Johnny Depp’s red carpet outings are few and far between, especially in Los Angeles, but the veteran star appeared at the Wilshire Ebelle Theater on Tuesday night for a packed launch party to promote his new rum brand. And plenty of rock stars flocked in to show support and sip some Three Hearts Rum.
Aerosmith legend Steven Tyler (who sang along to “Walk This Way”), Beck, Jimmy Hince of The Kills, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Mat Helders of Arctic Monkey, Jerry Cantrell and others were among the rockers while guests included Jerry Bruckheimer, Bill Burr, Rao Alejandro, Rain Phoenix and more. But instead of calling one of his friends to the stage, the night saw a performance by Matteo Bocelli, the son of the famous singer Andrea Bocelli.
Depp also made the most of his rare night out in Los Angeles. He was seen greeting fans and enjoying the lively atmosphere alongside his co-founder Bobby DeLeon. The two collaborated until Depp marked two wooden boxes to match the symbols on the new Three Hearts bottles. Depp and DeLeon have been kicking around the idea for years with the goal of creating something meaningful that honors their connections as well as their rum-drinking heritage from the Caribbean, a place where Depp has spent significant time over the course of two decades (on his private island in the Bahamas called Little Hall’s Pond Cay).
Their creative process gained momentum in the wake of the devastation caused by hurricanes on many Caribbean islands in recent years as they looked for ways they might be able to support and highlight local communities. Depp poured a piece of his heart into the bottle by designing it himself and incorporating symbolism inspired by his tattoos, personal philosophy and his three loved ones, his ex-wife Vanessa Paradis and their children, Lily-Rose Depp and Jack Depp.
The bottle is also engraved with the Deep Island flag, made up of tattoos on his body such as a skull to serve as a reminder to live fully, a lightning bolt to symbolize everlasting friendship, the number three to represent new beginnings and three hearts to represent the love of his life. The base of the bottle contains the brand’s slogan: “No Fear. No Hate. No Envy.” The top of the bottle features a bracelet charm.
“Rum carries the history of the islands,” Depp said in a statement issued with the launch. “It’s shaped by the hands of people who grow the cane, ferment the spirit, and age it over time. Bobby and I wanted to create something that honors this tradition and the friendships that inspired it.”
See below for photos from inside Tuesday night’s party.
