by Johnny Depp is known not just for his incredible acting talent but also for his deep love and appreciation of rock music.
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While Depp hasn’t publicly ranked his top favorite bands, there are some clear influences and collaborations that provide strong clues to the rock bands that have had the biggest impact on him over the years. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at three rock bands that are likely high on Depp’s personal list: The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and Oasis.
The Rolling Stones
It’s hard to find a bigger rock icon than Mick Jagger and company. The Rolling Stones have been rocking crowds for over 50 years now and are considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time. So it comes as no surprise that The Stones would be a major influence on Johnny Depp.
Depp has openly cited The Rolling Stones as a big influence on him musically. He’s said that The Stones were one of the first rock bands he really connected with as a young man. Their rebellious image and raw rock sound clearly resonated with the young Depp. Over the years, Depp’s appreciation for The Stones has only grown stronger.
In fact, Depp has developed a close friendship with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards over the past couple of decades. The two have bonded over their mutual love of music and rebellious spirit. Depp has spent time with Richards at his home in France on multiple occasions. Their friendship shows the deep admiration Depp has for Richards and the band.
Depp has also had the incredible opportunity to perform on stage with The Rolling Stones a couple times over the years. In 2012, during the band’s 50th anniversary concert in London, Depp joined them on stage to play guitar on their classic “Sweet Virginia.” Getting to play with his heroes on such a huge stage must have been a major thrill for Depp. He also joined them again in 2016 for a concert in Sweden.
Beyond his personal interactions with the band, Depp’s film roles also show The Stones’ influence. His fearless, rebellious characters in films like Edward Scissorhands and Pirates of the Caribbean clearly channel the bad boy spirit of The Rolling Stones. Their music has also been featured in some of Depp’s films like Benny and Joon and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
There’s no question The Rolling Stones hold a special place in Johnny Depp’s heart as one of the rock bands that truly inspired and shaped his artistic journey. Getting to know and even perform with his idols in the band shows just how deeply their music resonated with him over the years. The Stones were formative for Depp and remain one of his all-time favorite rock acts.
The Doors
Another iconic rock band that clearly had a huge impact on Johnny Depp is The Doors. Depp’s portrayal of charismatic Doors frontman Jim Morrison in the 1991 film “The Doors” is seen as one of his career-defining roles. To take on such a pivotal figure in rock history showed Depp’s deep appreciation for both Morrison and the band.
In preparation for the role, Depp immersed himself in everything Doors – listening to their albums, watching concert footage, reading Morrison’s poetry. He studied Morrison’s unique vocal delivery and brooding stage presence. Critics were stunned by how authentically Depp captured Morrison’s essence in the film. It’s a testament to how thoroughly Depp understood and connected with Morrison and the band’s artistic vision.
Beyond just acting the part of Morrison, Depp seemed to truly channel the rock icon’s spirit and philosophy during filming. He adopted Morrison’s bohemian lifestyle and pushed creative boundaries in his performance. This level of intense method acting suggests The Doors really resonated with Depp on a personal level beyond just acting research.
Even after wrapping the role, Depp remained a huge fan of The Doors. He’s said their dark, psychedelic sound was lightyears ahead of its time. Songs like “Light My Fire,” “Riders On the Storm,” and “The End” clearly left a lasting impression. Depp even owns Morrison’s personal effects like his iconic leather pants from live performances.
It’s no stretch to say portraying Morrison was a career-defining role for Depp precisely because he connected with the frontman and band on such a deep, personal level. The Doors opened Depp’s eyes to new artistic possibilities and clearly left him with a lifelong appreciation for their groundbreaking music. They were formative influences that he still holds in high regard today.
Oasis
While not as iconic globally as The Rolling Stones or The Doors, the English rock band Oasis clearly made an impact on Johnny Depp as well. Made up of the Gallagher brothers – Liam and Noel, Oasis shot to fame in the UK in the 1990s with their signature Britpop sound influenced by The Beatles and The Stone Roses.
Depp has been spotted at several Oasis concerts over the years, showing his appreciation for them as a live act. He’s also reportedly hung out backstage with the band after shows. Most tellingly, Oasis songs like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” were featured on Depp’s personal playlist for the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It’s easy to see the appeal of Oasis for Depp. As working class English lads, they channeled the same rebellious spirit and swagger of The Rolling Stones. And musically, their anthemic rock songs are supremely catchy and memorable. The band also embraced rock stardom fully with big personalities like Liam Gallagher.
While not as influential globally, within the UK Oasis came to represent the voice of disaffected British youth in the same way The Rolling Stones did for past generations. For Depp, who has long been drawn to rock archetypes, it’s no surprise their blend of image and music resonated with him as well. Their high energy live shows also seem like they’d be right up Depp’s alley.
So while Oasis may not be in the same league globally as The Stones or The Doors, they still clearly made an impression on Johnny Depp as an artist he admired and enjoyed. Their inclusion in his film choices shows they hold a place of appreciation if not outright influence in Depp’s personal rock canon.
Early Influences – Rock City Angels
It’s also worth mentioning Depp’s early roots in rock music before finding fame as an actor. In the late 1970s and early 80s, before breaking into film, Depp played guitar and sang for a rock band called The Kids. They later changed their name to Six Gun Method and finally settled on Rock City Angels.
While the band never achieved much commercial success, they did play several shows in Los Angeles. More importantly, Rock City Angels helped foster Depp’s love of rock music in his formative years. Their sound was influenced by raw proto-punk acts like The Stooges and New York Dolls. This helped shape Depp’s own rebellious image and artistry.
Songs written and performed by Rock City Angels like “Rock City Angels” and “Cocaine Lisa and the Moon” showed a young Depp fully embracing the gritty sounds and attitudes of his punk and proto-punk influences. Even after pursuing acting, Depp maintained his connection to the underground rock scene.
So while short-lived, Rock City Angels served as Depp’s introduction to truly embracing rock music as both a performer and fan. The formative experiences with his early band no doubt contributed to his lifelong love of rock archetypes and bad-boy personas he’d portray on screen. They were an important starting point in Depp’s artistic journey.
Conclusion
While Johnny Depp hasn’t publicly ranked his definitive top 3 favorite rock bands, it’s clear through his collaborations, influences and personal interactions that The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Oasis hold very special places in his heart. These bands opened Depp’s eyes to new possibilities in rock music and fueled his rebellious spirit.
Portraying iconic frontmen like Jim Morrison only strengthened Depp’s connection to these artists. And befriending legends like Keith Richards showed the deep admiration and appreciation Depp feels for pioneers who shaped rock history. Even his early experiences in Rock City Angels laid the foundation.
Through his film and stage work with these artists, we get a rare glimpse into the rock bands that truly inspired Johnny Depp creatively and personally over the years. While his tastes may have branched out, these bands undoubtedly sit at the top of Depp’s musical influences and remain close to his heart today. They were formative in shaping not just his career, but worldview as one of rock’s most passionate fans and ambassadors.
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