Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp – 18 - Mott the Dog's Rock Music Reviews

3,706

5 Stars

*The delightful artwork for 18. Depicting the two young tearaways at 18. This drawing was done by Jeff Beck’s wife Sandra. Nice to keep things in the family and friends department.*

Audio CD (paid link)

This album was three years in the making, so all claims it was released to cash in on the notoriety of Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard’s court case are invalid. Anyway, we are here purely to listen to what they have actually recorded and done.

It’s a superb album, very eclectic, crashing from heavy rock to Johnny Depp showing a much softer side than often portrayed in ‘Stars,’ a song about the pitfalls of being a Hollywood star. Sung with beautiful effect by Johnny Depp, it also has some extraordinarily emotional guitar work from Jeff Beck.

*Let the action commence on stage. From Left to Right: Jeff Beck, Rhonda Smith and Johnny Depp.*

This album contains eleven cover songs and two originals from the pen of Johnny Depp. It says a lot for the songwriter that they stand up well in a collection of songs most people consider classics.

The two first met in 2016, and later, Jeff Beck was asked to go into the recording studio to record with the Hollywood Vampires which Johnny Depp formed with Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen in 2019. (Jeff Beck appeared on the track ‘Welcome to the Bushwackers’ on the album Rise.) After which the pair immediately got on like a house on fire, becoming firm friends, jointly both loving rock music and fast cars.

*Slightly older these days, but still tearaways.*

On previous recent albums, Jeff Beck has used some of the very best vocalists around, with Imelda May and Joss Stone featuring on ‘Emotion & Commotion’ from 2010. Then on his last proper studio album ‘Loud Hailer’ from 2016, Rosie Bones took the microphone. Aside these two, Johnny Depp still stands up well.

The album title and album cover have an interesting story. The reason being, in Jeff Becks own words, “When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity. We would joke about how we felt 18 again, so that became the album title too.”

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Suzanne Cordeiro/Shutterstock (9771704f) Jeff Beck Jeff Beck in concert, ACL Live Moody Theater, Austin, USA – 26 Jul 2018.

Jeff Beck was 78 at the time the album was released, Johnny Depp 59! The artwork depicting both artists at the age of 18 was drawn by Jeff Beck’s wife Sandra.

There are some lovely Jeff Beck instrumentals on the album, including ‘Midnight Walker’ originally by Davy Spillane which opens the album, and the Beach Boys’ ‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)’ and ‘Caroline, No.’ The heavy rock version of Killing Joke’s ‘The Death and Resurrection Show’ quite startles as it breaks in. Johnny Depp gets to give it a full throated falsetto with Smokey Robinson’s ‘Ooo Baby,’ and Jeff Beck brings the song to a conclusion with some beautifully picked notes.

*What a pair of rockers. Although on this album they do get the opportunity to show their softer side with some well-placed ballads.*

Of the cover songs, one that is really interesting is the album closer, John Lennon’s ‘Isolation,’ previously released as a single. It’s been given a lot of drama by this pair; the Jeff Beck guitar solo is probably his best on the album. It makes you wonder what John Lennon himself would have thought of this version. I think he would have been impressed.

‘Venus in Furs,’ written by Lou Reed when he was with the Velvet Underground, is perfect for this duo. Johnny Depp may now be a multi-millionaire film star, but he slinks into a New York gutter to drag up his vocals to deliver on this, bringing out bile and ferociousness into every word, capturing Lou Reed’s original weary delivery. Jeff Beck wails away on the guitar over the top of this. Great stuff.

*Is there anybody out there? Jeff and Johnny take their applause from the stage.*

Then there are the two Depp originals. ‘Sad Mother Fuckin’ Parade’ is packed to the rafters with vitriol. Depp growls out the lyrics, “You’re sittin’ there like a dog with a seven year itch … And I think you’ve said enough for one mother fuckin’ night.” Jeff Beck’s guitar work eggs Johnny Depp on at every turn. Whether this is about Amber Heard is up to you to decide.

The other original is ‘This Is a Song for Hedy Lamarr.’ A ‘Candle in the Wind’ like tribute to the late actress and inventor. It plaintive chorus cry of, “I don’t believe in humans anymore,” builds into quite an ear worm by the time the song builds and builds round the refrain. Jeff Beck adds some startling guitar. What else could you want? The whole song has a wonderful musical payoff feel to it.

The picture of a Dorian Gray type character in his attic must be in a terrible state by now. Never mind. It’s only rock’n’roll, but I like it. After all, maybe some of that Keith Richards has rubbed off on him.

So, all in all a great album, much better than many expected.

If anyone still doubts Johnny Depp’s credibility to be in this illustrious company, this album should perish that thought. Plus, not forgetting that Johnny Depp’s dad is Keith Richards. (Or was that a dream or movie?)