Johnny Depp in the recording studio with Ryan Adams and Marcus Mumford

The actor says that his "first love" of music is a "real lifesaver", in interview with fellow-musician Iggy Pop
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Actor Johnny Depp speaks onstage during "The Night That Changed America: A GRAMMY Salute To The Beatles" at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 27, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
Pippa Bailey1 April 2014
The Weekender

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Johnny Depp is returning to his "first love" of music and has been taking a break from acting to record songs with the likes of Ryan Adams and Marcus Mumford.

After years devoted to his film career, the Rum Diary actor claims he's never felt better now he's back in the studio making music.

In a special interview for Interview Magazine, conducted by Passenger singer Iggy Pop, Johnny - who opened for the godfather of Punk with his old band the Kids as a teenager - revealed how music has changed his life since getting his first guitar aged 12.

He explained: "I've been playing a lot of music lately. It's a real lifesaver, being able to focus on my first love. It's freedom. And immediate - yeah, f**k, we captured it. I suppose that's it, capturing something."

"I've been writing and recording with Ryan Adams a lot lately. Ryan is incredibly prolific and he's just a pure soul, he's just this being. He's got a great handle on it. And is taking good care of himself. But what a talent, man. I'm amazed by the f**ker."

The Kobal Collection (Universal)

"And then, here and there I'm doing some stuff with Alice [Cooper], which is really fun. Also with Marcus Mumford, who's amazing."

The 50-year-old actor - who is engaged to actress Amber Heard - and Iggy next met on the set of Cry-Baby in 1990 and have been firm friends and collaborators ever since, but the Edward Scissorhands star reminded him that their first meeting didn't go quite so well.

He told his musical idol: "After the gig you were walking around the club, and I was standing at the bar, all of 17 years old, guzzling as much spirits as I could to get up the nerve to talk to you. And I remember making the horrific decision in my teenage drunken state to go, 'Well, I'll just get his attention.'

"I started going, 'I-I-Iggy Pop, Piggy Slop', you know? You walked towards me and put your face about a quarter of an inch from mine and just went, 'You little turd.' And not only was it exactly the reaction that I deserved, but it was the one I wanted. I had a moment with you."

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This isn't Johnny's first outing in the recording studio. The actor played guitar on Oasis song Fade In-Out, lead guitar and drums for Carly Simon's You're So Vain, and is a member of alternative rock group P, which also features members from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Sex Pistols.

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