When the name Johnny Depp comes to mind, it’s usually talking about his blockbuster acting career. Throughout his time in front of the camera, Depp has had an uncanny ability to immerse himself in every role that he takes on, whether that’s the lovable Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean or starring in Tim Burton’s warped take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Once Depp has a guitar in his hands, he can throw down a lot better than other actors turned musicians.
Then again, most actors who try to become musicians are usually relegated to vanity projects. Even though they have both done incredible things in the entertainment world, artists like Eddie Murphy and Kevin Bacon will most likely never be known for their chart-dominating careers as musicians.
For all his time working as an actor, Depp has spent just as much time with his instrument. Before he had a big-budget film to his name, the celebrated Hollywood star was already on the fringes of the rock world, playing the humble rock star who soon hits it big in the video for Tom Petty’s ‘Into the Great Wide Open’.
As he started to get more prominent roles throughout the 1990s, Depp never forgot about his rock and roll credentials, eventually performing the slide guitar solo on Oasis’ ‘Fade In-Out’ on the album Be Here Now. While many may talk about his various connections in the industry to explain his opportunities, many rock stars have claimed that his talents speak for themselves.
Classic rock artists on Johnny Depp’s guitar playing
Outside of working with him during their time, Depp earned high praise when working with Oasis. When talking about his contributions to the album, Noel Gallagher said that Depp was more than capable of playing with them, saying, “He’s a really good guitarist. He used to be a hellraiser, but he’s not anymore.”
When Depp got the call to join the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, shock rock legend Alice Cooper was also stunned by Depp’s dedication to his craft. He told Guitar, “Johnny’s great. When he’s with us, he’s not a movie star – he’s a guitar player. And he’s a great guitar player. You don’t go out with Jeff Beck unless you can play guitar.”
Favouring the blues-infused style of playing, Depp has been known to incorporate many different Chicago blues licks into his vocabulary. While he may not have given Jeff Beck a run for his money when he played various shows with him, Depp could hold his own next to guitar legends, looking to play music that fits with whatever song he’s playing rather than spend the time trying to grandstand.
While Depp may have been able to leave his greatest mark on the world of film, he has put more than enough time into his role as a musician as well, going on to write the intro of Joe Perry’s tell-all biography Rocks. The adage might say that all actors just want to be rockstars, but Depp’s love of the music that lit a fire in him as a youngster is far from just a secondary venture.
So, is he a good guitarist?
Compared with the legends of the rock community, how does Johnny Depp stack up? Well, he may not be one to eclipse someone like Jeff Beck whenever he plays, but the fact that he can match licks with rock legends puts him one notch above most actors who use the platform as a vanity project. Aside from the great roles that he has made over the years, Depp has sculpted himself into a great guitarist for the type of music that he makes, feeling right at home next to The Hollywood Vampire ensemble.
Is he breaking any new ground compared to his peers? Not necessarily, but that was never what he was going for. Taking the fabric of the blues rock that he loved in the past, Depp has earned the right to play among that company, putting him in the middle ground between a living legend on the instrument and a novice journeyman of the rock world. Whereas most people may try to treat actors turned musicians as a punchline, Depp’s journey as a guitarist has gone from a humble fan to an honorary rock legend.
