Rock icon Alice Cooper was joined on stage by Pirates of the Carribean star Johnny Depp in London as they paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died on July 22. The 77-year-old Poison hitmaker, who was performing in the O2 in the capital as part of a double bill with Judas Priest, played a stunning set of hits from his five decade career. As the end of the show approached the stage went dark and Alice re-emerged wearing an Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt as the band burst into the Black Sabbath hit Paranoid. Johnny Depp had joined him on guitar for the track and mainly remained unnoticed as no fanfare was made while they simply offered up the song in tribute to the fallen icon as the crowd went wild over the gesture.
It was only when Alice had performed his next track, the enduring 1972 hit School’s Out, which he mashed up with Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall that Johnny’s identity was confirmed as he introduced the band to fans delight.
Alice announced he had “met him down and alleyway and he had said something about vampires” in reference to their collaboration on the band Hollywood Vampires.
Johnny, was then flashed on screens beaming and playing guitar as the crowd gasped before breaking into cheers.
Many took to social media to share their delight at the unexpected guest performer. ” Johnny Depp made an appearance at Alice Cooper’s show in London. He looks fantabulous!!” one gushed on X. Another wrote: “I saw Johnny Depp last night in London. He made a surprise appearance at the Alice Cooper gig I was at. I was so excited.”
“Johnny Depp on stage with Alice Cooper performing “Paranoid” for Ozzy?! What a surprise moment at the O2 Arena, London,” a third penned. Over on Facebook one fan exclaimed: “Whoa! Just witnessed Alice Cooper sing the whole of Paranoid and f****** Johnny Depp came on stage! I was not expecting that! So awesome.”
Meanwhile a fifth gushed: “Judas Priest + Alice Cooper- Alice killed 4 people and only got decapitated once, Johnny Depp (the real one) made an appearance, Priest played my favourite song and of course outpours of love for Ozzy all night- what an awesome night.”
This is not the first time Alice has paid tribute to Ozzy this week. He was performing in Cardiff when news of the Crazy Train singer’s death broke on Monday July 22 and he dediccated the show to him. Afterwards he said: “The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon.
“I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw.
“He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better.”