WATCH: Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry Salute Lemmy at the Grammys

There’s actually a good reason why Hollywood Vampires were tapped for the tribute.

Johnny Depp joined rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires—featuring Alice Cooper, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Guns ‘N Roses’ Duff McKagen—on the Grammys stage Monday night for a fire-spewing tribute to fallen Mötorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

After an introduction by Lemmy superfan Dave Grohl, the band performed their song “As Bad As I Am” before ripping through “Ace of Spades” as an image of Lemmy’s face glowered on a screen behind them and pyrotechnics flared on stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3DBklOFwug

While some on Twitter ridiculed the notion of Depp joining the group on guitar, the Pirates of the Caribbean star actually has a long history of backing up his rocker pals.

In 1993, Depp teamed up with Butthole Surfers’ lead singer Gibby Haynes for an alt-rock band called P, and released one album. He has also performed with Keith Richards, Marilyn Manson and ZZ Top.

The bigger question may be why the Hollywood Vampires were chosen to salute the legendary Kilmister, who died of cancer in late December. 

But the supergroup, whose 2015 debut album features guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Slash, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, Grohl and former Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, can at least lay claim to a cool origin story involving Lemmy’s favorite haunt. 

The Hollywood Vampires were named after the legendary 1970s drinking club started by Cooper at The Rainbow Bar & Grill in Hollywood, a place that Lemmy frequented so much that they’re building a statue of the rock god in front of the place.

Members of the original drinking club included Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson, the hard-boozing singer/songwriter who often brought along his good friend, John Lennon.