The Hollywood Vampires, a loose amalgam of 1970s-era fun seekers that Micky Dolenz says he founded with Alice Cooper and a couple of others, didn’t begin at some local watering hole.
In fact, funnily enough, “it started as a softball team,” Dolenz tells the Huffington Post, chuckling. “It was Alice’s idea, and we played softball every weekend — sandlot softball. It was Alice’s idea to start a team called the Hollywood Vampires, and we would raise money for charity, going out playing other local teams, corporate teams or the local police department or fire department. Of course, they always won! We were a bunch of Hollywood weirdos, running around.”
Afterward, they would repair to a loft above the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood, to lick their wounds after losses. In time, as their group grew to include such famous carousers as Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr, the Hollywood Vampires became something else entirely, of course: Drinking-buddy legends of the Sunset Strip.
A documentary on this raucous time — spearheaded by Cooper himself — is said to be in the works, and Dolenz confirms his involvement. “They have talked to me about that,” he adds.
A sign remains at the Rainbow, declaring it “The Lair of the Hollywood Vampires.” Also listed as members are John Lennon, and Alice Cooper publicist Bob Brown.
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