Johnny Depp’s band Hollywood Vampires scored a legal break after a judge dismissed a concert promoter’s $277,000 lawsuit. The ruling ended the Texas case after the court found the band lacked sufficient contacts with the state.
The dispute stemmed from a 2023 concert that the Hollywood Vampires reportedly canceled on the day of the show. Promoter Sten Hard claimed the band pulled out at the last minute after objecting to the venue.
A judge dismissed the $277K Hollywood Vampires lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction in Texas
According to TMZ, Hard initially pursued Depp, Alice Cooper, and Joe Perry alongside the band. The promoter later dropped the three musicians as individual defendants, leaving Hollywood Vampires Touring as the remaining defendant. The Texas judge ultimately ruled that the band had no meaningful contacts with Texas. That meant the promoter could not pursue the corporate entity there, so the court dismissed the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.
Hard had claimed the Hollywood Vampires agreed to perform in 2023 before abruptly backing out. His case alleged the group cited concerns about the venue’s suitability. The legal fight focused on roughly $277,000 that Hard claimed the band owed him after the cancellation. The promoter had sought to hold the touring entity responsible for the financial fallout.
Depp, Cooper, and Perry therefore exited the case individually before the judge addressed the remaining claim. The latest ruling also removed Hollywood Vampires Touring from the Texas litigation. The dismissal did not resolve whether Hard’s underlying financial claims had merit. Instead, the judge’s decision centred on whether Texas had jurisdiction over the band’s corporate entity.
That distinction gave Hollywood Vampires a significant reprieve without turning the courtroom dispute into a verdict on the canceled concert itself. For Depp, the ruling also meant the $277K claim no longer followed him personally, as the actor had already been removed from the lawsuit as an individual defendant.
Hollywood Vampires formed in 2015 with Depp, Cooper, and Perry. The supergroup built its live shows around classic rock songs and performances from its three famous members. For now, the Texas case had reached its curtain call. Hard could potentially pursue the dispute in another jurisdiction, depending on his legal options.
