Hollywood star Johnny Depp teamed up with Sir Rod Stewart on Saturday to delight fans at a private charity event in London where the two performed together – and DailyMail.com has exclusive photos.
The two icons joined forces to raise money for Celia Hammond’s Animal Trust, raising more than $300,000 to help rescue stray cats and kittens, telling DailyMail.com that they ‘couldn’t be happier’ to be part of the event.
Sixties supermodel Celia, now 81, hosted the evening at the luxury Ned Hotel in Bank, with attendees bidding for a ticket last June at Mark Aldridge’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic event.
They were treated to Sir Rod’s top tunes, including, Maggi May, Forever Young, and First Cut is the Deepest.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp teamed up with Sir Rod Stewart to delight fans at a private charity event in London on Saturday where the two performed together
Depp, 60, and Sir Rod, 79, previously joined forces to perform at two concerts in memory of legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck – who dated Hammond – at the Royal Albert Hall last May
Hammond started the charity in 1986, to provide care and refuge for cats and kittens and humanely reduce the population of dogs and cats by neutering.
‘Celia’s devotion and commitment to protecting vulnerable and neglected animals is beyond admirable,’ Depp told DailyMail.com.
‘I’m so glad to be part of the evening’s success, and with the added bonus of playing alongside my friend, Sir Rod Stewart.’
As for Sir Rod, he ‘couldn’t be happier’ to help raise awareness and funds for the vital work that the Celia Hammond Animal Trust charity does for vulnerable and unwanted animals.
‘I’m thrilled to perform at this most intimate event this weekend with fellow musician, Johnny Depp.’
Depp, 60, and Sir Rod, 79, previously joined forces to perform at two concerts in memory of legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck – who dated Hammond – at the Royal Albert Hall last May, delighting fans.
The rock icon remained friendly with Hammond and even became a patron of one of her animal shelters as part of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
Ex-supermodel Celia hosted the evening at the luxury Ned Hotel. ‘Celia’s devotion and commitment to protecting vulnerable and neglected animals is beyond admirable,’ Depp told DailyMail.com
As for Sir Rod, he ‘couldn’t be happier to help raise awareness and funds for the vital work that the Celia Hammond Animal Trust charity does for vulnerable and unwanted animals’
Model Celia Hammond founded the Celia Hammond Animal Trust for animal welfare. She is pictured here in 1965.
She once told DailyMail.com of a vacation to Hollywood with Beck where she found a couple of wild cats in the hotel garden and spent the whole stay scouring LA for a cat trap.
Hammond appeared on the record sleeve of Jeff Beck’s solo album Truth, an album that included contributions from Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and John Paul Jones.
The A-Lister played Elvis Presley’s original Red Hagstrom Viking II guitar to accompany Stewart during the impromptu concert, curated by Mark Aldridge.
The money will be used to help sick or injured animals whose owners can’t afford to treat them, or do not qualify for help from major charities.
Hammond founded the trust, which initially opened two low-cost veterinary clinics in London before widening their area to Sussex and Kent.
The former supermodel, who was snapped for Queen magazine, said: ‘I cannot thank Sir Rod Stewart and Johnny Depp enough and of course, Mark Aldridge for creating such a magical experience for us.
‘We are blown away by the support we have received which was desperately needed for us to continue our important animal rescue work.’
Hammond has dedicated the last four decades to raising money and caring for unwanted, abandoned, stray and feral cats.
It’s light years from her modelling days, when she travelled the world with fellow beauties Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy.
But she told the Daily Mail in 2008, ‘I’m doing what I have to do. It’s a mission; a calling.’