The Grammys are infamous for forgetting to include deceased metal legends in its “In Memoriam” portion (well, you can argue they forget about metal in general). However, it appears that the NARAS members are keen to honoring the late Lemmy Kilmister. That’s why the award show has tapped Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper’s cover band whose live members include Johnny Depp (yes, Captain Jack Sparrow himself), Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Guns N’ Roses’ rhythm section Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, to play a tribute set to Motörhead.
While they’re still reportedly ironing out what Motörhead classics they’ll be playing, the supergroup also plans to perform a brand new song called “As Bad As I Am”, which will appear on the deluxe edition of Hollywood Vampire’s self-titled debut. Cooper did tell Rolling Stone, though, that he’d like to do “Ace Of Spades”, adding “I might do it more ‘Alice Cooper style,’ but it would still have to have that growl, that guttural voice to make it work. I can’t picture, like, Creedence Clearwater doing that song.”
At first glance, Hollywood Vampires seem like an odd choice for this tribute (or maybe we were just hoping Metallica would lead a massive, all-star tribute instead). However, it does make sense when you consider that Lemmy was good friends with most of the band’s members. In fact, not only did Sorum fill-in for drummer Mikkey Dee during the band’s 2009 tour, but he was also the one who hosted Lemmy’s 70th birthday party right before his death. Plus as Cooper himself admits to Rolling Stone, “We started this band as a means to toast our ‘dead drunk friends’ at the Rainbow, all the ghosts in the bar, and now I guess Lemmy is involved in that, too.”
Hollywood Vampires’ performance during The Grammy’s award ceremony airs live on February 15 on CBS. And in case you’re wondering what the band looks and sounds like onstage, check out video of Hollywood Vampires’ entire performance at Rock In Rio last year.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXMHVn7Xd-k[/youtube]
