Los Angels, CA.
“A diverse, colorful group of people working together”
“Motley Crue, High RPM with Low IQ” Manager Doc McGhee
BUZZ Newspaper Article Nov- Dec 2013 (#32-mC) By: RLSchwinden aka: MrZERo)
Back in the very early 80’s Disco was finally over, Urban Cowboy Music was coming to a close & New Wave (now referred to as Post Punk) ruled the airwaves, we KISS & RUSH fans were searching for something new. In June 1982 in a Kerrang magazine my friend Eric DeWolf saw an ad for MOTLEY CRUE “Too Fast For Love” he went to our local recordstore UNCLE JOHN & purchased a copy. We met back at his Mom’s house & he put it on. I was looking at the back cover & inner sleeve photo & said out loud “KISS, are now dinosaurs” I was infatuated from the 1st time I heard “Com’on And Dance” & “Stick To Your Guns” & “Starry Eyes” these guys were my new Rock Heroes.
> On With The Show < One Nikki Sixx (Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. 11 Dec 1958 San Jose, CA) having played in the band "SISTER" in 1976 with Blackie Lawless & Then in the band "LONDON" in 1978 with Nigel Benjamin & Lizzie Grey. Sometime in Jan 1980, Sixx met a Drummer Tommy Lee (Thomas Lee Bass: 3 Oct 1962 Athens, Greece) while Lee was playing in the band "SUITE 19" these 2 saw an ad for Guitar Player Mick Mars (Robert Alan Deal: 4 May 1951 Huntington, IN) in the local paper "The Recycler" he was then playing with“Stone Pony”. It was Mars who suggested the name "MOTLEY CRUE”. Lee suggested his high school friend Vince Neil (Vince Neil Wharton: 8 Feb 1961 Hollywood, CA) the Singer in the band "Rock Candy" & MOTLEY CRUE was off & running in Apr 1980. In the fall of 1981 the band released their 1st 45 single "Stick To Your Guns/ Toast Of The Town" on Leathur Records then on 10 Nov 1981 their debut LP was released "Too Fast For Love" also on Leathur Records. Here's the original track list: 1-A Live Wire Public Enemy #1 Take Me To The Top Merry Go Round Piece Of Your Action 2-B Starry Eyes Stick To Your Guns Com'on And Dance Too Fast For Love On With The Show This LP was later remixed & re-released on Electra Records on 20 Aug 1982, minus "Stick To Your Guns" a video for "Live Wire" was made for MTV, which really stood out in the time of the current New Wave bands. > Knock ‘Em Dead Kid < The band's new manager Doc McGhee managed to get CRUE a spot on day 2 of the "US Festival" in San Bernardino, CA. on 29 May 1983 here's the setlist to this show. The importance of this concert is that 4 of these songs were not released for another 4 months. Take Me to the Top Looks That Kill* Bastard* Shout at the Devil* Merry-Go-Round Knock 'em Dead, Kid* Piece of Your Action Live Wire Helter Skelter The band's 2nd LP "Shout At The Devil" was released on 26 Sep 1983, a total of 3 singles were released for this LP; "Shout At The Devil" (which I believe was promo only) "Looks That Kill" with a Picture Sleeve in Jan '84 & "Too Young Too Fall In Love (remix)" also with a Picture Sleeve in Apr '84 the 2nd & 3rd singles had MTV Videos for the songs. There were 2 songs recorded for this LP that went unused; "I Will Survive" & "Black Widow". While I personally prefer the 1st LP this follow up is really good as well. My friend Eric met CRUE in Omaha on the 1984 tour with OZZY, Eric was able to meet the band after the show, he told me Mars was the nicest & the most talkative, he said they talked about guitars & tunings & chord voicing’s & Mars said "The US Festival, it was really tough there were some many good looking women everywhere, I almost cheated on my wife! almost" I myself was able to see the band for the 1st time on 28 May 1984 in Des Moines, IA @ The Iowa Jam ‘84. I was blown away. Then, the 1st of many tragedies for the CRUE, on 8 Dec 1984 Vince & Razzle of HANOI ROCKS, were in a car crash, the result of which Vince was barley hurt & Razzle died. Also in Dec '84 the Picture Disc "Helter Skelter" was released with 3 other tracks: Red Hot, Live Wire (O.M.), Piece Of Your Action (O.M.) > Tonight (we need a lover) < In Jun 1985 the band's 3rd LP "Theatre Of Pain" was released now the band was really on a roll. 2 singles were released from this LP, "Smokin In The Boys Room- Use It Or Lose It" a #16 in Jun '85 & "Home Sweet Home" both had Picture Sleeves & Videos, strangely while "Home Sweet Home" was an MTV favorite it did not crack the Top 40. I had tickets to see them in Omaha that year, but alas my ride fell through at the last minute. This LP, I did not feel was as strong as the last LP. Something that became quite common at this time, was to put out a VHS release as part of a band's record