Alice Cooper has once again issued a defence of his Hollywood Vampires bandmate Johnny Depp, claiming that most of the reports surrounding the actor and musician's behaviour last year were "just bull".
Speaking to Billboard ahead of a seven-date tour around the US west coast in May, Cooper revealed that the band's forthcoming studio album includes songs by Depp that vent frustrations over allegations of abuse levelled against him by his ex-wife, the actor Amber Heard.
"I'm spewing his venom on this album, which is kind of good," Cooper said, adding that "all the stuff you heard last year about Johnny, 99 per cent was just bull. I've never seen him look better in my life. I've never seen him happier. I've never heard him play better, and the way the press would have it is he's a total destruction and ready to die. Totally not true."
Earlier this month it was reported that Depp was seeking $50m (£38m) from Heard for allegedly defaming him with "hoax" claims of domestic abuse.
Heard accused Depp of domestic violence in May 2016 before settling the case for $7m (£5.3m), which she donated to charity.
The suit reads: "Mr Depp never abused Ms Heard. Her allegations against him were false when they were made in 2016. They were part of an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity for Ms Heard and advance her career."
Heard's lawyer Eric M George responded with the statement: "This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. She will not be silenced."
The statement continued: "Mr Depp's actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behaviour. But while he appears hell-bent on achieving self-destruction, we will prevail in defeating this groundless lawsuit and ending the continued vile harassment of my client by Mr Depp and his legal team."
