Any glam metal fan knows a Los Angeles-based US band called Mötley Crüe (Motley Crew). These American guys are known for scandals and all kinds of problems with the law. In addition, their life is a typical rock and roll story of popular guys mired in the abyss of drug addiction and alcoholism. These desperate rebels during the existence of the group managed to sell a little more than 100 million discs in the world music market, with 75 of them in America.
The first steps
The birth of the Motley Crew group can be considered January 17, 1981, because on that day the first rehearsal of Tommy Lee, Greg Leon (ex Suite) and Nicky Six, which at that time left the team called London, took place. According to the leader of the group, initially he wanted to create something that combines the elements of “Black Sabbath”, “Sex Pistols” and David Bowie.
The rehearsals were generally good, but Greg soon left the band and was successfully replaced by Mick Mars (Bob Deal). The new member proposed a name for the group, because before that it simply did not exist. And the phrase inspired by the musician White Horse called the team only A motley looking crew. Mars liked the expression, and in a slightly modified form it turned into Mötley Crüe, which was approved by other guys.
Everything would be fine, but the frontman's seat was still vacant, and Bob Deal nominated Vince Neal, whom he once saw at a concert in Starwood. Initially, the vocalist rejected the offer, not wanting to betray his bandmates to Rock Candy, but when the band fell apart, he connected his fate with Motley Crew.
Promotion
November 81st was a landmark event in the life of the young group, as the first album Too Fast for Love saw the light of day. The production fell on the shoulders of Motley Crew themselves, and the Leathür label sold this vinyl with a circulation of 20 thousand copies. This was followed by a tour of Canada, organized by Eric Greif - assistant group manager. Crüesing Through Canada Tour '82 was overshadowed by various emergencies and ended early, as the guys faced financial difficulties. Beginning in '83, Dag Thaler and Dog Mac Gee (manager, known for his work with Bon Jovi and Kiss) took charge of Motley Crew .
Popularity
Attending the US Festival, the guys learned a taste of fame, and they were actively supported by MTV. To attract attention, the musicians came up with a very specific look, the main elements of which were: high-heeled shoes, bright tight-fitting clothes and catchy makeup. In addition, the guys constantly performed in a drunk or “stoned” form, which became a kind of calling card.
Mötley Crüe music combines genres such as heavy and glam metal. In the 80s, there were three hit albums by Motley Crew, these are:
- Shout at the Devil - 1983.
- Theater of Pain - 1985.
- Girls, Girls, Girls - 1987.
Unpleasant situations from life
The guys often had problems with the law, and Vince Neal even managed to wreck his car when he returned from the liquor store. Nicholas Razzle Dingli from the Hanoi Rocks team rode with him, who unfortunately did not survive. In the end, Vince was sentenced to a month in custody and 200 hours of community service, in addition, he was obliged to pay compensation in the amount of $ 2,600,000.
Nikki Six December 22, the 87th, nearly died of a drug overdose, but the doctor, who loved the songs of Motley Crew, miraculously saved the musician from death. As a result, the guy was inspired by a couple of minutes of his clinical death and wrote the song Kickstart My Heart, which hit the 16th line of Mainstream US Chart.
For two years (86-87 years) Nikki kept a special diary of a drug addict, and at 88 he was in the hospital to get rid of the addictive heroin addiction. After 18 years, the musician released the book The Heroin Diaries; A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rockstar, compiled from the notes of his diary, which became a real hit in the world of books.
Disastrous lifestyle
The musicians acted as if they were eager to quickly find themselves “on the other side of life” and once and for all deprive the world of their creativity. Therefore, the group managers canceled a major tour in Europe, because desperate slobs could return home in wooden boxes. Some time passed, and the members of Mötley Crüe ended up in narcology, however Mickey Mars found enough willpower in himself to cope with the addiction on his own.
Rebirth
In 89, the album Motley Crew was released under the name Dr. Feelgood, which brought musicians popularity unprecedented before. Vinyl got on the first lines of the most fashionable charts and hung there for a long 109 weeks. In the same year, the guys came to the International Moscow Festival along with such rock stars as Scorpions, Ozzy Osborne, Cinderella and Gorky Park. In October 91, the next album, Decade of Decadence, was released, which hit the second line of the American Billboard 200.
Change
In 92, Vince left the team, as he had many disagreements with other members of the Motley Crew. The new vocalist was replaced by John Corabi, known for his work at The Scream. Popularity has declined somewhat over the years, but the Mötley Crüe vinyl of the same name has become an exception when it hits the Billboard Top Ten.
Soon, the participants quarreled and retired, but in 1997 they gathered again and realized Generation Swine. He did not become a cashier, although he got to the top of the eminent charts.
In 1999, Tommy Lee left the band for a solo career, and Randy Castillo became Motley's new drummer. However, in 2000, he was diagnosed with cancer. Stretching another three years, the musician died.
The album, recorded with Randy, took 41 lines on the chart, and the circulation of vinyls was less than 200 thousand. For several years, the guys were engaged in solo work, and in 2001 the world saw a book about a group called The Dirt, which tells of Motley Crew as a group with a tragic fate.
Reunion
In 2004, the musicians decided to put an end to the previous differences and began work on new material. And at the beginning of next year, the musicians went on a tour in honor of the band’s “new birthday”. Then the light saw their new album Red, White & Crüe, which included the new song "Motley Crew" Sick Love Song and If I Die Tomorrow. Vinyl received platinum status for the first time in the history of the group.
Saints of Los Angeles was realized in 2008, and a year later it was announced that an autobiographical picture based on The Dirt’s book would soon appear, but this has still not happened.
Since the revival, the musicians' schedule has been overloaded with tours, and in 2010 they became headliners at the legendary Ozzfest. Everything would be fine, but on January 28, 2014 the guys reiterated the breakup of the team and the appointment of a farewell tour.
Nowadays
Vince Neal recently announced on Twitter that Motley Crew had begun recording new songs. Nikki Sixx also confirmed the information posted on September 13 this year.
After watching the Motley Crew videos, one can notice that many musicians in their work tried on their unusual image, for example, Red Hot Chili Peppers in Dany California.