Johnny Depp would prefer to be a rock star than an actor.

Although he is one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, Johnny's close friend Alice Cooper - who is part of the super-group Hollywood Vampires with Depp - claims the 'White Mass' star only acts to ''pay the bills''.

He explained: ''He started playing when he was 12 years old. When he first came to Los Angeles he did not come as an actor, he came as a guitar player. He came here with his band and accidentally got discovered, because he looked great and they were looking for a young guy for '21 Jump Street', and there he was.

''He calls acting his day job. He said, 'I do so many movies, I crave getting out on stage with a guitar.' He's always been a rocker. He says, 'This was my first love, rock 'n' roll. Acting pays the bills but if you give me a choice, my guitar wins.' ''

And Alice, 67, insisted Johnny, 52, is one of the best guitar players he has ever known.

He told the London Evening Standard newspaper: '' He's played with everybody - he's played with Aerosmith, he's played with us, Foo Fighters. He could play with anybody. He could get up and play with the Stones, with U2, anybody. The guy is a really accomplished guitar player.''