supergroup The Hollywood Vampires.

The 51- year- old actor will be joining the School’s Out rocker in a new incarnation of the band, which also includes Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry. The trio are set to make their debut in September with a headline slot at Brazil’s Rock In Rio festival.

Plans for a team- up began in 2011 after Johnny and Alice met on the set of the fi lm Dark Shadows. And after a handful of collaborations at charity events

the 67- year- old musician is convinced that Johnny is the right man for the job.

“Johnny is a guy who doesn’t have to do anything,” Alice says. “He does things because he wants to do them. It’s not about his ego.”

The veteran star also hints that their headline performance will be a sign of things to come for the group: “We’ve done a lot of recording together. He’s become a close friend and a collaborator. He is a very talented and cool guy.”

Formed by Alice in the 1970s, The Hollywood Vampires was initially set up as an exclusive rock club boasting members including legends John Lennon, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. And no stranger to the rock ’ n’ roll world himself, Johnny’s guitar playing has featured on records by Oasis and Shane MacGowan.

The star, who married Amber Heard earlier this month, also used Keith Richards as the basis of his character Jack Sparrow in the Pirates Of The Caribbean film franchise. PLAYING as well- known a figure as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle might be challenging for any actor but Martin Clunes, who portrays the Victorian author in his latest role, says the only problem he encountered was confused fans.

“When I was talking to people about this they would ask, ‘ So is Benedict Cumberbatch going to be in it?’” he tells Day & Night of his performance as the Sherlock Holmes creator in upcoming ITV drama Arthur And George. “That’s what I’m dealing with.”

Despite stiff competition from programmes such as Sherlock, starring Benedict, and Elementary, Martin is confident in his portrayal because Doyle’s legacy is so strong: “There’s always been an interest in him. My cousin Jeremy Brett played Sherlock for many years and the books still sell.”

It seems Martin is all clued up on the Conan Doyle legacy.