contract, "Uncensored" was released in late 1986 & sold a whopping 2 million copies! > Bad Boy Boogie < Then in May 1987 their 4th LP "Girls, Girls, Girls" is released, I remember this well as the was my 2nd year working in the Record Industry, our store "RecordShop" received equal amounts of Vinyl, Cassettes & CDs, to our surprise we sold out of Cassettes, we sold half of our CDs, & only 1/10th of our Vinyl, this was one of the 1st releases to usher in the End Of Vinyl Sales. Also the 1st major Cassingle release that being "Girls Girls Girls- Sumthin For Nuthin" a #12 hit in Jun '87, the Cassingle once again out selling the Vinyl 45, which was the main stay until the Summer of 1987, there were 2 other singles released from this LP "Wildside- Five Years Dead" & "You're All I Need- All In The Name Of" all 3 of these have Picture Sleeves & accompanying Videos. There was 1 unused song "Rodeo" which perplexes me, as this surly would have been a better choice than a live version of "Jailhouse Rock"? On this LP I personally felt it was not as strong as the one before it, & essentially marked the end of my real interest in CRUE, it’s about this time that Mars is not being used on all CRUE recordings, the band played Des Moines on 12 Jul 1987 @ Vets breaking the former attendance record held by KISS since in Nov 1977, I chose to go to The Monkees instead. > Time For A Change < The end was almost near when Sixx O.D. on 23 Dec 1987 he was dead for 2 minutes before being brought back to life. Since all members had been battling addiction in one form or another for some time, the decision was made for the band to clean up 3 went to rehab & Mars did it on his own. The Sober & Clean CRUE debuted @ the "Moscow Peace Festival" (VHS #2) on 13 Aug 1989, funny thing is, by the time this VHS came out, in my Shop, anyway most people asked for the GORKY PARK Cassette which was long out of print by that time, there is a companion LP "Stairway To Heaven, Highway To Hell" CRUE covered Tommy Bolin's "Teaser" (I saw Vince do this song live in 2003 in MPLS) Vince also sang "Rock N Roll" with several artists live @ the "Moscow Peace Festival" So on 5 Sep 1989 the band release their magnum opus "Dr. Feelgood" by far their greatest success with 3 Top 40 singles: "Dr. Feelgood / Sticky Sweet": #6 in Sep 1989, then "Kick Start My Heart- She Goes Down (w/ Cheap Trick)": #27 in Jan 1990 & "Without You- Slice Of Your Pie": #8 in Mar 1990,there was one unused track "Get It For Free" I never understood why the band never used songs like this as Non-LP B-Sides to Singles. A total of 5 videos were made from this LP then in 1990 a VHS "Dr. Feelgood The Videos" was released. Admittedly by this time I could not have cared less about the band, but this changed a few years later when I heard the song "Afraid" from 1997. > Primal Scream < In Oct 1991 they release the 1st of many compilation CDs (NO VINYL) "Decade Of Decadence" with 3 new songs & singles with videos: "Primal Scream" "Home Sweet Home '91" a #37 hit (their last Top 40) & "Anarchy In The UK" , 2 non-LP tracks, 3 remixes, 2 alternates & 1 live track. In Mar 1992 they release a VHS "Decade of Decadence" to accompany the CD/Cassette. The final nail comes when Vince was fired by Sixx, who also claims Neil quit in Feb 1992 drawing a close to the 1st chapter of this legendary band. stay tuned in the future for "MOTLEY CRUE: Part 2-B" Having done my research on this band, this is one truly remarkable story, too much to cover in a few 1000 words, most people like to read about all "The Dirt" where as I like to focus on the Creative Output of a band, however there is indeed plenty to read on these guys both shocking & entertaining. I feel it's worth mentioning the core of this band has been Sixx, Mars, Lee & Neil, however there were a few others who spent time in The Crue: John Corabi: (10 Apr 1958: Philadelphia) & Randy Castillo: (18 Dec 1950 – 26 Mar 2002: Albuquerque, MN) & Samantha Maloney: (11 Dec 1975: NYC). After releasing 9 Studio Albums, 4 VHS (6 if you count the 2 porno's), 31 Singles 5 DVDs, 12 Live & Compilation CDs, 34 Tours, 3 of the 4 members have released 4 CDs each outside of the band, 29 Music Videos, 4 Boxsets, 3 Reality TV Shows & involved with 3 others & 3 Books. As of Fall 2013 CRUE has announced a final studio LP & Farewell Tour & documentary. If you're remotely a MOTLEY CRUE Fan, you should check out "Girls, Girls, Girls Tribute To Motley Crue" on Sat 16 Nov 2013 @ Neisen's in Savage, MN. I have seen these guys several times & they are the next best thing.
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